Summary

  • Use the audio icon above to listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary

  • India beat Ireland by five runs on DLS method

  • Win confirms their place in semi-finals

  • Opener Smriti Mandhana makes career-best 87 off 56 balls

  1. Plenty of cricket to come tomorrowpublished at 16:36 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    That's us done for today.

    Be sure to check out Tom Mallows' report and keep across all things cricket on our dedicated page right here.

    We'll be back tomorrow for more live-text coverage as England take on Pakistan from 13:00 GMT and hosts South Africa face Bangladesh and look to seal a semi-final spot from 17:00 GMT.

    See you then!

  2. 'It means a lot to qualify'published at 16:35 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Harmanpreet KaurImage source, Getty Images

    India captain Harmanpreet Kaur: "It was a good game for us. Smriti [Mandhana] got some runs, which is very important, whenever she is giving us that start we able to utilise it and get a big total. It is good to see her getting runs.

    "I wanted to spend some time in the middle because I haven't had much in this tournament. That is why I went up the order.

    "It means a lot to qualify. We've worked hard for many years and it's good to see us getting another opportunity in the semi-finals.

    "We always enjoy playing Australia and we just want to play free cricket."

  3. 'We hadn't looked at DLS'published at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Ireland captain Laura Delany:

    "[The rain delay] kind of came out of nowhere and we weren't really prepared for it. We hadn't looked at the DLS score at all, myself and Gaby [Lewis] were only looking to build a partnership and hit boundaries.

    "In 2018 it wasn't a level playing field. Cricket Ireland have invested hugely and we're on contracts on now. We've gone from strength to strength even if there are areas to improve on."

  4. 'I thought I'd forgot how to bat'published at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Player of the match, India opener Smriti Mandhana: "The finger is fine. It's good now.

    "It was one of the toughest games I've played, not in terms of the pitch but the pace and the wind as well. It got tougher than we thought. It was a lot of hard work in the first 30 balls and I thought I'd forgot how to bat! I told myself to just get in better positions to play shots.

    "Shafali and I just told each other to get in better positions, but none of us were able to hit the ball well. The wind made it difficult and we're not used to the pace with which they are bowling.

    "I'm not sure if it was perfect preparation but it is good to score some runs. The team are looking good and we've done some fantastic work. There is a lot of learnings."

  5. Postpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Group B table

    With this match finishing so tightly, it essentially means only a freak, huge loss to Pakistan tomorrow can prevent England from qualifying as group winners and avoiding Australia in the semi-finals.

  6. Postpublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Such a shame, just five runs in it. Ireland have never won a match in this tournament.

    It's 16 straight defeats but this might be the closest, and most painful, loss of them all.

  7. India win by five runs on DLSpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023
    Breaking

    It's official. India have won and advance to the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup.

    Ireland end the tournament winless and bottom of Group B.

  8. Ire 54-2published at 8.2 overs

    Target 156

    Just to remind you, the DLS par score is 59 after 8.2 overs.

    Ireland are currently five runs behind it.

    If this match was called off without us playing again, India would win and reach the semi-finals.

  9. Postpublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Adam Mountford
    BBC Test Match Special

    It has been really frustrating in the last 40 minutes because it hasn't been heavy and there have been periods of sun, but I can now see a puddle in the middle of the covers.

    I don't think we're far away from a call-off now I'm afraid.

  10. Postpublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    We're running out of time now, the cut-off is at 16:33 GMT.

    It's still raining, the outfield must be very damp. I can't see us playing again I'm afraid.

  11. Postpublished at 16:00

    We probably need play to restart in the next 30 minutes to squeeze in some more cricket before our cut-off time.

    Sadly, the rain is only getting heavier.

  12. Postpublished at 15:52

    If anything, things have got worse. The sky looks very, very dark now.

    If we do return we'll have a reduced target.

  13. Postpublished at 15:47

    We were supposed to have an update at 15:45 GMT. No news yet and the covers are still on. It's not looking great I'm afraid.

  14. Postpublished at 15:42

    ...but they've rallied with Gaby Lewis and Laura Delany striking an unbroken 53-run partnership.

  15. Postpublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    ...Ireland then had a disastrous start, losing two wickets in the opening over...

  16. Postpublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    It so was. India's Smriti Mandhana struck a superb 87 off 56 in the first innings...

  17. Postpublished at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Adam Mountford
    BBC Test Match Special

    This is such a shame as the match was bubbling up rather nicely.

  18. Postpublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    Nathan Johns
    Journalist for Irish Times

    Ireland struggled in the field, I made it five drops to go with the five catches, though they held onto more chances than they did against West Indies.

    I was worried when they lost Orla Prendergast, but I have been pleasantly surprised by this stand between Gaby Lewis and Laura Delany.

    This is Delany's speciality, when there has been a few early wickets and she can play that rebuilding role.

    These two are gearing up for a big charge if they manage to get back on.

  19. Postpublished at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    We're expecting an update from the umpires at 15:45 GMT.

    It's still drizzling.

    Ground staff protect the crease as rains stops the Group B T20 women's World Cup cricket match between India and Ireland at St George's Park in GqeberhaImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 15:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2023

    It looks very grey now I'm afraid guys.

    The sheet that has been placed over the square has finally been nailed down after some wind-related issues.