India created history on Sunday when they defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the Women’s World Cup final in Navi Mumbai and claimed their maiden ICC trophy. Deepti Sharma picked up 4 wickets including Laura Wolvaardt’s looking inauspicious 101 runs.
Earlier, Shafali Verma’s blistering target of 87 was followed by fighting knocks from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh before South Africa rallied to restrict India to a low of 298/7. Deepti’s run-a-ball 58 with three fours and a six and Richa (34 off 24 balls, 3x4s, 2x6s) provided the much-needed late impetus with a 47-run partnership for the sixth wicket after India’s innings faltered in the middle with Jemima Rodrigues (24) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (20) failing to convert their starts.
The plucky South African appeared to have spoiled India’s target of a huge first innings total with regular batting, aided by a pitch that slowed down and provided grip for the spinners as the match progressed after a two-hour rain delay to the start of the match.
Chafali showed great maturity with a strike that was characterized by aggression and skillful alternation of the strike.
The right-hander used all her experience to set a platform for India, setting up a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana (45), which had South Africa searching for answers early.
Shafali, who took over from India’s top run-scorer of the tournament, started with a four off Ayabunga Khaka (3/58) in the second over and signaled her intent by coming down the track to the Marizan Kapp boundary in the fifth over, which she followed with another four with a quick flick of the pads.
Despite Shafali being the aggressor, Mandhana looked set for a big score but was denied a personal milestone by Chloe Tryon (1/46).
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Mandhana (45 off 58 balls, 8 fours) played an accurate late cut and sweep and even her trademark run through the off-side.
But the fourth ball of the 18th over from Tryon seemed to slip further and tried to cut, and Mandana was caught at the back.
However, Mandhana finished an impressive campaign with the bat with 434 runs in nine matches at 54.25, which is now the best performance by an Indian batsman in World Cup history. She hit a century and two fifties during the tournament.
Khaka, who started by conceding 29 runs in three overs, completed a remarkable comeback when she got Shafali off after a host of deliveries of varying lengths. She put one in India’s opener to fly into the air and Sune Luus got the regulation in the middle of the match.
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Shafali was earlier dropped by Anneke Bosch in the 21st over off Luus but the India opener missed a beat.
After the India star’s semi-final win over mighty Australia, Jemima looked set for another long run down the middle, but a brilliant low shot from skipper Laura Wolfhardt at Khaka’s cover foiled her plans in the 30th minute.
With two set-pieces returning to the dugout, India’s hopes were pinned on skipper Harmanpreet for a crucial innings, but that was not to be the case.
Harmanpreet did well as he put on 52 runs with Deepti but when they were asked to change the pace, India were shaken again.
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Harmanpreet delved deep into the crease to cut down a late ball from Nonkululeko Mlaba, but he missed the delivery all the way and it was cleaned up in the 39th minute.
India’s woes continued when the fifth-wicket duo of Deepti and Amanjot Kaur (12) could not trouble the scorers much, with Nadine de Klerk’s brilliance putting an end to the problem.
Amanjot was fooled by the slow pace when she threw one straight at the fielder and De Klerk raced to her right to catch the ball with one hand.
(Tags for translation) Women’s World Cup Final 2025 in India
