They all got starts. They all promised. None delivered.

India’s batters disappointed, yes. But the South Africans deserve credit. They bowled with a plan and their hearts out. And then Marizanne Kapp produced an innings she or her team will not forget anytime soon.

South Africa delivered a body blow to India in what was always going to be a crucial match in the Women’s T20 World Cup. The Proteas won by six wickets with five balls to spare at Old Trafford on Sunday (June 21, 2026).

With the red-hot Australia on top of Group A with three wins in as many games, the battle is between India and South Africa for a spot in the semifinals.

After reducing India to 158 for seven, South Africa survived a scare posed by Shree Charani, who removed the South African captain Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen in a maiden over.

But Kapp stayed firm. She took her team home, remaining 81 not out (45b, 7x4, 4x6). Her third-wicket stand of 97 with Tazmin Brits (40, 36b, 2x4, 1x6) took the game away from India. Poor fielding compounded the problems for Harmanpreet Kaur & Co.

Earlier, it was a case of South Africa getting just about everything right, and India getting most of it wrong. The bowlers were marshalled superbly by their captain, who brought in the right bowler at the right time. And all that meant the Indian innings did not really get going despite a brisk, confident start by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.

In fact, their opening stand (30) and 33-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Harmanpreet (24) and Deepti Sharma (29) were the two biggest of the innings.

Wolvaardt and her bowlers never allowed the Indian batters to settle.

The way Smriti and Shafali started off, it had looked as though the large number of Indian supporters — the diaspora travels from different parts of the country, wearing blue and cheering loudly and tirelessly — would get to witness the famed strokeplay of the Women in Blue.

All they got was a glimpse. In the second over, Smriti caressed the pacer Shabnim Ismail through the off-side, and then swivelled to pull the next ball for another boundary. But, in the next over, she for once looked ungainly, walking across for a scoop against Kapp and was bowled.

Kapp’s expression showed how much that wicket mattered. Smriti had come into this match after making 68 and 74 in her two innings in the tournament.

Shafali, who had also been looking good, joined her senior partner in the dressing room. She backed away only to glove an express delivery from Shabnim. She began her walk back before the DRS verdict came.

This was an opportunity for the Indian middle-order to come good. But it didn’t, for the third time in as many matches. And for once Richa Ghosh, didn’t explode.

So India had to be content with a score that seemed well within reach of South Africa. Or Kapp, on this day.