SA-W vs IND-W

The big-billing contest promised and it delivered in some style, this group A is now wide open. Australia sit at the top with 3 wins out of 3 and the race will be for the second spot most likely and it could come down to the final league game between India and Australia. Time to draw the curtains from here, this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Bala taking your leave. Good bye!

Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa Women captain): We were very stressed on the bench. To win from that position is incredible, one of the best knocks I have seen.

(on Marizanne Kapp) Think she is probably the biggest big-match player I have ever seen, glad to have her on my side. She was not really feeling well today but I would like her to not feel great if she can play like this everyday (laughs). The way she played was incredible, the competitive nature that she has brings out the best in her. She is two players in one, always brings out the best when there is a World Cup or something on the line. The way she bowled, in the previous game and then to play a knock like that was incredible

(on the chase overall) Did not get ahead of it from the start, we would have wanted to get ahead because we knew it would get hard against the spin but we needed something incredible and that happened thankfully. We can be much better, specially getting off strike. 

(the first inings) The way they started off with the bat, they were absolutely flying. From there, our bowlers were excellent in the middle with the change of pace and kept the stumps in play. We would have taken 160 before the start of the game. If we had lost today, we would have been pretty much out of the tournament but good to get this one out of the way with a couple of big games to go

Harmanpreet Kaur (India captain): "I think we got a couple of chances in between, but unfortunately we weren't able to take them. We still have two matches to go, and this is the time to stay positive and focus on those games. I thought Shree Charani and Shafali bowled really well. They were creating chances, but unfortunately the other bowlers couldn't support them enough. We always talk about taking opportunities at this level, but unfortunately we weren't able to do that today. We still have two more games, and now our focus has to be on those matches. We still have a couple of days before the next match. We'll sit together, reassess what we need to do better, and then decide on the playing XI accordingly. (On Marizanne Kapp) She was brilliant today and took the game away from us. Having said that, she gave us two crucial chances, but unfortunately we couldn't take them. At this level, if you miss those opportunities, teams won't give you anything easily. Those were key moments, and they ended up making a big difference. The ball was turning a bit, and if you used your fingers well, there was assistance from the surface. I thought Shafali and Charani did really well. The other spinners also need to think about how they can adapt and bowl effectively on wickets like these. There have been a lot of learnings, a lot of positive moments, and also moments like these where you need to stay strong and positive. That's what the game has taught me. Right now, it's about remaining positive, thinking about what we need to do in the upcoming games, and supporting my teammates. This is the time to give them confidence, keep the environment positive, and hopefully we'll come back strongly as a group in the next two matches."

Marizanne Kapp is the player of the match for her 81* off 45 balls & 2/27 in 4 overs: "First of all, thank you to the crowd. That was amazing. It was a tough game. Playing India is always extremely challenging, and I'm really proud of the team for the way we fought back and responded. I was just praying! I usually do a little better when I come in earlier. I struggled for my first 10 to 15 balls before eventually finding my timing. Then I just put my head down and got on with it. The partnership with Tazmin (Brits) set things up beautifully for us. This isn't the easiest place to bat because you can't let the run rate get away from you, but at the same time you can't afford to lose wickets. We felt that if we could keep it under 10 an over, we'd be in the game because we had the power hitters to come later. We stayed patient, and once we started being a little more positive, things began to work for us. We knew they would come hard, especially on a wicket that was a bit flat with the ball. You're always nervous when you're up against an Indian side because they have some wonderful players. But the way we pulled things back with the ball was probably what saved us today. Honestly, I feel like these Indian fans are shouting my name, so I don't mind the crowd too much."

5:52 PM local time, 10:22 PM IST: MATCH SUMMARY

South Africa Women (161/4 in 19.1 overs) beat India Women (158/7 in 20 overs)

Marizanne Kapp 81*(45) & 2/27(4)
Shafali Verma 31(15) | Sree Charani 3/24(4)

Take a bow, Marizanne Kapp! A career-best performance for arguably the best all-rounder going around the world has kept South Africa in this World Cup. India would look back at the dropped catches, Kapp was dropped twice by Radha Yadav out of all people and they have paid the price in Manchester

The South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt is all applause, she knows she was witnessed something extraordinary in front of her eyes today and these are the types of days that can turn around a campaign. Third-highest successful run chase in Women's T20 WCs and the highest ever for South Africa in the tournament's history

Very rarely does it happen in cricket at this level that one person is pretty much responsible for the win but it was one of those days for Marizanne Kapp, she walked into bat with South Africa in a hole at 25/2 in the sixth over. South Africa were not allowed to breathe in the powerplay, the Indian bowlers did a brilliant job in applying the chokehold. Sree Charani finished off the powerplay with a double-wicket maiden. It is anyways very rare to see a double-wicket maiden in T20s but to see that in a losing cause is unheard of

Kapp came in and she was a bit dodgy in the first few balls, so was Brits from the other end who hardly went past the run-a-ball mark but importanly both of them stuck around until Kapp found her groove. As they say though, catches win matches and had Radha Yadav taken either of Kapp's two chances at long-on the result would have been different

Not to take anything away from one of the best innings of the tournament though, Kapp kept her composure till the very end. Brits departed on 40 off 36 and then de Klerk went cheaply too but Kapp took matters in her own hands and it was almost like a divine force from above was guiding her through. South Africa win the first-ever match between these two sides in a T20 WC and they stay alive in this tournament handing India their first loss of the campaign

19.1 Nandani Sharma to Chloe Tryon, FOUR! South Africa completes a famous win at Old Trafford! Length ball outside off. Tryon jabs at it and gets a thick outside edge that races away fine

18.6 Deepti Sharma to Marizanne Kapp, SIX! BANG! Kapp punches in the air. She knows the game is well and truly in the bag now. It's been a special innings from her. Slot ball on the leg-stump, clears the front leg and launches it over the cow corner fence

Abhinav: "India was atleast 20 runs short today and that deficit is increasing the pressure now. South Africans did brilliant batting and they are showing how chase this kind of target."
They will be thanking Kapp and Radha Yadav

18.3 Deepti Sharma to Marizanne Kapp, SIX! Big hit in the context of the game.! There are four fielders in the deep and Kapp still takes it on. Deepti lands this one in the slot and she slogs it over the mid-wicket fence

18.2 Deepti Sharma to Chloe Tryon, slow through the air once again, giving no pace for the batter to work with. Drags it across to deep mid-wicket