4th over: India 29-0 (Mandhana 15, Verma 14)

Spin into the attack and Verma into the game.

First ball from Ash Gardner is crunched for four. And woof! Fifth ball of the over and it’s smacked over long-off for six. Awesome batting from Verma.

3rd over: India 16-0 (Mandhana 14, Verma 2)

Shafali Verma hasn’t been allowed to play yet. She’s only faced three balls.

Just five runs off the over. Mandhana pulling Hamilton for four.

2nd over: India 11-0 (Mandhana 10, Verma 1)

Kim Garth takes the second over. And that is gorgeous timing from Mandhana who clips the second ball for four. And same again third ball. Back-to-back boundaries for the only runs off the over.

1st over: India 3-0 (Mandhana 2, Verma 1) The left-arm of Lucy Hamilton gets us going.

Couple of dots to begin with, before Hamilton gets a bit straight to give Mandhana her first run. The final ball of the over sees an inside edge almost go back on to the stumps but an otherwise tidy start all round.

Right, let’s get cracking. Australia with ball in hand. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma stride out to the middle.

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Lord’s is close to capacity and looking a picture.

The teams are readying themselves for the anthems. The stands are a sea of blue with a smattering of yellow kicking about. This is a proper fixture. Can’t wait.

A hellish three hours await for South Africa. The Proteas beat Bangladesh in the first leg of today’s double-header at Lord’s. And now will sit and watch hoping that Australia will get the job done to send the Saffas through to the semis.

“Australia have this in the bag,” is the word from Laura Wolvaardt in her post-match presser.

Australia’s Nicola Carey: “Everyone’s contributed. Huge game against India. The crowd gets right behind them. No doubt about an India heavy crowd.”

An early confession. I did a lie to you earlier. I said a narrow defeat for India can still they them go through. Categorically false.

India are on six points. South Africa are on eight. So a defeat for India obviously still leaves them on fewer points than the Proteas. Not my finest mathematical moment.

Changes for both sides.

Just the one for India as Kranti Gaud come back for Nandani Sharma.

And a big change for Australia, as Alana King misses out and is replaced by Phoebe Litchfield.

Slightly delayed toss here at Lord’s after the South Africa and Bangladesh game went down to the wire. Will have news with you as soon as we get it. Sun’s out. I’d have a bat.

Attention switches to the main event now. Australia are four from four and been dominant throughout. Their margins of victory have been 65 runs, nine wickets, 98 runs and 113 runs so far this comp. So they’ve gone alright…

India have had three comfortable victories, but lost in a thriller to South Africa.

South Africa’s net-run-rate is 0.633. India’s is 2.268. So there’s even a world where a narrow defeat for India today will still be enough to go through. I’ll the need the assistance of some scientists to understand what that means in runs and wickets though.

19th over: Right. Five off the last needed. We’re at Lord’s. A tie is a Super Over and Ian Smith is in the commentary box. Surely it’s written.

Here we go…

Why not…let’s have two bonus overs of OBO to take this match home. If you do want to get in contact, email me here.

Crucially, for this match to carry any jeopardy, South Africa must get the job done against Bangladesh.

SA currently need 10 runs from the final two overs at Lord’s – and it is nervy. Five wickets down. Will keep you up-to-date right through to the end.