Summary

  • Hosts South Africa humbled in tournament's opening match

  • South Africa slump from 72-3 to 126-9 in dramatic chase

  • Spinner Ranaweera stars with 3-18 off four overs

  • SL had been 114-1 after 17 overs before late SA fightback with ball

  • Atapattu top-scores with classy 68, teenager Vishmi makes 35

  • Group A also includes Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh

Live Reporting

Callum Matthews and Um-E-Aymen Babar

  1. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    CrowdGetty Images

    The crowd is amazing tonight. The amount of cricket South Africa has had in the last month has built momentum for this tournament.

    Ticket sales weren't high for this tournament but they have skyrocketed in the last week.

    The crowd we are seeing tonight is the sort we want to see as women's cricketers.

  2. 50 for Chamari Atapattu

    It's a single to reach her sixth half-century in T20 cricket! She raises her bat in the air and takes in the crowd's applause.

  3. Nonkululeko Mlaba is getting some treatment on the pitch, the ball hit her quite hard on her left hand but it looks like the magic spray has fixed it..

  4. A hat-trick of fours for Chamari Atapattu earlier, and she's now one run away from her half-century... Getting out now would be harsh.

  5. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Chamari Atapattu is really vulnerable in the first 15 balls and then she starts to up her strike-rate.

  6. SL 84-1

    It's a good over from Ayabonga Khaka conceding only four runs and helping to shift the momentum back into South Africa's favour.

  7. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport in Cape Town

    Mexican WaveGetty Images

    The Mexican Waves have started. You could say that's a sign of not much happening in the game but to be honest, I think the crowd are just having an absolute blast.

    Shabnim Ismail just waved for a boundary fielder to move and I think the section of the crowd behind her thought she was waving at them, just adding to the excitement even more.

  8. Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special

    That is the first time that Vishmi Gunaratne has really connected.

  9. SL 79-1

    Slightly fuller from Shabnim Ismail and Vishmi Gunaratne capitalises.

    Three back-to-back boundaries from her! She's hitting it all over the ground, at deep mid-wicket, deep third and deep backward fine leg.

    Ismail does not look happy. If Sri Lanka keep accelerating, it could be dangerous for South Africa.

    It's been an expensive over and finishes with a wide ball.

  10. SL 67-1

    A clever sweep shot from Vishmi Gunaratne!

    She got into the position early and hit it to deep backward fine leg for a boundary. Well deserved!

    South Africa will need a wicket and ideally get Chamari Atapattu out. They've brought on Shabnim Ismail. Can she do the trick?

  11. Firdose Moonda
    Cricket writer for Cricinfo

    FlagGetty Images

    The cover drive is her shot. She really enjoys playing that shot. Chamari Atapattu is really getting into it now.

  12. SL 57-1

    Shot!

    Three fours in a row for Chamari Atapattu... she can be dangerous!

  13. Here's the first wicket of the 2023 World Cup, which was taken Nadine de Klerk...

    Remember that - it might be a question in the end of tournament quiz we may or may not do!

  14. Firdose Moonda
    Cricket writer for Cricinfo

    We are mid summer now in South Africa and the pitches will be a little tired because of the amount of games there has been on them. I don't expect we'll see the usual pace and bounce you'd see in South Africa.

  15. Drinks break

    SL 45-1

    It's time for a drinks break.

    Only five runs from the Nonkululeko Mlaba's over with Vishmi Gunaratne keen to get a tight single and there is almost a run-out. Chamari Atapattu set off late but makes it to her crease just in time.

  16. SL 40-1

    It's a short ball from de Klerk and Chamari Atapattu takes advantage and whacks it to deep-backward square leg.

    A fielder was in pursuit but the ball won the race and goes over the boundary.

  17. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport in Cape Town

    De KlerkGetty Images

    The noise after that wicket was incredible and you could see from Nadine de Klerk's celebration just how much this means to South Africa.

    The sun is just setting behind the mountains now but the kids dancing on the grass still seem to be having a great time.

    There's dancing, music, hula hoops... this seems an amazing place to be a fan.

  18. SL 31-1

    It's a left-hand right-hand combination now for Sri Lanka but Ayabonga Khaka is able to restrict them to only two runs.

    Sri Lanka will have to find their groove again...

  19. Who will be holding this trophy aloft on 26 February?

    TrophyGetty Images

  20. Firdose Moonda
    Cricket writer for Cricinfo

    Nadine de Klerk has had a lot of success against Sri Lanka. She averages something like 5.6 against them.