India vs South Africa, Women’s World Cup 2022 highlights: India miss out on semi-final spot as SA win last-ball thriller

South Africa have won the match by 3 wickets. This will be a tough one to swallow for India. Du Preez, the former South Africa captain, ends with an unbeaten 52 off 63. She flicks the a full ball through mid-wicket and roars in delight. The Indian shoulders sink. Jhulan Goswami walks out to shake hands while Mithali Raj leads her team mates off the field. This may have been the last time we saw these two legendary players in a World Cup. What a knock Mithali played today and what a hand by Harmanpreet in the last few overs and then throughout the South African chase with the ball and in the field. But it was not enough, and India finish fifth in the league stage. 

Du Preez seemed to have holed out at long-on and the Indian players were running everywhere. But then the third umpire signals to the on-field counterpart that Deepti had overstepped and it's a no-ball. The drama. 

SA now need two to win off two

There is about 2 mins between the third and fourth ball of the last over as fielders move around everywhere. Despite all that planning, Ismail manages to take a single and they now need 3 to win off the last 2. 

This game is not for the weak hearted. Du Preez hits it to long-on and wants two. She gets to 50 off the first run but Chetty cannot make her ground for the second and India get another wicket. 

Trisha Chetty run out (Harmanpreet/Deepti) 7 (7), SA 270/7, need 5 to win off 4.  

Deepti Sharma will bowl the last over. India are two overs ahead in the over rate and so take their own sweet time in setting up the field and finalising plans. 

Mithali throws the ball back to Rajeshwari Gayakwad so she will finish her 10 overs. It looks like Harmanpreet Kaur might bowl the last. 

This match continues to swing one way and another. Tryon smacks a third four off Gayakwad in the 47th over, and then hits it straight back to the bowler off the very next ball. What next? 

Tryon c&b Gayakwad 17 (9), SA 255/6 off 47 overs, need 20 to win off 18 balls 

After Du Preez ends the 46th with back to back fours, Tryon starts the 47th with two boundaries on the trot. That brings the equation down to 26 needed off 22. 

Du Preez ends the 46th with back-to-back fours and South Africa now need 34 to win off 24. The former SA skipper moves to off stump early and flicks Vastrakar behind square. 

Du Preez sends Vastrakar down the ground for an important boundary off the penultimate ball of the 46th over bowled by Vastrakar. SA need 38 to win off 25. 

Full ball on off from Gayakwad that is played to cover-point. As has been the case for the last few overs, the batters set off for a tight single, Harmanpreet runs accross, throws it underarm to the keeper who is swift to break the wickets. Kapp is well outside the crease as replays show and India get another. We have a thriller unfolding here. 

Kapp run out (Harmanpreet/Ghosh) 32 (30), South Africa 229/5

Du Preez completely miscues the shot off Gayakwad and the ball is going straight down the throat of Mandhana at long-on. But she drops it leading to collective sights around the Indian camp. 

Kapp and Du Preez take runs at the smallest of chances and that has put all kinds of pressure on the Indian fielders. Need 49 to win to win off 36 balls. 

Kapp slices Sneh Rana to backward point off the first ball of the 44th and the fielder is unable to stop it. The ball runs away for four. Not the kind of thing India can afford at the moment. 

Five singles in that over and while the required rate has touched 8.00, the fact remains that India are wiping the ball vigorously with due increasingly becoming an issue. Additionally, South Africa still have a lot of firepower in their lineup so India have their work cut out here. 

SA are 198/4, need 77 to win off 60 balls. South Africa continue to tick away the singles and doubles but the require run rate continues to creep up for them. They only need one big over here and the equation will shift their way again. For now, India have their noses ahead. 

Full ball from Harmanpreet that beats the flick from Sune Luus and India appeal. Umpire gives not out but India take the review. As it turns out, Harmanpreet got prodigious turn on it and the ball is hitting leg stump, after an impact that fell in front of off. 

Luus LBW b Kaur 22 (27), SA 182/4 off 36.1 overs

Full toss from Rana for the second ball of the 36th over, Du Preez comes down the track and smacks it straight it back to her. Rana gets a hand on it to ensure it's a dot ball but she has hurt herself in the process. The physio comes out and Rana pops a pill. Still seems to be strugglind she she prepares to bowl the next ball. 

They need 113 runs to win off 108 balls. India still have a long way to go, Mignon du Preez and and Sune Luus are still a formidable pair and they still have Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon left to come. 

Can you believe it, Harmanpreet of all bowlers has dismissed Woolvardt. The South Africa has missed this one completely as she is beaten by the sharp spin. The ball just goes past the outside edge and takes the stumps. Harmanpreet is off to celebrate, she knows how big this wicket is and India have their tails up now. 

Woolvardt b Harmanpreet 80 (79), South Africa 145/3 in 27.5 overs

Goodall falls just one run short of her half century. Gayakwad flights the ball and Goodall comes down the pitch, misses it entirely and Ghosh completes the stumping with the batter caught completely outside her crease. 

Laura Goodall st Ghosh b Gayakwad 49 (69), SA 139/2 off 26.5 overs

Short over Gayakwad and Goodall manages to get the ball just over midwicket. A few Indian lights may have lit up there. 

The skipper is desperate for wickets now, conditions seem to be absolutely perfect for batting. Mithali ends up handing the ball to Harmanpreet, who is yet to bowl in this tournament. 

South Africa 133/1 in 25 overs

It seems to go from bad to worse for India. The players can be seen wiping the ball with towels as Sneh Rana bowls the 25th over. As if it hasn't been difficult enough for India to contain the flow of runs, let alone challenge these two batters, dew seems to be coming in to play as well. 

And it has come in just 99 balls. Wolvaardt is on 66 off 62 while Goodall is on 37 off 49. SA are 114/1 in 21 overs.