India Women 245 for 9 (Deepti 71, Meshram 59, Kapp 2-36, Khaka 2-55) beat South Africa Women 244 (Du Preez 40, Gayakwad 3-51) by one wicket
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
With India needing eight off the last two balls, stand-in captain Harmanpreet Kaur struck Marcia Letsoalo over midwicket for a six and then took two off the last ball to secure the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier title for her team at the P Sara Oval, in Colombo.
India's chase of 245 boiled down to nine needed off the last over. Harmanpreet dragged the first ball, a slower one, to deep midwicket and aimed for a double, but Poonam Yadav was run out at the non-striker's end for 7 off 15 balls. Letsoalo then sent down three successive dots to tip the game in South Africa's favour. Harmanpreet, though, snatched victory to ensure India finished the tournament unbeaten.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad, the No.11, who hung on with Harmanpreet, was earlier impressive with the ball. Her left-arm spin complemented Shikha Pandey's pace; their combined returns of 5 for 92 helped India dismiss South Africa for 244.
Having elected to bat, all of South Africa's top eight moved into double-figures, with the top score being Mignon du Preez's 40 off 72 balls. Opener Lizelle Lee and captain Dane van Niekerk made 37 each before Suné Luus' 29-ball 35 took the total close to 250.
Deepti Sharma, who bowled an economical spell of 1 for 46 in the first innings, laid the platform for India's chase with a second-wicket partnership of 124 in 25 overs with opener Mona Meshram (59). Sharma was dropped twice - on 46 and 70 - by van Niekerk, before she pressed onto score 71 off 89 balls, including eight fours.
South Africa's underwhelming fielding further strengthened India's chances, as Luus handed a life to Veda Krishnamurthy in the 36th over. Pandey chipped in with a crucial 12, after Marizanne Kapp ended the fourth-wicket stand of 38 between Kaur and Krishnamurthy, who hit a 27-ball 31. India's lower-middle order then caved in, losing four wickets for 14 runs. An unbeaten run-a-ball 41 from Kaur, however, ensured India sealed their highest successful chase in ODIs.
"To be honest, I was waiting for that ball because that is my strong area," Harmanpreet said after the win. "I know like we needed nine runs in the final over and I was going to hit the ball. If we run then we will go for two runs. My partner also did a great job and ran two runs. It was a totally team effort from our side."
