In a historic moment for Indian cricket, the women's team clinched their maiden ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final held at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. This victory marks a golden chapter in India's sporting history, as it is the first time an Indian women's team has won a global title across all formats.
India, after winning the toss, posted a competitive total of 298/7 in their 50 overs. Shafali Verma led the charge with a scintillating knock of 87 off 78 balls, her highest score in ODIs. Deepti Sharma provided stability in the middle order, contributing a valuable 58. Richa Ghosh added a late flourish with a lively cameo of 34, helping India reach a challenging score. Ayabonga Khaka was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, claiming 3 wickets for 58 runs.
South Africa's chase began strongly, with captain Laura Wolvaardt leading from the front. Wolvaardt scored a magnificent century, amassing 101 runs off 98 balls. However, she lacked support from the other end, as India's bowlers struck at regular intervals. Deepti Sharma was the star performer with the ball, claiming 5 crucial wickets for just 39 runs. Shafali Verma also made a significant impact, taking 2 wickets for 36 runs.
The turning point of the match came when Deepti Sharma dismissed Annerie Dercksen, triggering a collapse in the South African batting lineup. From a comfortable 209/5, the Proteas crumbled to 246 all out. Amanjot Kaur's juggling catch to dismiss Wolvaardt was also a key moment. Despite a late effort from Nadine de Klerk, South Africa fell short of the target, as Deepti Sharma took the final wicket, sealing the victory for India.
Shafali Verma was named the Player of the Match for her outstanding all-round performance. Deepti Sharma was awarded the Player of the Tournament for her consistent performance throughout the World Cup. She ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets and also scored 215 runs.
This victory marks a significant milestone for women's cricket in India. The team's journey to the World Cup title was filled with challenges, including a mid-tournament slump where they suffered three consecutive defeats. However, they bounced back strongly, demonstrating resilience and determination to achieve their ultimate goal. This win is expected to inspire a new generation of girls to take up the sport and further elevate the profile of women's cricket in the country.
