Women's World Cup 2022: India eye semi-final berth, take on South Africa in must-win match
India Today
Women's World Cup 2022: India need to beat South Africa in their final league game on Sunday to keep their campaign alive and seal a spot in the semi-final of the tournament.
India face South Africa in their final league game of Women's World Cup 2022 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday with a spot in the semi-final up for grabs. Mithali Raj's girls still have their destiny in tahr own hands as a win against the Proteas women will assure them a spot in the last four.
India are currently at the 5th spot with 6 points from as many matches, a point less than West Indies who have already completed their quota of 7 matches. With New Zealand already out of contention for the semi-final spot, it's a 3-way race between India, England and the West Indies.
England, who also have 6 points from as many matches, face Bangladesh in the first match on Sunday in a bid to keep their title defense alive.
In case India lose to South Africa, their only hope of advancing to the semifinals will be if England, who have a better NRR (+0.778), also lose their last league stage match to Bangladesh and finish on a lower NRR.
India can also progress if their last league game is washed out due to rain as a point will be enough for them to leapfrog the West Indies.
India's inconsistent batting came to the fore yet again in an otherwise 110-run win against Bangladesh, and skipper Raj would be keen to improve on that aspect against a challenging South African bowling attack.
"Tomorrow is a crucial game and everyone knows that. They are all ready to give their 100 percent. Whoever goes out to bat goes out thinking we have to get partnerships and back each other," Shafali Verma said on the eve of the all-importtant match.
