Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 3 (HBTV): Excellent all-round performances by Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma helped India finally break their world title drought, as they secured their maiden ICC Women's World Cup title by beating first-time finalists South Africa by 52 runs in a clinical display at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
Just after having eliminated seven-time champions Australia with a record-breaking 339-run chase which included a century by Jemimah Rodrigues and a Harmanpreet Kaur special, the Harmanpreet-led Team India overcame the heartbreak of the 2005 and 2017 finals. A fifty and five-wicket haul by Deepti Sharma, along with Shafali's brilliant 87 and two crucial wickets, helped India lift a World Cup title that could further boost the women's cricket scene in the coming years.
India posted 298/7 on the board with Shafali (87) and Deepti (58) scoring solid half-centuries. Despite South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt’s 101, Deepti (5/39) and Shafali (2/36) put the brakes on the Proteas, bundling them out for 246 runs.
During the run chase of 299, the opening pair of Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave the Proteas a solid start, relying on strike rotation and occasional boundaries. Wolvaardt struck two fours against Amanjot Kaur in the ninth over, showcasing her aggressive intent as South Africa reached 50 in 8.4 overs.
The 51-run stand was broken by a brilliant run-out from Amanjot, who removed Brits (23 off 35 balls, with two fours and a six). South Africa were 51/1 in 9.3 overs. Anneke Bosch was soon dismissed leg-before-wicket by spinner Shree Charani, reducing South Africa to 62/2 in 11.5 overs.
Sune Luus joined Wolvaardt at the crease and dealt with the spinners cautiously. Wolvaardt continued her fine form, reaching her fourth fifty of the tournament in 45 balls, with seven fours and a six. She also became the player with the most runs in a single World Cup edition, crossing the 509-run mark set by Alyssa Healy in 2022.
Luus attempted to counterattack but was caught by Shafali for 25 off 31 balls. Shafali’s golden arm also claimed the wicket of Marizanne Kapp for just four, caught behind by Richa Ghosh. South Africa were 123/4 in 22.1 overs. Deepti then dismissed Sinalo Jafta for 16, reducing the Proteas to 148/5 in 29.3 overs.
Annerie Dercksen tried to revive the innings with two sixes off Radha Yadav’s bowling and added 61 runs with Wolvaardt. However, Deepti dismissed Dercksen for 35 to break the stand, leaving South Africa at 209/6 in 39.3 overs.
Wolvaardt completed her century in 96 balls, becoming only the second player after Healy to score hundreds in both the semifinal and final of a Women’s World Cup. But Deepti soon removed the South African skipper for 101 off 98 balls, caught by Amanjot, leaving the Proteas at 220/7 in 41.1 overs.
Deepti continued her magical spell, taking her fourth and fifth wickets to dismiss Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk, finishing with 5/39 and sealing India’s victory. South Africa were all out for 246 in 45 overs, handing India their historic first World Cup win.
Shafali Verma’s innings of 87 off 78 balls laid the foundation for India’s strong total, with valuable contributions from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh helping the team to 298/7. Although India fell short of the 300-run mark, it was still the second-highest total ever in a Women’s World Cup final, behind Australia’s 356/5 against England in 2022. South Africa’s fielding was below par, with several dropped catches allowing India to build key partnerships.
After South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and chose to field, India’s opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave the hosts a dream start. The duo reached fifty in just 6.3 overs, with India comfortably placed at 64/0 after ten overs.
They added 104 runs before Mandhana was dismissed for 45 by Chloe Tryon. The Mandhana-Verma stand became only the second century opening partnership in a Women’s World Cup final, after the 160-run stand by Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy for Australia in 2022.
Following Mandhana’s dismissal, Jemimah Rodrigues joined Verma and added 62 runs before Verma fell for 87, her highest One-Day International score. Rodrigues was dismissed for 24, and Harmanpreet Kaur followed with 20. Amanjot Kaur managed 12 runs before Deepti and Richa Ghosh revived the innings with a 52-run partnership.
Richa scored a quick 34 off 24 balls, while Deepti added a composed 58 off 58 deliveries, guiding India to a competitive 298/7. Deepti was run out on the final ball.
For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka was the pick of the bowlers with 3/58, while Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk, and Chloe Tryon took a wicket each.
Brief scores: India 298/7 in 50 overs (Shafali Verma 87, Deepti Sharma 58; Ayabonga Khaka 3/58) beat South Africa 246 in 45 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 101, Annerie Dercksen 35; Deepti Sharma 5/39).
(ANI)