India make cricket history after epic W’Cup final win over South Africa
India have won the Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time after a thrilling 52-run victory over South Africa in a rain-delayed final in Navi Mumbai. Shafali Verma top-scored for India with 87 off 78 balls and put on a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana, while Deepti Sharma added 58 late in the […]
Players of India cricket team celebrate after their victory over South Africa on Sunday
India have won the Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time after a thrilling 52-run victory over South Africa in a rain-delayed final in Navi Mumbai.
Shafali Verma top-scored for India with 87 off 78 balls and put on a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana, while Deepti Sharma added 58 late in the innings, as they posted 298-7 after losing the toss and being made to bat at the DY Patil Stadium.
South Africa slipped to 148-5 in reply after part-time bowler Verma claimed two wickets and Sharma (5-39) removed Sinalo Jafta (16), only for captain Laura Wolvaardt (101) to post her second successive ODI century and push the Proteas closer to their victory target.
Deepti also bowled Annerie Dercksen (35) to end a 61-run sixth-wicket stand, before claiming the key wicket of Wolvaardt – via a juggling Amanjot Kaur catch – and Chloe Tryon (nine) in her next frantic over to move momentum back India’s way.
She then capped off her player-of-the-match display by running out Ayabonga Khaka (one) and by dismissing Nadine de Klerk (18), leaving South Africa dismissed for 246 in the 46th over and India celebrating a historic victory.
How India made history with World Cup victory.
A positive start from India – after play was delayed by two hours due to rain – saw the co-hosts race to 50 inside the first seven overs and put on a 104-run first wicket stand, which ended when Smriti Mandhana (45) edged Tryon behind to Jafta.
Verma was dropped on 56 by Anneke Bosch at deep mid-wicket, as India looked set to post a huge total, but was caught by Sune Luus off Khaka to start a mid-innings stutter that saw them slip from 166-1 to 245-5.
Khaka also removed Jemimah Rodrigues (24) after a sharp low catch from Wolvaardt and Harmanpreet Kaur (20) was bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba, with Amanjot Kaur (12) caught and bowled by De Klerk as South Africa battled back.
Sharma steadied the innings with a run-a-ball 58, adding 47 with Richa Ghosh (34) for the sixth wicket, before being run out on the final delivery as India posted the second-highest total in a World Cup final.