At the DY Patil Stadium here on Sunday, India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to win the historic first Women’s ODI World Cup. Deepti Sharma led a fantastic all-around performance with a fifty and five wickets.
Thus, Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad won India’s third World Cup in ODIs (men’s and women’s combined), adding to the titles won by MS Dhoni’s boys in 2011 at adjacent Wankhede Stadium and Kapil Dev’s team in 1983.
After batting a valiant 58 to help India post 298/7 in 50 overs, Deepti claimed 5-39. The hosts then bundled out South Africa for 246 in 45.3 overs to record an unforgettable victory, making them just the third nation to win both the men’s and women’s ODI World Cup after England and Australia.
As the hosts scored 298/7 in 50 overs, Shafali Verma was not far behind for India, top-scoring with 87. She later returned to take two wickets for 36 to pull India out of the woods as Wolvaardt fixed the Indian innings.
Laura Wolvaardt, the captain of South Africa, put up a valiant fight, but the Indians were unbeatable on Sunday as they fought valiantly, supported one another, and astonished the globe with an outstanding performance. After losing three straight games, the team advanced as the final team to the semifinals before upsetting South Africa and Australia to win the championship.
She made half-century partnerships with opening partner Tazmin Brits (29) and 61 with Annerie Dercksen (35), but India was unbeatable on Sunday night as they kept their composure and battled back to win the historic title thanks to breakthroughs from Deepti and Shafali Verma.
Earlier, in a World Cup final that was postponed by two hours due to rain and a sloppy outfield, India scored 298/7 in their 50 overs, with Verma scoring her first half-century in three years in ODIs and Deepti Sharma scoring her third.
After joining the ODI team a year later, Shafali, who is 21 years old and the youngest player to reach a fifty in a World Cup final, scored an incredible 87 and raised a century partnership with Smriti Mandhana (45). Deepti Sharma hit her third half-century of the World Cup to support the innings despite South Africa’s comeback in the middle overs. To assist India go closer to the 300-run threshold, she and Richa Ghosh combined for 47 runs for the sixth wicket. They could have led the team over 300 if they had performed a bit better.
When asked to bat first, India got off to a fantastic start thanks to the old-firm duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who amassed 100 runs for the first wicket and reached 1000 runs as openers. They are the fourth Indian couple to do this.
Just before the semifinal, Shafali replaced the injured Pratika Rawal in the team. She got off to a fast start, hitting two sixes and seven fours in her 78-ball 87.
After Karizanne Kapp began with a maiden over, she began with a boundary off Ayabonga Khaka in the second over. Taking her chances, she struck her first fifty in three years in this format off 49 balls, striking five boundaries and one six (the first six of the final, which came off Nadine de Klerk). She also raised 64 runs in the Power-play alongside Mandhana.
Smriti Mandhana, who was looking good for a fifty after starting slowly and changing gears, was dismissed for 45 off 58 balls, which included eight fours.
The youngest player to represent India, 21-year-old Shafali, was fortunate to receive a reprieve after being dropped by Anneke Bosch on 57. Bosch hit a sitter at deep mid-wicket after Shafali launched a slog-sweep yards into the sky. She hit another six before being dismissed at the most unsuitable moment, when she was on the verge of making her first century. She then hit a tired shot to Sune Luus off Khaka for 87.
After that, Deeptu assumed responsibility for saving the Indian innings and, with assistance from Amanjot Kaur and Richa Ghosh, led the team to a manageable score.
In summary, India defeated South Africa 246 all out in 45.3 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 101, Annerie Dercksen 35; Deepti Sharma 5-39, Shafali Verma 2-36) by 52 runs, scoring 298/7 in 50 overs (Shafali Verma 87, Deepti Sharma 54, Richa Ghosh 34; Ayabonga Khaka 3-58).
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Women’s World Cup: India won its first title after defeating South Africa by 52 runs