INDW vs IREW, T20 World Cup, Highlights: India enter semifinals; beat Ireland by 5 runs

Well, the rain gods did not relent, but it is good news for Indian fans nonetheless. India are through to the semifinals of the World Cup, having won the match by 5 runs (DLS). 

It has been a pleasure to bring you all the live coverage of this encounter. Until next time, take care, have fun and keep watching. 

Ireland is 5 runs away from 59 - the DLS par score. The match is more or less in balance. Will we see the action again tonight? Stay Tuned! 

The last Powerplay over would make Ireland feel much, much better. They now have 44 off the first six overs. Lewis, here, doing most of the damage. Exciting passage of play coming up. 

Ireland are really trying, they really are, but India's bowling has been on point. They will have to play out of their skin here to pose any kind of threat whatsoever. 

Well, there they have it. A dream start. 2 wickets in the first over itself and India are up and running. Ireland has been dealt with a major jolt here. Can they recover?

Led by Smriti's 87, India finish with 155. Could have had a lot more in the end though. England, however, got 150 odd in the previous game here, and India found it difficult to chase. Can Ireland pose any threat? 

Stay tuned to find out.

Well, after 4 dropped chances and some lusty blows, Mandhana finally walks back at 87, her highest T20I score. Classy knock. Can India go beyond 150?

Two big wickets for Ireland and there go those extra 15-20 runs that India would have had. Kaur and Richa walk back in quick succession and India are in trouble here. How big can Mandhana go from here? 

Well, there it is. Written in the stars. She may have been dropped three times, but again, she has repeatedly taken her chances. Classy fifty from her and Ireland need to find a way to stop her here. 

Harmanpreet Kaur scripted history as she became the first Indian woman cricketer to score 3000 T2OI runs. In the all-time list, Kaur stands at number four, behind Stafanie Taylor, who has 3166 international runs. 

More on this here. 

Harmanpreet Kaur promoted herself to number 3, and the strategy seems to be clear for India here. Go hard and go big. Can they execute it though? 

Well, it was coming all along. Shafali was playing a strange knock here, and now she walks back. First breakthrough for Ireland, but has it come a little too late? Let's find out.

Mandhana is trying to send everything out of the park here. Shafali's uncharacteristic knock isn't helping either. Anyways, runs continue to flow for India. 

Great Powerplay for India. 42 runs off it. Ireland need to find a way to strike here. 

Well, India are off to a flyer. Smriti Mandhana here, doing most of the damage. Ireland need to bowl tight here, else India will pile up runs in the Powerplay. 

India Women 

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Devika Vaidya, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Thakur Singh

Ireland Women

Amy Hunter, Gaby Lewis, Orla Prendergast, Eimear Richardson, Louise Little, Laura Delany(c), Arlene Kelly, Mary Waldron(w), Leah Paul, Cara Murray, Georgina Dempsey

India Women have won the toss and opted to bat. 

Basic Stats

• Total matches: 7
• Matches won batting first: 3
• Matches won bowling first: 4

Average Stats

• Average 1st Inns scores: 127
• Average 2nd Inns scores: 120

Score Stats

• Highest total recorded: 179/6 by RSA vs NZ
• Highest score chased: 125/4 by AUSW vs RSAW
• Lowest score defended: 151/7 by ENGW vs INDW

The average 1st innings total on this ground in 127, which drops down to 120 in the second. Out of seven matches played at this venue, four have been won by the team chasing and three, by the team batting first. The pitch, however, plays pretty even throughout and it won't be a win the toss, win the game kind of deck. 

More about the venue here.

Hello and welcome to the live blog of India Women vs Ireland Women from the Women's T20 World Cup 2023. I am Kartik Mehindru, and I will be taking you through all the updates throughout the match. 

India are currently positioned on the second spot in the points table and a win would take them through to the final four of the tournament. Ireland are already eliminated as they have lost all three of their group-stage matches against West Indies, Pakistan and England. 

Toss is about an hour away. Fasten your seatbelts.