END OF OVER:2 | 4 Runs | IND-W: 4/0 | RR: 2.00
- Jemimah Rodrigues4 (6b)
- Smriti Mandhana0 (6b)
- Nonkululeko Mlaba1-0-4-0
- Shabnim Ismail1-1-0-0
The good news is we're under a day away from the first ever Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup Final. India and England will take on each other. If England's semi-final is anything to go by, it'll be worth the wait. Follow the action live here on ESPNcricinfo. For now, it's goodbye from me, Ekanth, my co-commentator Srinidhi, and our scorer, Sudeep.
9:26pm: That's all folks, the game has officially been called off. The rain never stopped. Well, cricket has been too long a game for too long a period. Maybe when T2s are a thing, we can look back at this fondly. Otherwise, it's been disappointing given the two sides were likely to put up a good game.
9:10pm: Vijay Kumar: "can the match still happen" It technically could. The cut-off time is 10pm local time. Likely to be a five-over game.
Peter S: "Everyone seems to be asking you what they should do. How are coping with the responsibility?" By asking folks to do what I do. Watch Shafali's interview with Raunak or read his piece about her evolution.
8:55pm: Vinod Rajpal: "@Eknath, any official update ? we are planning to go for movie....should we ?" Nope. This could be an odd good-news source for the producer.
8:40pm: Ankita - "Ekanth, can we go to sleep considering this game will be washed out? Very sleepy but awake for the ladies in blue." Can? Yeah. Forecast is bleak. Also, overs being lost feels like an inevitability now.
8:25pm: Winds of change sameness are here...
8:15pm: "Any update" No, Vijay Kumar. It's been 70 minutes since the interruption. Loss of overs seems almost certain if play restarts.
8pm: Pavan Kumar Vis: "Following from Singapore, any updates on the rain? Can we expect it to stop?" Thanks for staying up late, Pavan. No updates yet sadly. As Sanket says, 'Considering the weather forecast for today it should rather be termed as "Rain Interrupted By Match'. Also, it's been close to an hour since play stopped, so loss of overs is likely.
7:45pm: Thanks, Srinidhi. "Has the rain stopped? " No, Harsha.
Sushil: "How costly these 11 dot balls by Indian batters within the context of the rain affected game?" Could be very. But both teams are already in the final. Also, India chose to bat and there was rain before the game, so their plan must have factored rain in.
Let's welcome back Ekanth as we wait for an official update.
Architect Rames: "Expected run flow pour from Mandhana And Rodriques , but rain flowing pouring.. Unexpected rain and disappointing .. rain rain go away singing now"
7.35pm: There's been no update yet on resumption.
Elsewhere, former India captain Mithali Raj has been roped in as mentor and advisor at Gujarat Giants, one of the five franchises set to take part in the inaugural edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL).
7.05pm: Rain has stopped play now. It's pouring heavily. Players are seen running off the field. Covers are on after two overs.
Mlaba now
END OF OVER:1 | (maiden) | IND-W: 0/0
- Smriti Mandhana0 (6b)
- Jemimah Rodrigues0 (0b)
- Shabnim Ismail1-1-0-0
Ar Ramesh Kumar: "expecting an S Mandhana Show today .. Also J Rodriques heroics...."
Mandhana and Rodrigues to open for India. Ismail with the new ball. Slip in place
6.55pm Time for national anthems.
Quick reminder that you can follow this game's updates in Hindi right here.
Nonkululeko Mlaba: I did my job well, looking forward to the World Cup. I really enjoy the challenge of bowling in the powerplay despite it not being easy. Fielding is the area we need to improve, we need to stop them from easy runs, especially singles in the ring.
Shikha Pandey: It's about giving back to the India squad whichever level I play. With the world cup coming up, I want to contribute as much as I can. Belinda helped when I went back to Australia where I played club cricket. I was missing my love for the game but enjoyed playing there. Belinda helped me with well-rounded conversations around leadership, team environment, how I can contribute to the team, and about life as well. I've had a good record against SA. The wickets have been uncharacteristically slower, and you have to fight the wind and have plans in place. Good wickets nevertheless. We need to continue working hard and win games.
Thanks, Ekanth. Vastrakar returning to the XI is a big boost for India given the World Cup is around the corner. Even though it is a dead-rubber, with both the teams having already qualified for the final, India seem to have fielded their strong XI.
For South Africa, Shabnim Ismail has come into the XI after previously playing a T20I in August last year. Ismail, along with Marizanne Kapp, will be deadly threat for India.
6:50pm: The action starts in ten minutes. Say hello to Srinidhi who will enter to call it.
6:46pm: The weather at East London is cloudy and light showers are predicted for later in the evening.
South Africa: 1 Laura Wolvaardt, 1 Tazmin Brits, 3 Marizanne Kapp, 4 Sune Luus (capt), 5 Chloe Tryon, 6 Annerie Dercksen, 7 Nadine de Klerk, 8 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 9 Shabnim Ismail, 10 Tumi Sekhukhune, 11 Nonkululeko Mlaba
India: 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Devika Vaidya, 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Pooja Vastrakar, 9 Radha Yadav, 10 Shikha Pandey, 11 Rajeshwari Gayakwad
6:32pm: News coming in, India have won the toss and will bat first. South Africa and India have made one change each, Shabnim Ismail comes in for Masabata Klaas for the hosts. India bring back Pooja Vastrakar in place of Amanjot Kaur.
6:15pm: It's not just India's senior team that's doing well, the Under-19 team has made the final. The team's earning praise from all corners, including BCCI secretary Jay Shah. Captain Shafali Verma says the trophy would be the perfect birthday gift for her. Raunak Kapoor did not just speak to her but also wrote about her progress, which you can read here.
6pm: Welcome to ESPNcricinfo's live coverage of the T20I between India and South Africa. It's a taster for the final that will be held on the 2nd. Both teams have beaten West Indies convincingly in their last games, and made their way to the finals. India beat the hosts in the first game which Masabata Klaas said took the hosts back to the drawing board and they'll be looking to make amends and build up to the Women's T20 World Cup as well. India have had a five-day break and are on a roll, they have been boosted by Shikha Pandey's return. Amanjot Kaur was part of a match-winning stand in the first game, captain Harmanpreet Kaur returned for the second, so the signs have been positive for them too.