IND Women vs IRE Women, 18th Match, Group 2 at Gqeberha, WT20 WC, Feb 20 2023 - Match Result

6:30pm Right then! India set up a semi-final date most likely with Australia. They will play in Cape Town on Thursday, if England down Pakistan tomorrow. The second semi-finalist from Group 1 will be decided tomorrow when South Africa take on Bangladesh. Do join us for that clash, too. Till then, on behalf of Thilak and Srinidhi, it's a goodbye!

6:23pm Time for the presentations!

Smriti Mandhana, player of the match; "The finger is fine. One of the most toughest innings I would have played. Not the wicket but the pace they were bowling and with the wind, it got worse. [Conversation with Shafali] We were telling each other to try and maintain our shape. I was batting bad and she was not timing it well. But we were trying to discuss that and there was a lot of wind and we needed to get used to the pace they were bowling. Good to post some runs and go into the semis. The England match wasn't the way we wanted."

Laura Delany, Ireland captain: "It kind of came out of nowehere. We were preparing for wind and we just tried to build partnership but rain got our way. After 2018, Cricket Ireland have invested a lot in contracts. We want to improve on our fielding, it has overall been a very positive experience. Orla Prendergast has gone from strength to strength and if we could emulate her it will be great."

Harmanpreet Kaur, India captain: "Good game for us. Smriti got runs, which is very important for us. Whenever she gives us starts we get to good total. [on batting at No. 3] Just wanted to go up and spend some time in the middle, since I haven't really got that. [Making the semis] Means a lot, we are working a lot and wanted to do well whenever we get the opportunities. Good to get into the semis and we will give our 100%. We always enjoy our match against them. It will be a do or die and we want to play good cricket."

6:15pm The dreaded news - the match has been abandoned and India win by five runs. It means India are through to yet another semi-final of the T20 World Cup - their third successive one following the one in 2018 and runners-up finish in 2020.

Despite losing a couple of wickets in the opening over of the chase, Ireland did well to hang on in the chase and that was thanks to Lewis' attacking knock of 32 not out. She added an unvanquished 53 with Delany to bring them five runs within the DLS par score when rain forced the players off.

6:05pm We have already started losing overs from about 15 minutes now. The cut-off time, Val says, is 6:33pm. It is unlikely that the ground will take time to dry out but the rain needs to stop for that.