The last league match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 was played on Sunday between India and South Africa. With South Africa having already qualified for the semi-finals, it was a do-or-die match for India.
An India win would mean that they would advance to the semi-finals and an India loss would mean that the West Indies would make it to the top four to play the semi-finals. Early in the day, England became the third team after Australia and South Africa to qualify for the semi-finals as they beat Bangladesh by 100 runs.
With regards to the India-South Africa match, it went all the way down the wire to the very last ball, thanks to some exciting cricket played by both teams. Chasing 275 in 50 overs, South Africa were almost running away with the game till the halfway stage, but suddenly India applied brakes and the Proteas needed 77 runs off the last 10 overs with six wickets in hand. The fortunes of the match were swinging from one team to the other and so was the win predictor. Finally, South Africa, as they had already done in their four wins in this World Cup snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on the ultimate ball of the match to beat India by three wickets and shatter India’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Celebrations in West Indies Women’s Cricket Camp. #CWC22 #teamWestIndies pic.twitter.com/1xHhq8BtNR
— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) March 27, 2022
Apart from the two teams, that is India and South Africa, that were involved in the game, a third team in the form of the West Indies also went through the ebbs and flows of the match. During the live broadcast of the India-South Africa match, there were a few clippings shown of the West Indies team, who were sitting together in their team hotel and watching the match.
Clearly, they were supporting South Africa as they wanted them to win so that instead of India, they could qualify for the semi-finals. The last over was quite intense. Deepti Sharma bowled the last over with seven runs to defend. Sharma kept it tight for the first four balls as she conceded a run a ball. With three runs to get off the last two balls and Mignon du Preez on strike, Sharma got the better of du Preez as she was caught at long on by Harmanpreet Kaur. The Indians started celebrating and there were exactly contrasting emotions in the West Indian camp. However, the Indian celebrations could not last for long as the umpire called it a no-ball. The Indian team, including Sharma, who had not bowled a single no-ball till then bowled one at the most crucial juncture of the match. South Africa needed two runs off two balls and they completed the formalities on the very last ball of the match.
ALL EMOTIONS FROM WEST INDIES WOMEN’S CRICKET TEAM!! #CWC22 #TeamWestIndies
— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) March 27, 2022
As soon as Mignon du Preez hit that winning run, there were celebrations in the West Indian camp. Their joy knew no bounds and some of the West Indian players even thanked South Africa. They were shouting and jumping in happiness as they had advanced to the semi-finals. The visuals of their wild celebrations were indeed a splendid spectacle.
Today’s match between India and South Africa was not just a game of bat and ball, it was a game filled with emotions as a plethora of them were on offer in the last league match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.
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I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.