South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tryon celebrate victory (Getty Images)

marijane kapp On Sunday, in the Group A match of the Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa displayed a match-winning all-round performance and defeated India by six wickets.Kapp performed brilliantly with both bat and ball, first returning figures of 2/27 and then scoring an unbeaten 81 from 45 balls to give South Africa victory with five balls to spare. His innings included seven fours and four sixes and proved decisive in India’s pursuit of 158/7 to the target of 161/4.India were left to rue missed chances, with substitute fielder Radha Yadav dropping Kapp twice at crucial moments, giving the South African all-rounder a chance to take full advantage.Batting first on a two-track surface, India struggled to build momentum and managed only a modest score despite reaching 158/7. Deepti Sharma While being the captain, he scored the maximum of 29 runs in 21 balls. Harmanpreet Kaur Scored 24 runs in 22 balls.India’s innings got off to a bright start and reached 54 without loss, but they suffered a dramatic collapse, slipping to 83/4 before Deepti and Harmanpreet stitched a steady 33-run partnership for the fifth wicket. However, poor shot selection and loss of pace restricted them to lower scores than usual.Chasing the target, South Africa initially looked stable with the openers instead of being aggressive. Laura Wolvaardt And Tazmin Britts is cautiously negotiating the new ball. However, India counter-attacked through Sri Charani, who took a double wicket to change the momentum. He took a sharp return catch to dismiss Wolvaardt for 20 and then bowled Annery Dirksen for a duck two balls later.Despite the setback, South Africa rebuilt through a crucial 97-run partnership between Kapp and Britts, which ultimately shaped the outcome of the match. Both rotated the strike efficiently and found regular boundaries while keeping the required rate under control.Britts contributed 40 runs from 36 balls before falling in the 17th over, taking a catch at deep backward square, a wicket that could have come earlier had Radha Yadav not given another direct chance.Kapp led his side without worry, punishing loose balls and taking advantage of reprieve to remain unbeaten on 81, taking South Africa to 161/4 in 19.1 overs.The result moved South Africa up to third on the points table behind India and table-toppers Australia, keeping the race for the group stage firmly in sight.

Brief Scores: South Africa (161/4 in 19.1 overs) beat India (158/7) by 6 wickets at Old Trafford, Manchester

India vs South Africa: highlighted | Achievement:

Marijne Kapp made India pay a heavy price as they suffered their first defeat in the Women’s T20 World Cup. After strong wins over Netherlands and Pakistan, India lost by six wickets as South Africa held their composure in a thrilling encounter at Old Trafford, Manchester. After the powerplay in the Proteas innings, it looked like India would again overwhelm the opponent with spin in the middle overs, but Cap had other ideas.

Radha Yadav dismissed Kapp twice and the South African all-rounder played a brilliant inning of unbeaten 81 runs in 45 balls with the help of seven fours and four sixes. Kapp also impressed with the ball before putting in a match-winning batting performance.

After this defeat, India needs a strong result against Australia to secure a place in the semi-finals. If India does not win this match then it may have to be out of the tournament. It should not be forgotten that Bangladesh is also putting huge pressure on India’s neck with two wins.

Harmanpreet Kaur played her 200th Women’s T20 match and became the first cricketer to reach the milestone, but could not celebrate the victory. Meanwhile, South Africa have made a strong comeback after an early loss to Australia with consecutive wins over Pakistan and India.

India started strong, but Proteas made a comeback

India’s innings got off to a great start thanks to Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who attacked South Africa’s strong pace pair of Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail. While Mandhana started cautiously, she soon found her rhythm and put the bowlers under pressure by hitting two excellent fours off Ismail.

At the other end, Shafali was in destructive mood, combining powerful drives, sweeps and fearless strokeplay to keep the scoreboard moving at a fast pace. The pair dominated the powerplay, helping India score 50 runs in just 4.2 overs and reach 59 runs in the first six overs.

Shafali, in particular, looked unstoppable as she scored 31 runs in just 15 balls, while Mandhana’s positive start ensured that India seized the early initiative.

However, South Africa made a comeback through their experienced seamers. Cap cleverly changed the angle to deceive Mandhana and bowled her out for 17 after missing a scoop attempt.

Soon after, Ismail’s short-ball strategy paid off as Shafali was caught behind trying to avoid a rising delivery. The speed of the ball made the wicket even more remarkable, with a speed of 122.66 km/h, the fastest ball of the tournament so far.

The dismissal of both the openers halted India’s momentum and after India’s strong start, South Africa got a chance to make a comeback in the contest.

South Africa peg back to India

South Africa did an excellent job of pulling the game back after India’s explosive powerplay by putting the batsmen under constant pressure in the middle and death overs. After conceding runs in the first six overs, the Proteas responded with disciplined bowling and timely wickets, but never allowed India to build a big partnership.

Yastika Bhatia, promoted to No. 3, managed just 15 runs, while Jemimah Rodrigues struggled to find her rhythm and was out after scoring 12 runs.

Harmanpreet Kaur looked set to carry the innings forward despite a slight fitness concern, but Shabnim Ismail made a crucial breakthrough by dismissing the Indian skipper for 24 with a clever off-cutter. That wicket shifted the momentum strongly in South Africa’s favour.

Although Deepti Sharma (29) and Richa Ghosh (15) briefly threatened to mount a late charge, just as the partnership was gaining momentum, South Africa struck again. Nonkululeko Mlaba deceived Deepti with a slower delivery, while Marizanne Kapp removed Richa with another disguised change of pace.

Regular fall of wickets prevented India from gaining momentum in the final overs. Despite all of India’s top seven batsmen reaching double figures, none managed to score a half-century as South Africa’s bowlers skilfully controlled the middle and death stages to restrict India to 158.

Ismail and Kapp were the best bowlers, taking two wickets each for just 55 runs in their combined eight overs.

Charnani took India to the top

Sri Charani completely transformed the contest with a sensational spell that put India firmly on top after a tight, disciplined powerplay. India had already started well, with Shafali Verma making a bold strategic move to take the new ball, supported by a good start from Nandini Sharma, who kept South Africa calm.

Proteas openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Britts got off to a cautious start. Wolvaardt pushed the pace for a while, but India kept him in check in the first four overs, conceding only 19 runs as the batsmen struggled to break free.

That pressure set the stage perfectly for Charani, who came in and immediately changed the game. He was the first to dismiss Wolvaardt and mistimed a shot as the South African captain went straight back to the bowler for a sharp return catch. Wolvaardt continued to struggle in the tournament after another failure.

Charani struck again soon after, removing Anne Dirksen for a duck with drift, dip and sharp turn as the batsman was completely beaten and bowled. The double blow reduced South Africa’s score to 25 runs for 2 wickets and it strongly changed the course of India.

Many more to follow…

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India’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi (SLC via PTI photo)

Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced a breathtaking display of power-hitting to guide India A to a stunning 66-run win over Sri Lanka A in the tri-series final on Sunday.The teenage sensation scored 94 runs in just 29 balls, one of the most devastating innings seen in List A cricket. With his explosive innings, India A scored 377 runs for nine wickets and in reply restricted Sri Lanka A to 311 runs.While the fast bowler Yash Thakur Returning figures of 3/45 and spinner Vipraj Nigam claiming 3/60, the contest was largely shaped by Suryavanshi’s remarkable attack at the top of the order.Sri Lanka A faced a difficult target from the start and needed both a strong start and a consistent partnership to stay in the contest. Instead, their innings faltered early as Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando and Nuwanidu Fernando were all out inside the first 10 overs with just 75 runs on the board.The hosts attempted to rebuild through a 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Sadira Samarawickrama, who scored 52, and captain Sahan Arachige, who contributed 38 runs. Later, Wanuj Sahan scored 62 runs and shared a 77-run partnership with Vijaykant Vyaskanth (39) for the seventh wicket.However, those efforts were never enough against a target that required sustained scoring of more than eight runs per over. Sri Lanka A eventually crossed the 300-run mark but never seriously threatened India’s total.Earlier, India A’s innings was dominated by Suryavanshi, who bounced back in style in a relatively quiet tournament after being asked to bat first.The 15-year-old player from Samastipur, Bihar entered the field with the intention of attacking and immediately put the Sri Lankan bowlers under immense pressure. He rewrote the record books by completing his half-century in just 11 balls, surpassing the previous List A record held by Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne, who took 12 balls to score his half-century in 2005.His first 11 scoring shots produced an astonishing 50 runs. The sequence read 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6, 6 as he tore apart the bowling attack from the start. This achievement was achieved through two consecutive sixes off the ball of fast bowler Dulaj Samuditha.Suryavanshi mixed brute force with excellent timing throughout his stay. Initially targeting the leg side against the seamers, he later extended his range to the off side after Sri Lanka A adjusted their field placements. Even well-executed deliveries disappeared into the stands as he continued his attack.The standout features of the innings were his lofted drives over extra cover. Three effortless sixes in that area highlighted the extraordinary bat speed, balance and confidence that has established him as one of India’s most exciting young prospects.Along with Priyansh Arya, who scored 39, Suryavanshi added 132 runs for the opening wicket and looked on course to register the fastest century in List A cricket.The fireworks finally ended in the ninth over when spinner Sahan Arachige was caught at mid-off. Arya departed in the next over, giving Sri Lanka A a ray of hope.Ruturaj Gaikwad Then scored 40 runs and added 63 runs with captain Tilak Verma for the third wicket. Tilak led the innings with a smashing 67 off 90 balls as the scoring rate slowed down for a while.India A lost wickets at regular intervals in an attempt to gain momentum in the end, but too late Anukul RoyThe total score crossed 350 due to Vipraj Nigam scoring 39 runs in 15 balls and 27 runs in 20 balls.Ultimately, however, the final belonged to Suryavanshi, whose extraordinary innings set the stage for a comprehensive win and a reminder of his immense potential.

Pakistan coach Wahab Riaz said that his team disappointed itself in the Women’s T20 World Cup. On Saturday, Fatima Sana’s team was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Bangladesh by 23 runs at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Chasing a target of 124 runs to win, Pakistan were in a good position at 69 for 2 after 11 overs. A dramatic batting collapse left their score at 100 for 8..

Reflecting on the campaign, Wahab said that Pakistan was responsible for its own decline rather than being defeated by its opponents. He expressed disappointment at the team’s inability to handle pressure, especially after the batting failed in the first three matches.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Women’s T20 World Cup: highlight | Achievement:

The defeat deprived Pakistan of a win in the tournament, with their remaining two games now providing the only opportunity to salvage some pride.

Wahab said in the post-match press conference, “It is very disappointing to be out of the World Cup because, from our point of view, I still believe that no other team has really beaten us. We have beaten ourselves. That is a big difference. When another team plays better and beats you, you have to give them credit. But unfortunately, in our last three matches, we could not perform as expected and it was us who let those matches slip away.”

How Pakistan endured a horrific batting defeat

Against India, Pakistan had scored 51 runs for 1 wicket in the powerplay, but Deepti Sharma and Sri Charani collapsed the batting. Against South Africa, the Proteas pace trio of Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka wreaked havoc, leaving Pakistan at 50 for 8.

Captain Fatima Sana fought bravely against South Africa, scoring 55 runs and taking three wickets, but her all-round efforts ultimately went in vain. Against Bangladesh, Muniba Ali and Gul Firozha laid a strong foundation by making an opening partnership of 49 runs. However, Pakistan suffered another dramatic batting collapse, resulting in their exit from the tournament.

After losing their first three matches, Pakistan will look to do better against Australia in their final group-stage match at Headingley, Leeds on June 23. They will then conclude their campaign against tournament debutants Netherlands on 27 June in Bristol.

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Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Image Credit: ICC)

Vaibhav Suryavanshi once again showed why he is considered one of India’s brightest young talents by playing a brilliant inning of 94 runs in just 29 balls against Sri Lanka A in the final of the Tri-Nation Series. The 15-year-old hit 10 fours and 8 sixes at an incredible pace of 324.14 and missed the century by 6 runs. Although this innings is one of the most destructive innings he has ever played for India A in the 50-over format, it was not the highest-scoring innings of his young career.After being elected to field first by Sri Lanka A, the 15-year-old opening batsman took on the Sri Lankan bowlers fiercely and brought up his half-century in just 11 balls, hitting a brilliant sequence of 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6, 6 off his first 11 balls. In doing so, Suryavanshi broke the previous world record of a half-century in 12 balls set by Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne in 2005. But this was his second best innings in terms of strike rate. The best chance came in November 2025, when at the age of just 14 years and 232 days, the left-handed opening batsman rewrote the record books with a remarkable inning of 144 runs off 42 balls against UAE in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament.In that T20 match, he scored runs at a tremendous strike rate of 342.86 and hit 11 fours and 15 sixes. He completed his century in just 32 balls, making it the joint-third fastest T20 century by an Indian batsman along with Rishabh Pant, who scored a century in 32 balls for Delhi in the SMAT. Suryavanshi gave India A a mammoth score of 297/4 in 20 overs and played a key role in giving the team an emphatic 148-run win. However, Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored the most runs for Team India in the U19-final match against England in 2026. Vaibhav destroyed the England bowling attack with the help of 15 fours and 15 sixes and scored 175 runs in just 80 balls at a strike rate of 218.75 and took India to a record score of 411/9 in the final.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi is totally rocking the cover.

He is batting at 87 runs off just 26 balls, holding the record for the fastest List A century.

The record for the fastest List A century is held by Australian prodigy Jake Fraser-McGurk, who achieved the feat in just 29 balls.

Here are the Indian cricketers who scored the fastest century in the list:

1. Saqibul Ghani – 32 balls, Bihar vs Arunachal Pradesh, December 24, 2025
2. Ishan Kishan – 33 balls, Jharkhand vs Karnataka, December 24, 2025
3. Anmolpreet Singh – 35 balls, Punjab vs Arunachal Pradesh, December 21, 2024
4. Vaibhav Suryavanshi – 36 balls, Bihar vs Arunachal Pradesh, December 24, 2025
5. Yusuf Pathan – 40 balls, Baroda vs Maharashtra, February 16, 2010

captain of india Harmanpreet Kaur She is set to create a milestone on Sunday when she takes the field against South Africa in Manchester and becomes the first player – male or female – to appear in 200 T20 Internationals.This historic achievement came during the Women’s T20 World Cup and marks a journey that has spanned 17 years, encompassing multiple generations of cricketers and the growth of women’s cricket on the global stage.Ireland’s Paul Stirling holds the record for playing most games (163) in men’s T20Is, while Rohit Sharma In the men’s category, he is at second place with 159 T20Is. In women’s T20Is, Kaur currently leads the list with 199 games and is followed by New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (184). Australian legend Ellyse Perry is at fourth place in Women’s T20I with 177 matches.Kaur made her T20I debut during the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup in England in 2009. Seventeen years later, she is preparing to play her 200th match in the format during the 10th edition of the tournament. Only six other players who were active with them in 2009 are still playing international cricket.The 37-year-old will lead India in the crucial Group A match against South Africa at Old Trafford.India’s bowling coach Avishkar Salvi praised Kaur’s contribution to the game and the team.“I think Herman is a top-level athlete,” he said. “She is a role model for almost all cricketers globally. The way she has conducted herself over the years has been a role model. She has been a good performer in any format. She is playing her 200th T20, it is a big thing. And we are all excited to see her performance.”Salvi also highlighted Kaur’s role in guiding the young players.He added, “And working from a work ethic point of view, she keeps working on the basics. She shares a lot of experience with the youngsters. So that’s also a dimension where she comes in. At times, there is a lot of information available, but coming from someone who has performed so well at the highest level, those little things that she shares with the players, that really help boost the careers of many youngsters.”South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon, who plays with Kaur for Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League, also acknowledged the Indian captain’s achievement.“200 games is a lot. She makes it look easy. I’ve had the opportunity to play with her, watch her do her thing. It’s remarkable to see her journey, even when I was a little girl, just watching the big players. She’s been a role model for so many people around the world. It’s amazing to see her still playing cricket, and leading from the front, which is really good to see. Hopefully, she has 200 more. I don’t know how many more she can go through.” But look, it’s great to see how the women’s game has evolved and how it has taken the game forward.“South Africa need a win after losing to Australia in their opening match in Manchester before beating Pakistan at Edgbaston.Meanwhile, India has won both its matches so far by defeating Pakistan and Netherlands.Despite India’s strong start to the tournament, South Africa have had the upper hand in recent encounters between the two teams. The Proteas recently won the five-match T20 series 4-1 at home.

“Sir, it’s not ice and fire, it’s fire and fire,” Sanju Samson had joked of his opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma after India’s T20 World Cup glory. It seems that this sentiment has spread to the junior Indian team as well.

India A is set to face Sri Lanka A in the final of the tri-series to be played in Dambulla on Sunday, June 21. From an early exit from the tournament to becoming the first team to qualify for the finals, it has been quite a week for the Indian team.

In their first match of the tournament, India A had a narrow escape against the host teamSri Lanka A. In the second game, they lost to Afghanistan A in a rain-interrupted contest. Then, in their third game against Sri Lanka A, Tilak’s team lost to the hosts in a scrappy Super Over.

Tilak Verma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi were in different controversiesA stain on the team’s tour.

When their chances of qualification were looking slim indeed, India A produced a brilliant performance in their final round-robin game against Afghanistan A. The margin of victory was so strong that from the brink of elimination, India became the first team to qualify for the A finals, leaving Afghanistan and Sri Lanka battling for the remaining spots.

If that’s not fire and fire, I don’t know what is.

Tilak Verma Captain

If there is any cricketer who has learned the most from this series, it is Tilak Verma. After a narrow victory against Sri Lanka, a crushing defeat at the hands of Afghanistan and then a crushing defeat by Sri Lanka, Tilak had to move quickly in a short period of time.

“As a captain, the biggest learning for me is to understand each player – how they react under pressure, what is their mindset and how to get the best out of them. I spend a lot of time with the players off the field as it helps me understand them better,” Tilak Verma told Sportstar.

He said, “I have seen Rohit bhai do that with Mumbai Indians and the Indian team. I know how important those relationships become when you are in the middle. I have tried to implement some of those things here and it is working well so far.”

Verma will be crucial to India’s chances in the final – both as captain and as a batsman. Along with the willow, he has provided stability in the middle overs, a phase that has proven difficult for all teams in the competition.

Will we get a Vaibhav Suryavanshi show?

The prodigiously talented Vaibhav Suryavanshi has not been able to set the tri-series on fire yet.

Whenever he has come out to bat, he has looked in good form. But despite getting the start, he has not been able to convert it into a big score yet.

The Sri Lankans seem to have found a way to trap him with off-spin, and it’s a ploy that everyone will probably be keeping a close eye on. If this is a lack in glory then other teams will definitely try to take advantage of it in the near future.

The India A captain said that the string of mediocre scores is not a matter of concern and the team does not feel that Vaibhav needs to play his cricket differently. The youngster has the captain’s backing and is unlikely to change his style.

Sri Lanka nailed the fight

One thing that perhaps needs to be said about Sri Lanka A is that there are many senior players in this team.

Opening batsmen Avishka Fernando and Niroshan Dickwella are seasoned professionals in international cricket, and so is Sadira Samarawickrama.

The kind of confrontation that happened in the teams’ last game should have been addressed on the spot by the senior members on the field.

One wonders whether Sri Lanka will reach Sunday’s final in similar fashion again. If they do, things can go wrong very quickly.

And this will be the true test of India A. Especially their captain Tilak Verma – Can he combine his fire with ice to keep a hold on his team and the game?

Are there any weaknesses in India?

India A’s bowling remained a cause for concern till the last game.

Sri Lanka A’s top order has dominated the Indian pace attack in both the matches. But the team came back strong with the ball in their final round-robin game against Afghanistan, which is basically the development that Tilak talked about before the final.

India’s spinners are expected to perform well, but fast bowling remains a matter of concern.

india a vs sri lanka livestreaming

India A vs Sri Lanka A match will start at 10 AM IST. The toss will take place at 9:30 am.

india a vs sri lanka a pitch report

The pitches have been favorable for spin throughout the tournament and it is expected that the slow bowlers will once again be favored in the final.

However, what can make a real difference is the wind, which can bring swing into the game.

Strong winds are expected during match hours. There is no possibility of rain.

India A vs Sri Lanka A Predicted Playing XI

India A’s probable playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Verma (captain), Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Nishant Sindhu, Anukul Roy, Arshad Khan, Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur.

Probable playing eleven of Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Avishka Fernando, Vishen Halambage, Sadira Samarawickrama, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sahan Arachige (captain), Wanuza Sahan, Vijayakanth Wiyakanth, Kugathas Mathulan, Chamika Gunasekara, Mohammed Shiraz.

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Pakistan are in grave danger of being knocked out of the Women’s T20 World Cup after Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 20 runs in the Group A match at the prestigious Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday. Chasing a target of 164, Pakistan were playing comfortably at 69 for two after 11 overs, but then faced a dramatic and scary batting collapse.

Pakistan managed to score only 20 runs in its last nine overs as Bangladesh snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in amazing fashion. Pakistan still have two matches left in the group stage, but the fate of their qualification is no longer in their own control or hands.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Women’s T20 World Cup: highlight | Achievement:

If India beats South Africa in Manchester on Sunday, Pakistan will be officially and mathematically out of the competition.

Joti, Shoorna help Bangladesh recover

Bangladesh recovered from an early collapse at the Rose Bowl to post 123/6. With their semi-final hopes intact, they were in immediate trouble as Fatima Sana struck twice in the opening overs. Dilara Akhtar was out for five, Sharmin Akhtar was out for zero and Zuaria Firdous was out for seven, leaving Bangladesh at 13/3.

Captain Nigar Sultana Joti played an inning of 36 runs in 38 balls and started the innings with five fours. She was well supported by Shobhana Mostori, who scored 22 runs from 19 balls and revived the pair after early damage.

Pakistan’s bowlers maintained a tight control in the middle overs, with Fatima Sana finishing with figures of 4-1-18-2, while Nashra Sandhu was economical, conceding just 14 runs in her four-over spell. Sadia Iqbal, Tasmiya Rubab and Tuba Hasan also took one wicket each.

When it looked like Bangladesh were slipping to a below-average score, Sharn Akter provided the team late momentum with an unbeaten 39 off 22 balls at a strike rate of 177.27. His aggressive innings, which included five fours, took Bangladesh to a competitive end at 92/6. Although the total is not impressive, Bangladesh will take confidence from the resilience shown by their middle and lower order after the early collapse.

Pakistan had to face bad batting

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