India ended their long wait for a Women’s World Cup title in emphatic fashion, defeating South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.
Opener Shafali Verma starred with a whirlwind 87, while all-rounder Deepti Sharma contributed 58 runs and took 5‑39, helping India post 298‑7 and then dismiss South Africa for 246. Verma was named player of the match, and Sharma claimed the player of the tournament award after amassing 215 runs and 22 wickets throughout the tournament.
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South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt fought back with a valiant 101 but could not prevent India from clinching the trophy.
India recovered from three defeats in the league stage, including one to South Africa, to reach the final after a record-breaking semi-final chase against Australia. Their victory makes India only the fifth nation to win the women’s 50-over World Cup.
“We always believed we have a responsibility with women’s cricket… to be champions, I’m not able to process it,” said India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, visibly emotional after years of near misses in the final.
