After choosing to bat, India were able to have a full first innings at St George’s Park in Gqeberha and posted 155 for six off their 20 overs, with opener Smriti Mandhana top scoring with 87 runs.

Mandhana’s explosive innings featured nine fours and three sixes, and lasted 56 balls, moving her top of the tournament’s run scoring charts.

It helped India accumulate a healthy total as they looked for a win that would guarantee progression to the semi-final stage.

Despite an expensive spell of four overs for 33 runs, Ireland captain Laura Delany took three wickets, including Indian wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh for a first ball duck.

Ireland’s reply got off to the worst possible start when opener Amy Hunter was run out first ball, before Orla Prendergast followed in the first over without scoring after being bowled by Renuka Singh Thakur.

Through Gaby Lewis and skipper Delany Ireland started to rebuild and had put on a partnership of 53 when the rain came with the score at 54 for two in the ninth over.

India were five runs ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, a formula used to calculate a target score for a chasing team in a limited overs match, and as the match was unable to resume due to the weather were declared the winners.

India have now secured a semi-final spot with their opponent to be confirmed following the final Group Two match tomorrow between England, who have already qualified, and Pakistan, who are already eliminated.

The final Group One match is also scheduled to be held tomorrow, with hosts South Africa needing to beat already eliminated Bangladesh to have any chance of advancing to the semi-finals.