India Women’s Cricket teams’ hopes to qualify to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup 2022 has officially come to an end with India’s loss against South Africa W today. The two teams met at the Hagley Oval today and India W opted to bat first having won the toss.
They got a brilliant start thanks to their two openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Smriti Mandhana scored a spectacular 71 off 84 while Shafali Verma scored 53 off 46. The two middle-order batters Mithali Raj (68 off 84) and Harmanpreet Kaur (48 off 57) played fantastically as well but due to the slow run rate, India was able to achieve a first-innings total of 274 only which is good but not that great.
Coming on to chase, South Africa lost an early wicket in opener Lizelle Lee who scored 6 off 15 but her partner Laura Wolvaardt played a sensational knock of 80 off 79 and was the best performer in today’s match. Lara Goodall played very well too but it was Mignon du Preez who sticked to the very end for South Africa and won them the match. She scored an unbeaten 52 off 63.
However, the match had the most controversial and thrilling end in any of the Women’s World Cup 2022 matches. India’s Deepti Sharma was bowling the last over for them and South Africa needed 7 runs to win. The only threat from the South Africa side was Mignon du Preez after Trisha Chetty got run-out on the second delivery of the over.
On the 5th delivery of the over, Mignon du Preez hit a lofted shot and it ended in an Indian fielder’s hand. They started celebrating but that was when the Umpire called it a no-ball as Deepti Sharma had overstepped.
As a result, South Africa needed 2 runs in 2 balls and they did easily hence winning the match. It was a heartbreak moment for India Women as they were knocked out of the tournament.