Meg Lanning's 49* puts Australia in final against India
The rain that had threatened the match kept away long enough, as South Africa missed out narrowly
The rain that had threatened the match kept away long enough, as South Africa missed out narrowly
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama
10.55pm: So, we have the box-office match-up for Sunday's final: defending champions and hosts, Australia, against the tournament's form side, India. The MCG should be packed to the rafters on International Women's Day. Anyway, thanks for keeping us company through the drizzle - at least we got more than a fizzle in the end. Dan Brettig's report will be up shortly, and stick around for more from Gnash and 'nesh at the ground. From Alex, Thilak and myself, it's ta ra for now; join us again in a couple of days for full coverage of what should be a ding-doing final. Bye!
10.45pm: Time to hear from the captains, starting with a visibly bereft Dane van Niekerk: "Have to give credit to Australia. [Bowling?] We brought them back really well, Nadine [de Klerk] came in for Marizanne [Kapp] and did a great job. All the bowlers did well, bar myself. [Talk in huddle?] It's hard to see the ladies like that, to come short every time. I said we win together and lose together, we're not a team that blames anything or anyone. It was in our hands but unfortunately not our day. Very talented team. Credit to Wolfie, she's been incredible, it's a strong side and I'm heartboken for the team. [Next World Cup is in SA?] It's a great place to come, hopefully the people will come out to support us."
Lanning, Australia's captain, is back with more: "Extremely tense, even the last couple of balls you're not safe. They needed 19 off the last over but you're not safe, that's T20 cricket for you. We felt it was a good total without being great. Needed to bowl well to get the result and it was raining as we came off. Needed to adjust in how we bowled and we were able to execute. [Response to India defeat?] Really about calming everyone down, the first few games flew by, we needed to get back to playing the cricket we wanted to. Been really good since then, we knew we had it in us but weren't playing to our potential. [India again in final?] They're a class side, they've been playing excellent cricket through the tournament. We wanted to give ourselves the opportunity to play in the final. Been a hard road, certainly not smooth, but we've given ourselves a chance. [South Africa?] They've played extremely well, tough opposition, and I hope Marizanne Kapp is okay. They put up an excellent fight and we had to go right to the last ball."
10.35pm: More World Cup semi-final heartache for South Africa, they fall agonisingly short despite the best efforts of Laura Wolfvaardt. There are tears in the camp, they pulled out a brilliant effort against a world-class attack, but it is Australia who steal off with the result beneath storm-swept skies. Fitting that the game was won on the pitch, rather than the DLS sheets... but it'll always be a case of 'what if' for Dane van Niekerk's side. Even the rain let them down this time.
Meg Lanning is named Player of the Match for her run-a-ball 49: "Very stressful, the waiting game during the day and at the ground. The groundstaff did a great job and we were lucky enough to come out the winners. SA bowled extremely well, we lost a few wickets and I had to rein it in a bit. Nice to contribute. [SCG groundstaff?] They did an amazing job, been raining a hell of a lot in Sydney, very thankful we were able to play."
Jonassen just needs to make sure she lands this
"What would have happened if this match was a tie and it rains making it impossible to play a super over?? who would go thru in that case??" SA in that case, Raja. But it's not going to happen...
SA need two sixes from here... Rain hacking down now. Ye gods!
Nadine de Klerk is next in, Wolvaardt back on strike
CL Tryon c Lanning b Jonassen 1 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
Jess Jonassen to bowl, SA need 19. Who's ready to play Carlos Brathwaite...?
And the rain is starting to fall again, too!
The home team battled hard against adversity to make the most talked about final in women's cricket history
The rain that had threatened the match kept away long enough, as South Africa missed out narrowly
The absence of a reserve day at Sydney was an accident waiting to happen
South Africa's captain has only praise for her side after falling narrowly short in rain-affected game
'We've got the best team we've picked in a very long time, but anything can happen in a semi-final," she said