Women's WC: Semifinal berth at stake as India face SA in must-win game

Their destiny in their own hands, India will go all out to brush off an inconsistent run and seal a semifinal berth in the Women’s World Cup when they play South Africa in a do-or-die match on Sunday. So far in the tournament, the 2017 runners-up haven’t fired in the manner they would have like to.

With three wins and as many losses India, who are in the fifth spot with six points in the overall standings, find themselves in a must-win situation heading into their final league match.

Their semifinal chances were dented when West Indies, who are also vying to advance to the knockout stage, and South Africa’s match was washed out with the former moving up to seven points earlier this week. A win on Sunday will see India advance to the last four, and a point from the game will also work for the Mithali Rajled side, as they have a superior NRR (+0.768) than West Indies (-0.890).

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. That seems unlikely, though. But the ‘Women in Blue’ would want to hold all the cards and also get a two-match winning momentum going into the semifinals.

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.

“Today match 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 at the prematch press conference.