Du Preez keeps her cool as Proteas knock India out of World Cup

Mignon du Preez kept her composure and scored an unbeaten half-century as South Africa knocked India out of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in dramatic fashion in Christchurch on Sunday.

South Africa reached 275/7 with Du Preez hitting the last ball of the match through midwicket off Deepti Sharma to seal South Africa’s fifth win of the tournament. Doing so ensured India were eliminated and the West Indies qualified in fourth place and will face Australia in the semifinals. South Africa will play England.

South Africa needed seven to win off the last over, and with Du Preez staying cool, brought that equation down to three needed off two. Then India thought they struck the killer blow when Du Preez holed out to the magnificent Harmanpreet Kaur at long-on, but television replays showed Sharma had bowled a no-ball. It was a very narrow call. Shabnim Ismail struck a single off the free hit, after which Du Preez delivered the coup de grace through midwicket, finishing on 52 not out off 63 balls and hitting just two fours.

South Africa were largely in control of the run chase, thanks to a 125-run second-wicket partnership between Laura Wolvaardt and Lara Goodall. The latter finally answered the plea from the selectors for someone to fulfil the no.3 spot with a well-made 49 off 69 balls, in which she managed to hit the ball into gaps - something she has struggled to do for most of her international career - while also finding the boundary on four occasions.

Wolvaardt delivered another cover driving exhibition in a beautiful innings of 80, that came at better than a run-a-ball and included 11 fours.

The match changed when India went to their spinners, with Rajeshwari Gayakwad got one to turn past the inside edge of Goodall’s bat with Richa Ghosh reacting quickly to complete the stum[ping. In the next over Kaur, who scored 48 earlier and had run out Lizelle Lee, spun through the gate and clean bowled Wolvaardt.

The required rate skyrocketed for the Proteas with India’s spinner tying them in knots, and wickets falling regularly until, Du Preez’s intervention at the end.

INDIA: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Mithali Raj (capt), Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

SOUTH AFRICA: Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus (capt), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka