Summary

  • India post 298-7 - Verma top-scores with 87 off 78 balls

  • Deepti hits unbeaten 58, Ghosh smashes 34 off 24

  • Khaka takes 3-58 but SA drop number of chances

  • SA win toss in Navi Mumbai after rain-delayed start

  • Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live Sport commentary at top of page

Live Reporting

by Sam Drury

  1. SA 22-0

    Target 299

    Banged in short by Kranti Gaud and Laura Wolvaardt powers the ball to the deep mid-wicket boundary.

    That sat up nicely for the pull shot.

  2. SA 18-0

    Target 299

    Laura Wolvaardt gets her first boundary with a big heave across the line.

    The ball from Renuka Singh Thakur is swinging down leg and that allows the Proteas skipper to throw everything at it.

    It comes off the inside half of the bat by going quickly through backward square leg for four.

    So close! The over ends with Tazmin Bris poking the ball back in the air and just short of Jemimah Rodrigues at catching mid-on.

  3. Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    BritsGetty Images

    This is good bowling; India are keeping it quiet. You can see Tazmin Brits trying to manufacture shots.

    As a batter, you sometimes might feel that you are hitting the fielders at all times. India will be delighted with that start.

  4. SA 12-0

    Target 299

    Really good start from India with just two singles from Kranti Gaud's over.

    While Laura Wolvaardt seems calm and happy to take her time, Tazmin Brits is getting a little frustrated.

    She knows that her job is to be the chief aggressor in the early stages and it just hasn't happened for her so far.

  5. Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    BritsReuters

    Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt work so well together because Brits is so good straight down the ground, and Laura loves the width.

  6. How's stat?!

    Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    In the history of women’s ODI cricket, scores of 298 or more have only been chased down successfully on three occasions. Two of them have been in this World Cup, however, so there is hope for South Africa.

  7. SA 10-0

    Target 299

    Two wides to start the over and a single into the covers from Tazmin Brits to end it complete the scoring.

    Good, tight start from India but South Africa will be keen to keep wickets in hand.

  8. Not out

    SA 9-0 | Target 299

    Sliding down leg.

    Impact was in line but the ball did too much and Tazmin Brits survives.

    India lose a review.

  9. Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I thought it was coming in quite a lot, but the impact was in the line of the stump.

  10. India review

    SA 9-0 | Target 299

    Huge appeal for lbw as Renuka SIngh Thakur raps Tazmin Brits on the front pad.

    Given not out. It swings back a long way but has it done too much?

  11. Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The advice I always hated is - it's just another game. It's not, it's a final, and you have 40,000 people here and a billion people expecting you to win.

  12. SA 7-0

    Target 299

    Thumped back past the bowler by Tazmin Brits!

    Superbly played, right out of the middle and past bowler Kranti Gaud before she can react.

    Great response from Gaud, beating the bat to end the over.

  13. How's stat?!

    Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    Laura WolvaardtGetty Images

    Renuka Singh Thakur is the perfect new ball bowler to Laura Wolvaardt, who has struggled against the ball swinging back into her.

    Since the start of 2022, she averages just 24 (6 dismissals) against in-swing and 153 (2 dismissals) against out-swinging deliveries.

  14. Phil Long
    BBC Test Match Special statistician on Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The four winning scores batting second in the women's World Cup final - 129, 152, 165, and 167.

  15. SA 1-0

    Target 299

    Laura Wolvaardt drives the first ball beautifully, a lovely sound off the bat, but it's straight to the fielder at mid-off.

    There's a little bit of in-swing for Renuka Singh Thakur and just a single from the first over.

  16. Here we go.

    The players are making their way out to the middle. A maximum of 50 overs are left in this Women's World Cup.

    South Africa need 299 to win. However it plays out, a new winner will be crowned tonight.

  17. India's players have emerged and are readying themselves on the boundary edge with the bowlers going through some last-minute warm-ups.

  18. The floodlights are back on and the playing surface has been cleared.

    That can only mean one thing - the second innings is almost upon us...

  19. The main floodlights have been off throughout the break between innings with some kind of half-time light show going on.

    There are whole hosts of people out there with glow-in-the-dark garb on - or are they just holding bits of material that are glowing?

    Either way, as fireworks start to go off now, it is quite the spectacle.

    [Insert your own witty line about South Africa's chase and fireworks/ a spectacle here.]

  20. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Runs on the board are so important in the final, and India have a good chance with 298 on board.