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A message drops. “I am emailing from Manila, Philippines,” writes Jeremy Flint. “While we are waiting perhaps you could explain the contingencies for using the spare day (ie is that only possible if we don’t get the 20 over minimum for a DLS game or is there a special criteria for the final?)“
Flicking through my metaphorical book of playing conditions… I think we get two extra two hours today to get the game done, and we don’t start losing overs until the start is two hours late. The match must have a minimum of 20 overs per side.
But…and thanks to the BBC for this, if one side bats 50 overs but fewer than 20 overs are bowled of the chase, the game will resume from the same point tomorrow.
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Updated at 10.51 CET
While we wait for news of this Mumbai damp, gen up on your South African history with this great read from Firdose Moonda.
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More rain
Ian Ward, Isa Guha and Nasser Hussain are sheltering under huge umbrellas as they chew the fat.
Guha speaks beautifully about the occasion.
“Just like 2017, when people said that Lord’s could never be sold out for a women’s final, like 2020 when 80,000 turned up to the MCG and now today [where people were queing for non-existent tickets on Saturday], I’m just so happy for the girls.
“I always think about Rachael Heyhoe-Flint on days like today, the way she was able to campaign to make that first World Cup happen in 1973. All those women who went out on the street and were selling tickets to try and get people to come and watch to be told that women’s cricket wasn’t good enough, not strong enough not skilled enough. This defies all of that.
“We’ve seen throughout this tournament that the skill levels have gone up massively, the levels of competition, to have a new name on the trophy – Alyssa Healy spoke really well about the legacy for Indian cricket. We saw what the men’s World Cup win did in 1983, [the women]can absolutely do that today. India want to be a sport-forward nation, if they’re not engaging half the population they’re not going to get there. But we’ve seen so many young girls, and boys, get inspired by this competition.”
Whether you’re in Mumbai, Jo’burg or anywhere else, do get in touch as we wait.
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Updated at 10.37 CET
Roads to the final
Bends, twists and dead-ends for both teams on their way to today:
India lost three games, to England, Australia and, crucially, South Africa. Losing matches they should have won.
South Africa collapsed like a Yorkshire pudding to England and then Australia, before finding their mojo in Guwahati.
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Updated at 10.21 CET
“Good morning Tanya.” Hello there Krishnamoorthy!
“India has a record of winning all the matches and blowing up in a crucial match. That should have been the Semifinals. But, this Indian team proved they are different. The South African team carry the tag of being the chokers. These are the narratives that accompany their male counterpart, not these lionesses. Heart says India. Head says India.
“Am not leaving this OBO for a minute, come what may!”
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Nasser Hussain “This place is going to be jam-packed. 30,000 people. If they win today, that sleeping giant will be awake and very hard to stop.”
And it is raining again.
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Delay
Bathetic rain. A 30 minute delay as they mop up.
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Updated at 10.21 CET
And a couple of post-mortems.
First Australia:
Then England:
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Raf’s preview of today’s big match.
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South Africa’s captain: Laura Wolvaardt
And some soft snow calm from Laura Wovaardt.
“Mandla [Mashimbyi, South Africa head coach] normally does the really inspirational stuff, the ‘you’re carrying your country’ type of thing. And then I think I’d just come with a little ‘stay calm, girls’ at the end. There’s going to be a lot of noise, a lot happening, a lot of maybe different routines than you’re used to in a normal game. But at the end of the day, we’re going to have to do the basics for longer throughout the game, and hold the nerve for longer. I think just holding on and staying calm is going to go a long way tomorrow.”
“I’m trying not to think too far ahead; just really sort of slow it down. I think the first time you’re in those finals, it feels like a really big, fast-paced event. We’re going to need to slow down and take a big breath, and hope we’re able to do that as a group.”
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Updated at 10.20 CET
India’s captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet, whose face tells a thousand, ten thousand, stories, wept as India turned over Australia. She was more composed on Saturday night.
“I think the most important thing is that we have to enjoy this because there is nothing bigger than this in our life as a cricketer and as a captain. So our focus is to enjoy this moment and keep taking small targets which we have to achieve as a team rather than thinking bigger targets because you can achieve bigger targets if you achieve the small targets.”
“As a player, these moments are very important. To beat a team like Australia, which is a big team and has always done well on the world stage. It’s not an easy thing to perform and be mentally strong in front of them. But I think overcoming that hurdle was something very special to all of us. I always tell my team that you don’t need to control your emotions. If you feel like crying, cry. At the same time, just keep enjoying. I think there is no bigger achievement or thing for us. Tomorrow is a special day and we will go with the same mindset.”
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Updated at 10.20 CET
Preamble
Are you ready for a new chapter? A new name on an old trophy?
A sell-out crowd is waiting at Navi Mumbai for these two sides, who turned over the old order in their semi-finals. Harmanpreet Kaur’s generational India play Laura Wolvaardt’s under- the radar-South Africa – England and Australia watching from their sofas. Two totemic captains, two sides chock-a-block with talent.
This feels like a game changer. Stay with us as we count every over.
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