India’s
defeat to South Africa by three wickets in a nerve-wrenching match of the ICC
Women’s World Cup paved the way for West Indies’ qualification to the
semifinal.

Also Read: South Africa beat India, Mithali Raj and co eliminated from Women’s World Cup

The
West Indies players assembled in their hotel room to watch the match between India
and South Africa and were eagerly waiting for the result as their future in
the tournament was depending upon this match. 

India’s
defeat meant West Indies will now face Australia in the first semifinal at
Basin Reserve in Wellington on Wednesday.

Also Read: India’s Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia gain in ICC ODI rankings, Mithali Raj slips

As
luck would have it or them, South Africa reached the 275-run target on the last
ball after some drama in the 50th over, where a no-ball was bowled.

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South
Africa’s win means Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami’s dream of winning the World
Cup has been crushed.

The
South African side got a reprieve in the final over after batter Mignon Du
Preez survived a dismissal from spinner Deepti Sharma, who bowled a no-ball.
The Proteas batter was called back to the crease after the on-field umpire
called it a no-ball.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2022: How can India qualify for semi-finals?

Indian
skipper Mithali Raj scored 68 in 84 deliveries and was assisted by innings
opener Smriti Mandhana, who managed to add 71 runs to India’s tally.

Harmanpreet
Kaur, however, missed out on a half-century on Sunday against the South African
side after being bowled out Ayabonga Khaka. She secured 48 runs in 57
deliveries and maintained a strike rate of 84.21 at the end of her innings.

South
African opening batter Laura Wolvaardt was the highest scoring player of the
day with a strike rate of 101.27. She scored 80 runs off 79 deliveries–
including 11 boundaries– before being dismissed by Harmanpreet Kaur.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup: Mithali Raj proud of India, thanks fans after loss vs South Africa

Harmanpreet
Kaur’s direct hit of the stumps in the fifth over of the South African innings
was another highlight of the game. Lizelle Lee went for a risky run, however,
Kaur threw the ball towards the stumps with precision and dismissed Lee, who
had scored only six runs.

According
to a social media post from BCCI, Indian skipper Mandhana was already the
youngest Indian to score a half-century in the Women’s World Cup, however, her
innings on Sunday also made her the oldest Indian to score a half-century in
the tournament.

Also Read: ICC women’s world cup: West Indies face Aus, Eng to battle SA in semifinals

In
the second semifinal, South Africa will play England at the Hagley Oval,
Christchurch on March 31.