India won the Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time after a thrilling 52-run victory over South Africa in the rain-delayed final in Navi Mumbai.
Shafali Verma top scored for India with 87 off 78 balls to put on a 104-run stand with Smriti Mandhan, while Dipti Sharma added 58 in the late innings as they made 298-7 after losing the toss and batting at the DI Patil Stadium.
South Africa slumped to 148-5 in reply after off-spinner Verma took two wickets and Sharma (5-39) removed Sinal Jafta (16), only for captain Laura Wohlwart (101) to post her second consecutive ODI century to push the Proteas closer to their victory target.
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India eliminated Tazmin’s Brits after Amanjot Kaur produced a stunning knock
Dipti also bowled Aneri Derksen (35) to end 61 runs with the sixth wicket, before picking up the crucial wickets of Walwart – through the juggle of Amanjot Kaur – and Chloe Tryon (nine) in his next frantic effort to swing the momentum back India’s way.
She then completed her man-of-the-match selection by dismissing Aiyabong Khaka (one) and dismissing Nadine de Klerk (18), leaving South Africa bowled out for 246 in the 46th over and India celebrating a historic win.
How India made history by winning the World Cup
A positive start from India – after play was delayed by two hours due to rain – saw the hosts race to 50 in the first seven overs and put up a 104-run stand, which ended when Smriti Mandhana (45) edged Trayon behind Jafta.
Verma was dropped for 56 by Anneka Bosch at deep mid-wicket as India looked set to post a huge total, but was caught by Sune Luus at Khaka to start a mid-innings stutter that saw them slip from 166-1 to 245-5.
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Smriti Mandhana was the first to fall in love with India after an encouraging start to their innings
Khaka was also removed by Jemimah Rodrigues (24) after a sharp low catch by Walwart and Harmanpreet Kaur (20) bowled by Nonkululeko Mlab, while Amanjot Kaur (12) was caught and bowled by De Klerk as South Africa fought back.
Sharma leveled the innings with 58 runs a ball, adding 47 with Rich Ghosh (34) for the sixth wicket, before being run out in the final over as India posted the second-highest total in a World Cup final.
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South Africa dismissed Verma and Sharma during India’s innings, helping them post a big total on home soil
South Africa threaten a famous chase before failing
South Africa picked up the pace after a cautious start to their chase and reached 51 for no loss when Tazmin Britts (23) was run out by Kaur’s direct hit and Bosch was trapped lbw by Sri Charani soon after – not out.
Walwart surpassed Alyssa Healy’s record for the most runs in a single World Cup and rounded off her half-century with back-to-back boundaries, before India claimed two quick wickets when Loos sent back Verma and Kapp edged the 21-year-old in the next over.
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Jafta almost ran out Wollwaardt chasing a quick single but was himself dismissed in the same Sharma, picking out Yadav at short mid-wicket, but Dercksen and Wollwaardt pushed South Africa to 200 and set up a thrilling finish.
Sharma dismissed Dercksen with a stunning yorker in the same over as Wohlwarth completed her brilliant century, where she became only the second player to score a hundred in a World Cup semi-final and final.
Amanjot needed multiple attempts to hold off Wollvaardt’s hack to deep midwicket to bring down South Africa for seven, while Tryon was trapped lbw in the same over – called by the umpire – and Khaka ran out trying to take a quick single.
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Check out this sensational catch by Amanjot Kaur to remove Laura Wohlwart
Sharma secured victory for India by claiming her fifth wicket when De Klerk caught captain Kaur at around midnight local time, and India became only the fourth nation ever to win the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Wohlwart: We will grow from this as a team
South Africans Laura Wolfhards…
“I don’t think I could be more proud of this team for the campaign we’ve had. We’ve played incredible cricket throughout. Outplayed today – I think India played fantastically well.”
“Unfortunately I’m on the losing side, but I’m sure as a group we’ll grow from this. I’m just proud of the resilience we showed to get all the way to the final.”
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Harmanpreet Kaur took a brilliant catch to seal the victory and complete Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur…
“I’m very thankful for this crowd, they were so amazing. Thank you so much. The belief was there after we lost three games in a row, but we know this team is special.
“Credit goes to every member of this team for staying positive. They deserve it.”
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Amanjot Kaur gives an emotional interview after her team won the Women’s Cricket World Cup
Nasser: India had too much for South Africa
Former England captain Nasser Hussain speaking to Sky Sports:
“It (the popularity of women’s cricket in India) was already going in that direction with the VPL (Women’s Premier League) and the way this cricket team has been playing for the last few years. They just needed this evening, this tournament, to seal that deal a little bit.”
“The crowd was magnificent and the team was magnificent. They had that little blip in the middle of the tournament but they started well and they finished well. In the end they just had too many fit players compared to South Africa.”
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Nasser Hussain reflects on India’s sensational victory over South Africa in the Women’s Cricket World Cup final
“If you look at that Indian line-up, there were quite a few players in pretty good nick for the rest of the tournament. Unfortunately for South Africa, especially with the bat, they relied heavily on one or two, and so they had to play an extra batsman.
“Fair play to South Africa, they played a lot of good cricket themselves. India were too good, as we’ve seen in this part of the world – men or women and in any format – they’re very difficult to beat.”
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