West Indies Women vs South Africa Women, 20th Match, Group B - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

So, as it stands the semifinal line-ups - India v England, semifinal 1 and South Africa v Australia, semifinal 2. Both games are scheduled on the same day (Thursday, March 5) and it is again in Sydney (SCG) where there is rain prediction for the entire day. There are no reserve days as well. Hopefully it turns out like the Men's Big Bash final where there was no chance of play but the rain did subside and we got a 12-over contest. That's it from us. Catch you all on Thursday. Till then, goodbye and take care..

Anisa Mohammad | West Indies captain: We are really disappointed with how the tournament went. Our batting let us down but we will try and take the positives from it. The players need to have little more confidence. They all hit the ball really well but it is a matter of coming out there and executing it. She (Taylor) has a groin strain and will be out for a while. We have a regional tournament coming up in a couple of weeks and after that we will be playing South Africa then we have three World Cup qualifiers against Sri Lanka. Credit to South Africa. They have played well in the last two weeks and hopefully they can go on and win the tournament.

Dan van Niekerk | South Africa captain: I couldn't have asked for anything better. Coming into the tournament our goal was to get to the semifinal and we got there with a game to spare. Obviously not great not to have a game but it was nice of us to get to the semis before this game. I think it is a bad (not get a game) as we had the momentum going with us and when it is going that well it is nice to play as much cricket as we can especially going into the semis you want to play more cricket, but I am just glad we secured the semis. Generally in these tournaments we used to lose the crucial moments and in this tournament whenever we were down we got back up again. It is a testament to the whole team and the management as well. We have never beaten them (Australia) and we really want to beat them and what better way to do it than in a World Cup semifinal. It is going to be a tough game as they have the experience in the big matches. Hopefully everything clicks together for us on that day. We haven't really fired at the top and that has put pressure on the middle order and though everybody has done well, it is important for me and Lizelle to give us a good start.

20:49 Local Time, 09:49 GMT, 15:19 IST: There comes the confirmation. The match has been abandoned. Both teams will share a point and that point is enough for South Africa to overtake England in the group and top the table. West Indies are tied on points with Pakistan but a better NRR sees them take the third spot. The rain just didn't relent and give the groundsmen any chance.

20:37 Local Time, 09:37 GMT, 15:07 IST: The inspection that was supposed to take place at 20:30 has been pushed by 15 minutes. The inevitable is just being postponed as the rain continues to fall in Sydney.

20:15 Local Time, 09:15 GMT, 14:45 IST: Still raining. An inspection is scheduled for 20:30 local. But the chances of getting a game in are looking bleak. Alan Wilkins on air informs that the cut-off time for a 10-over contest is 21:30 local.

19:16 Local Time, 08:16 GMT, 13:46 IST: Rain, rain and more of it as Dane van Niekerk, the South Africa skipper, tests the outfield with a bit of palming around. The square is firmly under covers and we start losing overs in about 29 minutes from now. Fingers crossed for some action!!

Here are the possible scenarios in case rain plays spoilsport:
>> If this game - West Indies v South Africa - gets washed out, both teams will share a point each and that would mean South Africa finish on top in Group B.
>> Assuming a wash-out or a South Africa win, the first semi-final will be India v England followed by the second i.e., South Africa v Australia on Thursday.
>> If South Africa lose to West Indies, England will end up as the group-toppers and it would be an India v South Africa semi-final 1, followed by arch-rivals England v Australia in the next.
>> If both games on the semi-finals day get washed out, India (from Group A) and whosoever finishes on top (between South Africa and England) will lock horns in the finals.

18:32 Local Time, 07:32 GMT, 13:02 IST: The toss has been delayed as the rain continues to fall at a steady pace. There is a high chance, if the game happens, this could be a shortened affair and let's hope the rain disappears quickly.

18:50 Local Time, 07:20 GMT, 12:50 IST: No good news to welcome you with for the last league game of the 2020 World T20. With a few things at stake for both South Africa and West Indies, the rain might have the last say to the encounter. The first game between Pakistan and Thailand saw only the first innings completed as the steady drizzle turned heavier to play spoilsport. It is continuing to rain in Sydney and we are surely in for a delayed start. South Africa, who have played some excellent cricket and won all their three games, won't mind the rain as an abandoned game will ensure they finish top of group B. Meanwhile, West Indies, the former champions, have had a forgettable tournament; losing to Pakistan and England, currently fourth in the table and would want to end their campaign with a win. But the rain has to subside for that. Fingers crossed and hang around for the updates..

Preview:

South Africa find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. That after they've already qualified. A win in their last league game against West Indies will mean they will face a peaking-at-the-right-time Australia in the semis and a defeat would square them off against the unbeaten Indian side. That said, teams in such a tournament would rather have winning momentum on their side heading into the knockouts than try figuring out which opposition suits them better and lose their way a bit.

South Africa went into the tournament with a middling T20 form since the last World Cup, expected to rely heavily on the likes of Mignon du Preez and Sune Luus. While Du Preez pulled them over the line in the "upset" win over England in her 100th T20I, Luus smashed a half-century against Thailand. South Africa have also benefited from Lizelle Lee's batting returns, who is now the only South African in the list of top-ten batters in the tournament.

More crucial was Laura Wolvaardt's whirlwind half-century, against Pakistan, that went a long way in securing South Africa's semifinal passage. With the ball, Shabnim Ismail has expectedly led the way but the three group games so far has seen a bowling unit performing in complete cohesion - something they could definitely take to the last-four.

While South Africa used their unexpected victory over one of the tournament favourites England as a springboard for the group stages, West Indies couldn't quite replicate that after flying off the blocks with a win over Thailand. Despite Stafanie Taylor's best efforts, a deflating defeat to Pakistan in their next game threw West Indies off the rails. They headed into the game against England in a must-win situation and came away with a humbling. They could do with a victory to round of an otherwise underwhelming campaign.

When: West Indies vs South Africa, 07:00 PM Local time, 1:30 PM IST

Where: Sydney Showground stadium

Team News

West Indies: Stafanie Taylor - their captain and mainstay with 5 wickets and 84 runs - had to be stretchered off in West Indies' previous fixture after suffering a groin injury and has subsequently been ruled out of their final encounter.

South Africa: The Dane van Niekerk-led side will be buoyed by Marizanne Kapp's strong return in the previous game - against Pakistan - after sitting out the Thailand fixture due to an illness. Kapp though did not bowl, but normal service is likely to resume after that rest.

Squads:

West Indies Women Squad: Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor(c), Shemaine Campbelle(w), Chedean Nation, Britney Cooper, Lee-Ann Kirby, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Anisa Mohammed, Shakera Selman, Chinelle Henry, Shamilia Connell, Sheneta Grimmond, Cherry Ann Fraser

South Africa Women Squad: Lizelle Lee, Dane van Niekerk(c), Marizanne Kapp, Mignon du Preez, Laura Wolvaardt, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty(w), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Masabata Klaas, Nadine de Klerk, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase