Mithali Raj throws the ball to Deepti Sharma. The Indian core- Mithali, Harmanpreet, Smriti- get together and decide to back Deepti. The team was under pressure as Gayakwad’s 9th over went for 14 runs. Though she had the final laugh against Chloe Tryon as a leading edge led to an easy return catch.
South Africa needs 7 from 6 now. A whole lot of nervous faces around as India’s semi-final opportunity was hanging in balance.
The target looked easy with two of the most experienced players in the middle and with Mignon finding her mojo at the right time. It is South Africa’s game to lose from hereon but again, we have seen some crazy stuff happening in this tournament. Remember the first match?
India needs Deepti to pull off a Dottin.
As the crowd get behind, Deepti runs into bowl the final over. A touch to the square leg helps Chetty to give the strike back to du Preez.
6 from 5.
Full outside off delivery and Mignon comes down the track. She probably wanted to finish off as early as possible. She tries for two runs but the throw from Harmanpreet Kaur is too good that Trisha Chetty had to walk back.
It was Harmanpreet Kaur’s day. With the bat. With the ball. In the field. When she came out to bat, India were 176/3 and Mithali was going strong at the other end but it wasn’t enough on this pitch. India needed Kaur to fire and she answered all the prayers with some powerful hits in the end.
79 minutes. 57 balls. 48 runs. Her knock pushed India to 274/7 in their 50 overs.
She didn’t wait for long to make an impact in the field as a direct hit got Lizelle Lee out. Hours later, When the wickets column dried, Mithali turned to her. In the second over, she got rid of Wolvaardt, who continued her run hunt today as well.
Kaur knew how important that wicket was. A few hugs were shared and she even had tears.
Whenever India were down and out, she brought them back into the game. Moments later, she got the DRS right to dismiss South African skipper Sune Luus.
When South Africa were chasing eight runs per over in their last six, she pushed them under pressure with a good throw to dismiss Kapp.
She was everywhere today along with her emotions which took different turns during different hours of the game.
The run-out brings du Preez back on strike. A couple of singles later, South Africa still needs three from two. Mignon du Preez goes for a big shot and finds long-on. She walks back only to be stopped by the umpire who calls it a no-ball.
When it is your day, it IS your day they say. It was true in the case of Mignon du Preez today. The final no-ball catch wasn’t the only opportunity she had today. There was a missed stumping chance, a drop catch, a tough run-out miss as well.
While things could’ve gone either way, it was certainly a knock to remember from du Preez who was on the verge of producing a repeat of her 2014 T20 World Cup knock against New Zealand which knocked the latter out of the tournament.
As Indian core discuss the field for free-hit, millions of nervous Indian begin to tune in as the streaming numbers increased in lakhs for every single delivery.
On the field, a mixture of emotions followed. Jhulan Goswami, who had to sit out due to side strain, is visibly upset with the no-ball. The Indian camp watches it in disbelief while the core group continues to encourage Deepti. South Africa now needs two from two with Shabnim Ismail on strike.
It wasn’t exactly Ismail’s day with the ball as Shafali Verma destroyed her numbers early in the innings. It looked like the replay of the 3rd T20I against South Africa in 2021 which India went on to win by nine wickets.
A similar opening stand to the game saw South African bowlers go for plenty. It took an unfortunate mix up to put an end to Verma’s innings.
Once Verma got out, she did pull back things to end with 2/42.
Deepti Sharma bowls well in the free hit as Ismail could pick up just a single but it brings back du Preez on strike.
After multiple discussions once again, and a full close-field set-up, Deepti runs in, bowls the final delivery. du Preez flicks one through the mid-wicket and the ball goes between fielders.
Du Preez roars, jumps, punches the air, runs into hug Ismail. India couldn’t do much as they watch the ball go for a boundary.
As India walks back, the players fought tears. The crowd continues to cheer for the team. It puts an end to their campaign, and heartbreakingly, an end to Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami’s World Cup career.
We might not know if we would see them again on the field. It has been a long career and it deserved to end with a cup.
So close yet so far.
Feature image- Kai Schwoerer-ICC / Getty
