SAW vs PAKW Ball by Ball Commentary

7:20 AM IST That ends the first game of this double header. South Africa become the first team from Group B to make it to the semis. Who will join them? If England beat West Indies, they are through. But if West Indies win, then the final match between South Africa and West Indies will decide who amongst England or West Indies make it through. The Eng-WI clash will begin at 7 pm local (0800 GMT). Hop over to that game!

7:18 AM IST Victorious South African skipper, Dane van Niekerk apologizes first up, to everyone, for kicking the ball during the second innings, admitting that emotions got the better of her. Credits Pakistan for giving them a run for their money, keeping coming at them and putting considerable pressure. Lauds Laura Wolvaardt's innings, especially because as she bats at the top and had to bat in the middle. Believes that there is still room for improvement, especially in the fielding while the top order needs to be more consistent.

7:12 AM IST Pakistan captain, Javeria Khan says that both fielding and bowling let them down. The first 16 overs and the last over with the bat was where they were strong, according to her. Believes that they should have restricted South Africa to under 120 but the plans were not executed well. Praises Laura Wolvaardt for playing a superb innings. On her own team's batting display, Javeria says that he batters need to understand when should they take the charge and not play shots at any stage.

7:11 AM IST LAURA WOLVAARDT HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Rates this innings as her most valuable contribution ever made to the team. Details that number 5 is a new role for her and she is trying to adjust but is enjoying the challenge. On the pitch, Wolvaardt says that it was on the slower side and the batters had to take some time before playing their shots. Feels proud that she could play well today and is happier that they have made it to the semis.

7:11 AM IST Kudos to South Africa for staying focussed. They could have lost their way after multiple mistakes but they kept believing and stuck to their guns. The bowling was excellent, defending 136 with ease. It was a total team effort, with only Ayabonga Khaka having an off day. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

7:05 AM IST Could this match have gone the other way? Yes, it could have. South Africa were 17/2. But Pakistan let the opportunity slip by. They got another chance, when they had them 64/4 but Laura Wolvaardt's cameo floored them. Then, with the bat, they were 18/0 in 3 overs but totally lost way from there.

7:00 AM IST Third win on the bounce for the Protea Women and they become the second team after India to qualify for the knockouts. They now await whether they will be first or second, but that too, is in their own hands, as they have a game left.

6:56 AM IST That will do for South Africa. THEY WIN BY 17 RUNS AND QUALIFY FOR THE SEMIS! Full and outside off, squeezed through the covers for a single.

6:56 AM IST Comes down the track and drives it through the covers for a couple.

6:55 AM IST Comes down the track and drives it through the covers for a run.

6:55 AM IST Outside off, driven through the covers for a single.

6:54 AM IST FOUR! JUST OVER NOW! Full and outside off, Riaz swings it over mid-wicket. Long on gets across to her right, leaps but the ball goes over her and bounces into the ropes!

6:53 AM IST DROPPED! Shot and outside off, Riaz pulls but it is straight to Ismail at deep mid-wicket. However, it is put down. Two runs taken.

6:52 AM IST Outside off, punched off the back foot.

6:52 AM IST A short ball, around off, Aliya looks to pull but mistimes it. They go for a quick single and there is a run out on offer but the throw is wide at the bowler's end.

6:51 AM IST Outside off, dabbed to third man for a run.

6:50 AM IST Punches this off the back foot through the off side for a run.

6:50 AM IST FOUR! Fine shot. Full and outside off, Riaz comes down the track and lofts it over cover for a boundary.

6:49 AM IST Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single.

6:48 AM IST Down the leg side, Iram looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. A leg bye taken.

6:47 AM IST Outside off, a play and a miss.

6:47 AM IST Comes down the track and drills it down the ground. Just a single.

6:46 AM IST FOUR! That is a powerful hit. A length ball, on middle, Riaz swings it over mid-wicket and finds the boundary.

6:46 AM IST Down the leg side, Riaz looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads.

6:45 AM IST Comes down the track and swings it down the ground for a single.

6:45 AM IST Ayabonga Khaka is back on. 2-0-16-0 so far.

6:44 AM IST Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run.

6:44 AM IST Outside off, punched straight to cover.

6:43 AM IST Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

6:42 AM IST Outside off, a swing and a miss. The keeper gets a bad bounce and concedes a bye.

6:42 AM IST Well outside off, left alone.

6:41 AM IST SIX! Full and around middle, Riaz comes down the track and sends it sailing over long on!

6:41 AM IST Shabnim Ismail returns. 2-1-2-1 so far.

6:40 AM IST Outside off, punched off the back foot.

6:39 AM IST Bizarre review. Full and outside leg, Iram looks to sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. Luus appeals and then, convinces her skipper to go for the review. Ball Tracker confirms it is a waste. Pitched miles outside leg.

6:38 AM IST FOUR! This is some cameo being played. Short and outside off, Iram rocks back and cuts it through point for a boundary!

6:37 AM IST Works this through mid-wicket for a run.

6:37 AM IST Dropped short, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.

6:37 AM IST Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover.

6:36 AM IST lUSS IS BACK ON.

6:36 AM IST TOP EDGE, BUT NO CATCH TAKEN! Full and around off, Javed looks to slog but gets a top edge. The ball goes high in the air and Dane van Niekerk comes running in but then loses it somehow! The ball lands in front of the fielder and two runs are taken.

6:35 AM IST SIX! Terrific shot. Full and outside off, Javed comes down the track and sends it sailing over mid-wicket!

6:34 AM IST Full and around off, watchfully defended.

6:34 AM IST Iram Javed walks in now.

6:33 AM IST OUT! BOWLED! Number 5 falls. Down the leg side, Nawaz gets across and looks to pull but misses and the ball hits the leg stump.

6:32 AM IST There comes the sweep and it results in a run.

6:32 AM IST Full and around middle, Nawaz gets across and sweeps it through fine leg for a single.

6:32 AM IST Full and around off, well defended.

6:31 AM IST Down the leg side, swept through square leg for a run.

6:31 AM IST Down the leg side, flicked towards square leg.

6:30 AM IST Full and outside off, driven towards long off for one more.

6:30 AM IST Full and down the leg side, Nawaz gets across and sweeps it through square leg for a run.

6:29 AM IST Landed outside off, dabbed to third man for a single.

6:29 AM IST Dane van Niekerk is back on. 3-0-13-1 so far.

6:29 AM IST Around off, watchfully defended.

6:28 AM IST Full and outside off, Nawaz looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge which flies through the vacant slip region to third man. Two runs taken.

6:28 AM IST Outside off, dabbed to short third man.

6:27 AM IST Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a run.

6:27 AM IST Down the leg side, swept away for a single.

6:27 AM IST Full and on middle, worked through mid-wicket but straight to the fielder.

6:26 AM IST Nonkululeko Mlaba is back on. 2-0-7-0 so far.

6:25 AM IST Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a run.

6:25 AM IST Too straight, clipped through mid-wicket for a single.

6:24 AM IST WIDE. Second of the over. Similar to the previous wide. Riaz lets it be.

6:24 AM IST Works this down the leg side for a run.

6:24 AM IST WIDE. Down the leg side, Nawaz cannot connect with her flick.

6:23 AM IST Full on middle, pushed through mid on for the first run of this over.

6:23 AM IST Works this towards short mid-wicket.

6:22 AM IST Outside off, punched straight to cover.

6:22 AM IST Ayabonga Khaka returns. 1-0-10-0 so far.

6:21 AM IST Landed outside off, dabbed to short third man for a run.

6:21 AM IST On middle, pushed back to the bowler.

6:20 AM IST Sidra Nawaz walks in now.

6:20 AM IST OUT! RUN OUT! That is unfortunate for Pakistan but poor cricket from their captain. Full on middle, Riaz drives this straight back. Tryon tries to stop it but the ball brushes her fingers and rolls back onto the stumps. She immediately starts celebrating because Javeria is well short of her crease. It is referred upstairs and replays do confirm Tryon's touch on the ball. But replays also show that Khan is backing up way too far! What for? Silly cricket. Cost her team her wicket. She was playing so well.

6:19 AM IST WIDE. Down the leg side, Riaz cannot get it away.

6:18 AM IST On middle, worked through mid-wicket for a single.

6:18 AM IST Outside off, driven straight to cover.

6:18 AM IST FOUR! Full and outside off, Javeria lofts this straight back over the bowler for a boundary!

6:17 AM IST Chloe Tryon into the attack as well.

6:17 AM IST Full and down the leg side, Javeria looks to sweep but gets it off the inner half. The ball goes off the keeper's pads to mid-wicket. Just a single taken.

6:16 AM IST Full and down the leg side, paddled through fine leg for a couple.

6:15 AM IST FOUR! Nice batting. Full and outside off, Javeria comes down the track and lofts it over mid off for a boundary!

6:15 AM IST Around off, blocked from the crease.

6:15 AM IST Comes down the track and defends.

6:14 AM IST Outside off, pushed through mid on for a single.

6:14 AM IST FOUR! Full and around off, Javeria comes down the track and lofts it over the bowler for a boundary!

6:13 AM IST Around middle, worked straight to short mid-wicket.

6:12 AM IST Full and down the leg side, Khan looks to sweep but gets it off something through fine leg. Two leg byes signalled.

6:12 AM IST Landed outside off, played straight to point this time.

6:11 AM IST Outside off, played straight to cover.

6:11 AM IST Comes down the track and whips it through mid-wicket for a couple.

6:10 AM IST Outside off, lofted over cover for a single.

6:10 AM IST Outside off, punched off the back foot.

6:10 AM IST Full toss on middle, Javeria gets down and laps this through fine leg for a couple.

6:09 AM IST Outside off, played through point for a single.

6:09 AM IST On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a run.

6:08 AM IST Full and outside off, driven through mid off for a single.

6:08 AM IST Sune Luus to bowl now.

6:07 AM IST Works this down the leg side for a run. 5 runs and a wicket from the over, van Niekerk's figures read 2-0-7-1.

6:07 AM IST Outside off, punched off the back foot.

6:06 AM IST Aliya Riaz walks in next.

6:05 AM IST OUT! LBW! Short and around off, Dar goes back to pull but the ball stays low and skids through. Misses the bat, which has come down very early. The pad is hit and the umpire raises her finger on the appeal. No review taken. Ball Tracker shows it to be hitting off stump.

6:04 AM IST MISFIELD. Tea pots are boiling here. Full and outside off, Javeria gets out the reverse sweep and hits it straight to short third man. Ayabonga Khaka fumbles and lets the ball through. What should have been a single, becomes a triple. The bowler cum captain is not happy at all.

6:04 AM IST Outside off, pushed straight to cover.

6:03 AM IST Full and down the leg side, flicked through mid-wicket for a single.

6:03 AM IST Finds cover again with another back foot punch. 22/2 for Pakistan in the Powerplay, after being 18/0 in 3 overs. South Africa were 23/2 at this stage.

6:02 AM IST Around off, punched towards cover.

6:02 AM IST Excellent stop. Short and outside off, Javeria rocks back and cuts it through the covers but Dane van Niekerk at short extra cover dives to her right and makes a wonderful stop.

6:01 AM IST Outside off, just pushed to the leg side for a very quick single. That was barely two feet away from her!

6:01 AM IST Outside off, played through point for a single.

6:00 AM IST Full and around off, watchfully defended.

6:00 AM IST Nonkululeko Mlaba is back on. 1-0-5-0 so far.

5:59 AM IST Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single.

5:59 AM IST Outside off, driven straight to cover.

5:58 AM IST Full and outside off, driven through the covers. Again, there is a mix-up but this time the single is completed with ease.

5:58 AM IST Nida Dar comes in at number 4, replacing Sohail

5:57 AM IST OUT! RUN OUT! Mix-up and gone. Outside off, Umaima pushes it towards cover and sets off for the single. But the non-striker is not interested at all. Laura Wolvaardt quickly gets to the ball and returns a throw to the keeper. It is a wild one and Trisha Chetty has to run back to collect. But Umaima is so far down the track that she cannot make it back.

5:56 AM IST Around middle, pushed back to the bowler.

5:56 AM IST Full and around off, watchfully defended.

5:55 AM IST Dane van Niekerk comes on to bowl. Wonder if this is because Marizanne Kapp is not available right now. Normally, the skipper bowls very late in the innings.

5:55 AM IST On a length, outside off, played straight to point. A WICKET MAIDEN!

5:54 AM IST Umaima Sohail walks in at number 3, replacing Muneeba.

5:54 AM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Extra pace does the trick. A length ball, around middle, Muneeba comes down the track and looks to go big. But the extra pace cramps her for room and all she manages is a top edge. Simple catch for Ayabonga Khaka at mid on.

5:53 AM IST Comes down the track but is not quite to the pitch of the ball. Is forced to defend.

5:52 AM IST A short ball, pulled away but straight to short mid-wicket.

5:51 AM IST Around middle, watchfully defended.

5:51 AM IST Full and outside off, driven straight to cover.

5:50 AM IST FOUR! Clean batting. Full and outside off, Khan reaches out and lofts it over the fielder at short extra cover. 10 from the over.

5:49 AM IST Outside off, Javeria looks to drive but misses.

5:49 AM IST Outside off, played straight to point.

5:49 AM IST WIDE. Harsh call. outside off, on a length, just about grazes the wide line and the strict umpire does not let it go by. Must have been a batter.

5:48 AM IST Works this through square leg for a run.

5:47 AM IST FOUR! Well, that looked like a miscue. A length ball, around off, Muneeba comes down the track and looks to go over the top and it looks like she has got a top edge. But the ball sails over mid off and lands just inside the ropes!

5:47 AM IST Down the leg side, flciked straight to short mid-wicket.

5:47 AM IST Ayabonga Khaka into the attack now.

5:46 AM IST A short ball, pulled over mid-wicket for a single.

5:46 AM IST Down the leg side, Javeria looks to pull but the ball goes off her pads towards short fine leg. A leg bye taken.

5:45 AM IST Around off, the pace is getting cranked up, pushed towards cover.

5:45 AM IST Pushes this through the covers for a single.

5:45 AM IST On middle, pushed back to the bowler.

5:44 AM IST Full and down the leg side, Muneeba misses her flick and is hit on the pads.

5:42 AM IST Shabnim Ismail to bowl from the other end.

5:41 AM IST Around off, watchfully defended.

5:41 AM IST Comes down the track and drives this down the ground. Mid on does really well to dive to her right to stop the ball. Just a single.

5:40 AM IST Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover.

5:40 AM IST Outside off, punched off the back foot.

5:39 AM IST FOUR! Landed outside off, Muneeba backs away and cuts it behind point for a boundary!

5:39 AM IST Tossed up delivery on middle, Muneeba Ali defends it towards mid off.

5:36 AM IST The players are out in the middle. Muneeba Ali and Javeria Khan will open the batting for Pakistan. Nonkululeko Mlaba will start the proceedings for South Africa.