The potential humdinger is on the cards at a sold-out 'home of cricket' next Sunday after India were beaten in a thriller by Marizanne Kapp-inspired South Africa at Old Trafford, putting the progression of Harmanpreet Kaur's powerhouse outfit to the semi-finals in serious jeopardy.
Australia are still not completely home and hosed for a semi-final place, which will go to the top two teams in group one, but their vastly superior net run-rate and current two-point lead in the pool still puts them in the most powerful of positions to go through.
A fourth consecutive dominant win in the group, against already eliminated Pakistan at Headingley on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), will only strengthen that position, while victory over India at Lord's would probably end Indian hopes of adding the T20 title to their global 50-over crown.
South Africa were hammered by Molineux's rampant outfit at the same Manchester venue eight days earlier, and India had the chance to effectively book their place too with a similarly commanding display against Laura Wolvaardt's 2024 finalists.
But after India decided to bat on Sunday, the Proteas restricted them to 7-158 before allrounder Kapp and big-hitting opener Tazmin Brits (40) rode some luck to put together a 97-run partnership for the third wicket.
But Kapp, who was dropped on both 25 and 65, made India pay, going to her half-century off 34 balls and eventually smacking Deepti Sharma for two sixes in a 16-run penultimate over before Chloe Tryon hit the winning boundary with five balls remaining.
"I was just praying to be honest," Kapp said. "I do well if I am in earlier. I struggled in the first few balls. The partnership with Taz set us up beautifully."
Kapp had earlier bowled beautifully too, taking 2-27, including the wicket of India's brilliant opener Smriti Mandhana, bowled in the second over.
Kaur, the first man or woman to play 200 T20 internationals, was out for 24 off 22 balls and admitted: "Marizanne Kapp was fearless and took the game away from us."Â
India remain in second spot in the table on four points, two behind Australia and with an inferior net run-rate of 1.88, but they have a vastly better NRR than South Africa and Bangladesh, who also both have four points.
But the South Africans will be strongly fancied to beat the Netherlands at Bristol on Thursday and Bangladesh at Lord's on Sunday morning to heap all the pressure on India, even if Kaur's side beat the Bangladeshis as expected at Old Trafford on Thursday.
In that scenario, India would then be eliminated if they were subsequently beaten by Australia in the afternoon match on Sunday.
"We have two matches to go and we need to stay positive," reckoned Kaur.
