India vs Ireland Highlights, Women's T20 World Cup 2023: India qualify for semi-finals, beat Ireland by 5 runs (DLS)

Smriti Mandhana scored career-best 87 as India qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup on Monday after registering a five-run victory, via DLS method, over Ireland in a rain-truncated match at St George's Park in Gqeberha. With the victory, India finished the group stage with six points from four games.

Right then. That's it from the coverage of this game. The Women's T20 World Cup action will continue on 21st February with a double-header coming your way. In the first match, it will be England Women taking on Pakistan Women at 6.30 pm IST (1 pm GMT). Followed by a game between the hosts, South Africa Women who will be locking horns against Bangladesh Women. This match will start at 10.30 pm IST (5 pm GMT). But as you all know you can join us early for the build-up. See you then. Cheers!

Harmanpreet Kaur, the victorious skipper says that it was a good game for them. Adds that Smriti getting some runs is good for them and getting runs at the top order was important for them. Tells that she hasn't had much time on the middle and that's why she went to bat at number 3. Mentions that it means a lot making it to another semi-final and the hard work has paid off. Tells that playing against Australia is always enjoyable and they will give their best to get the better of them.

Laura Delany, the captain of Ireland Women is in for a chat. She starts by saying that the rain came out of nowhere and they were not prepared for it. Mentions that she and Gaby Lewis focused on building a solid stand. Thinks that they are going from strength to strength and is certain that they are going in the right direction.

Smriti Mandhana wins the Player of the Match award for her exceptional outing with the bat. On being enquired about the injury, she says that the finger is fine now. Adds that it was one of the toughest innings that she played and says that the wicket was on the slower side. Tells that she wanted to stick around and once set then go big. Mentions that she and Verma was not timing the ball as they are not used to this pace of bowling and the wind was making it difficult too. Ends by saying that she is not sure if this was the perfect preparation before the semis but scoring runs was a good feeling and they learned a lot from the their previous game against England Women.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

It's all over! India beat Ireland by 5 runs (DLS) to qualify for semi-finals

Well, well! The inevitable has happened and the rain gods have the last laugh here. THE MATCH HAS BEEN ABANDONED and it is India Women who win the game by 5 runs (DLS method). A dagger through the heart for Ireland Women, as they had just got back on track in this chase when the rain started to pour down. Ireland Women were off to a horrendous start as they lost 2 wickets in the very first over with just 1 run on the scoreboard. Gaby Lewis and Laura Delany consolidated really well and managed to accelerate their innings as well but the rain came in at the wrong time you would say. If Ireland Women would've held on to their catches and got the better of Smriti Mandhana a little earlier, then the things could've been very different. So, in the end, India Women make their way into the semi-finals, their third one in a row.

UPDATE - The word from the middle is that the rain is still falling down and the cut-off time is 10.03 pm IST (4.33 pm GMT). We hope that we can still see some action here. Stay with us.

UPDATE: We are losing overs now. The cut-off time to start the match is 10:03 PM IST (18:33 local time)

UPDATE 9.20 pm IST (3.50 pm GMT) - It looks like the rain in hanging around for quite some time, although the sun is trying very hard to sneak through. Although, it won't be surprising to see if we start losing over soon. Lets hope we get going again. Stick around for further updates.

* The DLS par score after 8.2 overs is 59.

Rain stops play! Ireland 54/2 in 8.2 overs vs India 155/6. Ireland are 5 runs behind the DRS par score at the moment

UPDATE 8.40 pm IST (3.20 pm GMT) - The rain is getting heavier now. The two umpires converge and ask the ground staff to get the covers out on the field. The staff is quick to respond although the real battle is to put the covers on in such windy conditions. So according to the DLS method India Women are in front here. Hopefully the wind succeeds it pushing away the dark clouds as soon as possible. 

Pooja Vastrakar to Gaby Lewis, Pooja Vastrakar loses her line and serves this full way outside off, Gaby Lewis leaves it alone. Wided.

Pooja Vastrakar to Gaby Lewis, Back of a length and outside off, Gaby Lewis mistimes her cut towards point.

Pooja Vastrakar to Gaby Lewis, Short of a length and on off, Gaby Lewis slaps it towards mid on.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Gaby Lewis, Slightly shorter and around off, Gaby Lewis punches it off the back foot towards sweeper covers for one more.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Laura Delany, Tossed up, full and on middle, Laura Delany slog-sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

50 comes up for Ireland -- 50/2 in 7.2 overs | Gaby Lewis 30* & Laura Delany 16*

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Laura Delany, Slower through the air, on off, turning away, Laura Delany dabs it towards backward point.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Gaby Lewis, Short again and on middle, Gaby Lewis moves back and clips it through mid-wicket for another run. With that, the 50-run partnership comes up between these two batters.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Laura Delany, Short and outside off, Laura Delany cuts it towards deep point for a run. 50 up for Ireland Women!

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Gaby Lewis, Aerial and safe again! Rajeshwari Gayakwad starts with a floated delivery, full and on off, Gaby Lewis looks for the sweep, but gets a top edge just over the keeper for a single.

Shikha Pandey to Gaby Lewis, In the air...safe! This is pitched up, on middle, Gaby Lewis swipes across the line, but gets a top edge. However, the ball lands safely wide of deep square leg. A single is taken.

The wind is blowing ferociously here. The hats are coming off for the umpires, the bails are flying and to make it a bit worse, it has started to drizzle again. Certainly not the best conditions for a game of cricket.

Shikha Pandey to Laura Delany, Length again and on middle, Laura Delany nudges it towards square leg for one.

Shikha Pandey to Laura Delany, This is on a good length and on off, angling in, Laura Delany looks to cut it away from close to her body, but misses.

Shikha Pandey to Laura Delany, Pulls her length back a bit and on off, Laura Delany pushes it towards point.

Shikha Pandey to Gaby Lewis, Full again and outside off, Gaby Lewis slices it towards deep backward point for a run.

Shikha Pandey to Laura Delany, Fuller one and around off, Laura Delany drives it towards deep point for a single.

End of Powerplay! Ireland 44/2 after 6 overs | Gaby Lewis 27* & Laura Delany 13*

Deepti Sharma to Gaby Lewis, FOUR! Gaby Lewis connects this time! This is looped up, full and on middle, Gaby Lewis goes down and nails her sweep towards the deep square leg fence for a boundary. Ireland Women are 44/2 at the end of the Powerplay!

Deepti Sharma to Gaby Lewis, Flighted, full and on middle, Gaby Lewis goes for the sweep, but misses and gets hit on the pads as the ball just rolls past the stumps.

Deepti Sharma to Gaby Lewis, A low full toss, on middle, Gaby Lewis drives it straight to mid on again.

Deepti Sharma to Gaby Lewis, Gives this one some air, on middle, Gaby Lewis knocks it towards mid on.

Deepti Sharma to Gaby Lewis, Darts this one full and down the leg, Gaby Lewis misses her sweep. Wided.

Deepti Sharma to Gaby Lewis, Floated, full and on off, Gaby Lewis paddle sweeps it towards fine leg where a fumble allows the second run.

Deepti Sharma to Gaby Lewis, FOUR! Gaby Lewis greets Deepti Sharma with a boundary! Deepti Sharma starts with a tossed up delivery, full and on off, Gaby Lewis reverse sweeps it past the keeper and towards the third man fence for boundary.

Change. Deepti Sharma now comes into the attack.

Shikha Pandey to Gaby Lewis, Shikha Pandey now serves a length ball, attacking the stumps. Gaby Lewis taps it to cover and takes off to the other end. This is really good running.

Shikha Pandey to Gaby Lewis, FOUR! Good shot! A length ball, on middle and leg. Gaby Lewis swivels on her back foot and pulls it through square leg for a fine boundary.

Shikha Pandey to Gaby Lewis, Much fuller, wide of off. Lewis leans in and drives it towards sweeper cover for a brace.

Shikha Pandey to Laura Delany, A length ball, on the pads. Delany flicks it to square leg for one.

Shikha Pandey to Laura Delany, Beaten! On a length, outside off. Delany slashes hard away from her body but does not connect.

Shikha Pandey to Gaby Lewis, A length ball, on fifth stump. Lewis stands tall and hits it straight down the ground to mid off. They take a single.

Shikha Pandey comes into the attack now.