Riding on all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur's six on the penultimate delivery, India bested South Africa by one wicket in a nail-biting ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier Final at the P. Sara Oval here on Tuesday.
Chasing a decent 245, India were on course with opener Mona Meshram (59) and Deepti Sharma (71) striking a 124-run second wicket stand to set the tone before Harmanpreet's run-a-ball unbeaten 41 runs helped the side recover from a mini-collapse and get over the line.
Needing nine off six balls, Indian women were staring at defeat when they lost Poonam Yadav (7) in the first delivery but Harmanpreet plundered Letsoalo over deep midwicket to bring India back on the chase and sealed the win with a couple of runs in the last ball of the over.
While Meshram's 82-ball knock was laced with seven boundaries and a six, Deepti consumed 89 balls and hit eight fours in her innings.
Earlier, Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3/51) claimed three wickets in her nine overs, while S Pandey took two wickets to help India bowl out South Africa for 244 in 49.4 overs.
M du Preez (40) was the top-scorer for South Africa women, while van Niekerk (37) and L Lee (37) got starts but failed to consolidate into big scores.
Already assured of a place in this year's Women's World Cup, India continued their invincible run at the tournament after overhauling the target in the last over.
In reply to South Africa's 244, India lost opener Thirush Kamini (10) early in the eighth over but Meshram and Sharma's partnership helped India recover.
But both the batswoman were sent back to the pavillion within a span of eight deliveries to deal a huge blow to the India's chase. It was MM Letsoalo (1/35) who dismissed Sharma in the 33rd over and then D van Niekerk sent Meshram packing in the next over as India slipped to 148-3.
Veda Krishnamurthy (31) and Harmanpreet (41) then tried to steady the innings before the former was removed by Marizanne Kapp in the 41st over.
New batswoman Shikha Pandey (12) and Harmanpreet brought up the 200 for India but Ayabonga Khaka was instrumental in two more wickets as Pandey and DP Vaidya (0) too were back into the hut three overs later.
While Pandey was run out, Khaka cleaned up Vaidya as India were reduced to 210 for six in 44 overs. Wicket-keeper Sushma Verma then lasted just two balls after being dismissed by S Ismail and Ekta Bisht too was cleaned up by Khaka as India further slumped to 223-8 in 45.4 overs.
Harmanpreet, who played in the women's Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia this season, used all her experience to handle the situation and steer India over the line in the last ball of the innings.
South Africa had defeated India in a practice match ahead of this tournament but the latter prevailed in their fixture in the tournament proper, winning by 49 runs in the Super Six stage.
(With agencies)
