PAK Women vs SA Women, 3rd Match at Leicester, Jun 25 2017 - Match Result

That's all we have for you from the Women's World Cup today. Tomorrow we have a re-match of the 2013 final - Australia v West Indies. See you then

"I think it was a great effort by the girls to fight it out. We were 20 runs short, but the bowlers chipped in with wonderful overs. A couple of missed catches, so a lot of areas to improve on," Sana Mir, the Pakistan's captain says, "The last game when we played them in Sri Lanka was not so close and it's an achievement to run them this close, especially in England. South Africa saved 30-odd runs with their fielding, the track was pretty good. Credit to both team's bowlers really"

"It's never great to lose wickets in clusters. All credit to Sana and here team for causing trouble," Dane van Niekerk the South Africa captain says, "But very pleased with the lower order standing up. The run-outs were bad, there's no excuse, especially for senior players, such as myself too. I was nervous, with Pakistan's attack, but Sune has come a long way and Shabnim has played fine cameos for us. I never doubted them. [On Laura Wolvaardt] She's amazing. She's 18, but she has the head of a 30 year old. She just wants to bat and her youth comes through when she bats so freely. Lizelle can hit them a long way too, she really worked on her game for the past three years and they gave us such a solid start. The middle order will have to go onto the drawing board, and hopefully we can put in a better performance"

Shabnim Ismail is named Player of the Match "Just looked calm, but I was very nervous. Always nice to contribute with bat and ball, haven't been doing so enough times. But I wanted to get my side over the line today. I was bowling the lines the bowlers were bowling and if anything was in my area I was going to hit it over the top. First of all, I don't think I bowled well today but getting my side over the line today. Myself and Marizanne work very hard in our death bowling and we're happy with how things worked out"

[How's the heart?] "I dunno, can you hear it," Sune Luus says, "it's all a blur, I can't really remember what I said to Ismail. We just wanted to make sure we got the runs without going too far into the end. And luckily Shabnim got her power game out. [big relief over the win] Yeah, definitely [smiles]"

With the formalities complete, all of the South Africa squad take a knee on the outfield to soak in the moment.

5.20 pm South Africa do not have the most enviable record chasing targets of 200 or more. They'd only won four such matches in 30 tries. But this one seemed to follow a different narrative as long as Lizelle Lee and the 18-year old Laura Wolvaardt were at the crease. Both openers struck eye-catching half-centuries to put on 113 runs. And then Pakistan did what Pakistan do.

Their spinners Nashra Sandhu and Sana Mir and Sadiya Yousuf put the skids on the scoring so much that the South Africans were looking for suicidal singles. There were three run-outs, forcing their chase way off track. They were 162 for 2 with eight overs left when Sune Luus came to the crease - Luus who has opened the batting and been part of a 200-run partnership - and she rescued her side with great calm and poise.

Ghumman: "Here you go South Africa. Wonderful by Ismail."

iqbal: "this WC will do more for women's cricket than men's WC has ever done for itself"

Two overs left. The allrounder is at the non-strikers' end. South Africa need 16 to win. Here's Kainat Imtiaz, the slingy outswing bowler. Starts from around the wicket. Now, does that mean Mir will bowl the 50th?

Jasnesh: "what a thriller. with india-england being a closely fought contest as well, cant wait for what is in store with the rest of the tournament. australia v WI should be a cracker too."

South Africa need 23 off 18 as the crowd gets in the act, horns blaring everywhere. What a comeback by Pakistan! Here's the captain again. Sana Mir. Long-off's back. Deep square leg's back. Long-on's back

Bilawal Gul: "Just Don't Give them 4's n 6's . . And You'll Be Safely Home . . . . Good Captaincy By Sana The Clever Mir . . . Let's Do it Skipper !!!"

Lots of noise from Pakistan as the equation becomes 26 off 24