Ayabonga Khaka to Harleen Deol, Four! The short ball is dispatched. Square cut played and the ball races towards the boundaryline.
Ayabonga Khaka to Harleen Deol, No run, the off drive is played but it is stopped.
Nadine de Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, No run, the batter has just watchfully blocked this out.
Nadine de Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR!
Nadine de Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, Jemimah Rodrigues has just watchfully blocked this out.
Nadine de Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, Length ball at the stumps, Jemimah Rodrigues defends it out.
Nadine de Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! Jemimah Rodrigues drives this through the covers and the ball races away to the fence.
Nadine de Klerk to Jemimah Rodrigues, Nadine de Klerk starts her spell with a fullish-length delivery around middle and gets the ball to shape away a bit. Jemimah Rodrigues strokes it towards cover.
Ayabonga Khaka to Harleen Deol, Keeps it back of a length and bowls it around off, Harleen Deol just eases it toward backward point.
Ayabonga Khaka to Harleen Deol, Back of a length around off, Harleen Deol hangs back and dabs it down toward short third man.
Ayabonga Khaka to Harleen Deol, At the stumps and pushed out by Deol.
Ayabonga Khaka to Harleen Deol, Length again around middle, Harleen Deol clips it straight to mid-wicket.
Ayabonga Khaka to Jemimah Rodrigues, Back of a length around off, this is played off the back foot on the off side for a single.
Ayabonga Khaka to Jemimah Rodrigues, Ayabonga Khaka comes into the attack and starts off with a length ball at the stumps. Jemimah Rodrigues blocks it out.
Shabnim Ismail to Harleen Deol, Good shot for no run. This is full and straight, Deol drives it straight to mid on. Still, no runs conceded off the bat by Shabnim Ismail.
Shabnim Ismail to Harleen Deol, That has zipped through! Banged in short and outside off, the ball hits the deck and zips through as Harleen Deol makes a leave.
Shabnim Ismail to Jemimah Rodrigues, Leg bye! Goes full now and tries to attack the pads, Jemimah Rodrigues looks to flick it away but misses. The ball goes off the pads and toward backward square leg. There is a stifled appeal for lbw but the batters cross for a leg bye.
Shabnim Ismail to Jemimah Rodrigues, A touch fuller and around middle, Jemimah Rodrigues flicks it straight to mid-wicket.
Shabnim Ismail to Jemimah Rodrigues, A bit of yes and no but no harm is done. Length ball around middle, Jemimah Rodrigues forces it to mid on and looks for the single but decides against it.
Shabnim Ismail to Jemimah Rodrigues, Good length around middle, Jemimah Rodrigues tucks it to mid-wicket.
Harleen Deol is in at number 3.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Smriti Mandhana, OUT! TIMBER! Nonkululeko Mlaba sends Smriti Mandhana packing for a duck and she is delighted. Mlaba flights it up on a length and on middle and leg stump. Mandhana dances down the track and looks to heave it across the line but gets completely betaen in the flight. The ball turns in a bit as well and crashes into the leg stump. South Africa Women with a big early breakthrough here.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Smriti Mandhana, Flatter one around off, Smriti Mandhana cuts it straight to point.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Jemimah Rodrigues and India Women are finally off the mark! Tossed up around middle, Rodrigues heaves it uppishly toward the mid-wicket region and picks up a single.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Short and wide, Jemimah Rodrigues cuts it hard off the back foot but fails to get it through.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Nicely bowled! Flighted delivery, drifted onto middle and this one turns away after pitching. Jemimah Rodrigues looks to defend off the front foot but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to Jemimah Rodrigues, Starts off with a looped-up delivery, full and outside off. Jemimah Rodrigues just leaves it alone for the keeper to collect.
Nonkululeko Mlaba to operate from the other end.
Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, A maiden to begin with! Hard length around the off stump, Smriti Mandhana chops it straight towards point.
Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, Five dots in a row to start with! A good bumper now from Shabnim Ismail, over the stumps and Smriti Mandhana does well to get her head out of the way.
Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, Short of a length in that channel around off and angling across. Smriti Mandhana backs away and chops it in front of the gully region.
Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, Back of a length and over middle, Smriti Mandhana hops on the back foot and keeps it out in front of covers.
Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, Keeps it short and outside off, Smriti Mandhana hangs deep in her crease and eases it down to backward point.
Shabnim Ismail to Smriti Mandhana, Starts off with a shortish delivery angling across the left-hander. Smriti Mandhana stands tall and taps it to the right of backward point. Laura Wolvaardt there makes a sharp stop and seems to have hurt her fingers. Laura is off the field along with the physio and hopefully, she is fine.
Done with the pre-game formalities and it is now time to get the ball rolling. The two umpires make their way out to the middle and the South Africa Women's team is seen in a huddle before taking the field as well. It will be Jemimah Rodrigues to open the innings for India Women alongside Smriti Mandhana. Shabnim Ismail has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...
We are just a few minutes away from the start of the game. But first, the two sets of players will line up for their respective national anthems. It will be India's national anthem first, followed by the national anthem of South Africa.
Jemimah Rodrigues is up for a quick chat as well. She says that the week has been pretty good and they have gotten a decent amount of break between games as well. Adds that the series has given the opportunity to try out different players and tweak the lineup as well. On opening the batting, she says that there's not much difference between opening and batting at number 3 and it is all about doing her best. Mentions that even though it is a final they only want to follow the process regardless of the win or loss.
Laura Wolvaardt is down for a quick chat. She says that it will be a great match today. Adds that preparation is key and this is probably the last game before the World Cup that will give them clarity. Says that she hopes to take some good form into the World Cup. Adds that she is excited to have home support at the upcoming World Cup and is ready to perform in front of her family and friends as well.
India Women (Playing XI) - Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Devika Vaidya, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Sneh Rana (In for Shikha Pandey).
South Africa Women (Playing XI) - Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt, Lara Goodall (In for Marizanne Kapp), Sune Luus (C), Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka (In for Tumi Sekhukhune), and Nonkululeko Mlaba.
🚨 Toss Update 🚨 @ImHarmanpreet has won the toss & #TeamIndia have elected to bat against South Africa in Tri-serie… https://t.co/s3derf1Iss
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) 1675341163000TOSS - India Women have won the toss and they will BAT first.
(IANS Photo)