IND W VS SA W MATCH 10

Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India Women, says that they would have bowled first as well, but the toss is not in their hands and they have been losing a lot of them. Adds that now they will focus on setting a good total. Mentions that the support has been great and they just want to play good cricket. Tells that every game is important for them and they need to keep showing improvement in each one of them. Informs that Amanjot Kaur is back in the team in place of Renuka Singh Thakur.

Laura Wolvaardt, the skipper of South Africa Women, says that the wicket looks good, and with a bit of weather around, they want to chase here. Adds that she is hoping that the wicket gets better under lights and expects it to be a high-scoring game. Mentions that it was great how they moved on from the England game and played well against New Zealand and will look to repeat that performance here as well. Says that Tazmin Brits has been excellent with the bat, and hopefully she can score another ton in this game. Informs that Masabata Klaas misses out and Tumi Sekhukhune comes in her place.

India Women (Playing XI) - Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur (In for Renuka Singh Thakur), Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani.

South Africa Women (Playing XI) - Laura Wolvaardt (C), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Chloe Tryon, Nadine De Klerk, Tumi Sekhukhune (In for Masabata Klaas), Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.

TOSS - It's finally Toss time in Vizag! Both captains march out to the middle now. Harmanpreet Kaur spins the coin, and Laura Wolvaardt calls 'Heads,' and 'Heads' it is. South Africa Women have elected to BOWL first.

UPDATE - We have the rescheduled times now! There will be an inspection at 3.27 pm IST (9.57 am GMT). The TOSS will now happen at 3.32 pm IST (10.02 am GMT), and the FIRST BALL will be bowled at 4 pm IST (10.30 am GMT). No overs lost!

UPDATE - 3.15 pm IST (9.45 am GMT) - The match official is having another chat with the captains. Both Harmanpreet Kaur and Laura Wolvaardt have the team sheets in their hands, but the toss has been further delayed. It is not raining or anything, but the ground staff just needs a bit more time to prepare the outfield.

UPDATE - 3.01 pm IST (9.31 am GMT) - The official word is in now! The TOSS will happen at 3.15 pm IST (9.45 am GMT) and the START TIME is 3.45 pm IST (10.15 am GMT). No overs lost!

UPDATE - 2.54 pm IST (9.24 am GMT) - No official information yet, but the visuals show that the match officials are having a chat with both the skippers, Harmanpreet Kaur and Laura Wolvaardt. We can also see players from both sides warming up. Well, while writing this, the news comes in that the next inspection will happen at 3.10 pm IST (9.40 am GMT).

PITCH REPORT - Mithali Raj is pitchside. She says that the wicket is going to be a belter for the batters. Adds that there is not much grass on it and the ball will come onto the bat nicely. Mentions that the spinners might also come into play later in the game. Tells that as the pitch has been covered for a long time, there will be moisture, and the seamers will get some help. Ends by saying that all in all, it is a good batting wicket.

UPDATE - 2.37 pm IST (9.07 am GMT) - The word from the middle is that there will be an inspection at 2.45 pm IST (9.15 am GMT). The good thing was that the entire ground was covered with two layers of covers, but the ones over the square are off now, and the ground staff are doing a great job to prepare the ground as quickly as possible. Also, the Super-Soppers are in action too, and it should not take us long to get going. Stay tuned for further updates.

UPDATE - 2.27 pm IST (8.57 am GMT) - There was a steady drizzle for a while, but the good news is that it has stopped now. The ground staff have started to remove the first layer of the covers, but the TOSS HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DELAYED.

The big question hangs in the air, can Harmanpreet Kaur's side complete a hat-trick of victories and cement their position at the top of the table? Or will a determined Laura Wolvaardt-led South Africa be the team to halt India's winning run and make a bold statement of their World Cup ambitions? We shall find out soon. Toss and team news to follow shortly...

This match presents a critical opportunity for both teams. India's top order, including key players like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues, will be desperate to convert their starts into big scores against a quality opposition. South Africa, meanwhile, will be keen to prove their dominance against a top-ranked side and maintain the momentum from their last win. With the pitch in Visakhapatnam known to be generally good for batters, and with the presence of rain clouds looming overhead, every moment of play will be precious and fiercely contested.

The Proteas Women, on the other hand, displayed tremendous character to bounce back from an opening thrashing by England with a powerful six-wicket victory over New Zealand. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by the left-arm spin of Nonkululeko Mlaba who claimed four wickets in the last outing, looks formidable. Their batting was anchored by a sensational century from Tazmin Brits, whose incredible form this year makes her a prime threat, and a masterful unbeaten innings from former captain Sune Luus. This duo will be crucial in neutralizing India's high-flying bowling unit.

A spectacular high-stakes contest awaits in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 as the Indian Women team, riding on a two-match winning streak, prepares to face a revitalized South Africa Women side at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The Women in Blue have secured comprehensive victories so far, showcasing a resilient bowling attack led by the impressive pair of Deepti Sharma and Kranti Goud, who have consistently delivered crucial wickets. While the batting lineup has looked shaky at times, all-round heroics from Deepti and Amanjot Kaur, who could return to the XI, along with solid starts from others, have ensured they put challenging totals on the board.

... MATCHDAY ...

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 match between India Women and South Africa Women is set to be a thrilling encounter in Visakhapatnam. India Women, currently second in the points table with two wins from two games, will look to extend their winning streak against a South African side that's bounced back from a 10-wicket defeat to England with a six-wicket win over New Zealand. The Proteas will be buoyed by the form of Tazmin Brits, who smashed a match-winning century against New Zealand, and they'll hope their top-order batters, including captain Laura Wolvaardt and veterans Marizanne Kapp and Anneke Bosch, can replicate that success. India's top-order batters, particularly Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues, will need to step up and contribute significantly to the team's total, as their lack of runs so far has forced the team to rely on their lower-order batters. India's bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma, who tops the wicket-takers' chart with six scalps so far, have been consistent. With Amanjot Kaur potentially returning to the team after recovering from illness, India Women will be looking to shuffle the pack to take on the Proteas. South Africa's bowling unit, comprising experienced players like Nonku Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka, and Masabata Klaas, will pose a significant challenge to India's batting lineup. An entertaining game is the least we can expect as these two talented team face off in Visakhapatnam.