India have been crowned world champions after a commanding all-round performance saw them defeat South Africa by 52 runs in the Women’s World Cup final at the DY Patil Stadium on 2 November. Deepti Sharma was the star of the night, taking a magnificent five-wicket haul, including the final scalp, to secure India’s maiden world title.
Having posted 298 for 6 on the back of Shafali Verma’s career-best 87 and Deepti’s vital 58, India bowled with discipline and intent to bowl South Africa out for 246 in the 45th over. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur fittingly took the catch to seal the win, a moment that marked redemption after her emotional scenes earlier in the tournament.
After rain delayed the start by two hours, India’s openers made the most of clear skies with a flying start. Shafali and Smriti Mandhana put on 104 for the first wicket, capitalising on wayward new-ball spells from Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp. Shafali, in particular, was unstoppable early on, racing to a 50 from just 42 balls with her trademark drives and flicks.
Mandhana supported steadily for 45 before falling to Chloe Tryon, while Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet both made promising starts without converting. Deepti Sharma anchored the later stages with 58 off 71 balls, ensuring India remained in control even as South Africa’s bowlers fought back.
Khaka, expensive early on, returned strongly to finish with 3 for 58, while Nadine de Klerk delivered an excellent final over to restrict India just shy of the 300-mark. Richa Ghosh’s lively 34 off 24 balls provided crucial late runs, but India’s scoring slowed significantly in the final phase managing just 69 in the last 10 overs.
South Africa’s chase revolved once more around their captain Laura Wolvaardt, who followed her semi-final heroics with a second successive century. She compiled a masterful 110 off 98 balls, holding her team together as wickets fell regularly around her.
India’s spinners, however, controlled proceedings. Shafali Verma, fresh from her batting exploits, struck twice to remove Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp in a remarkable spell. Young left-arm spinner Shree Charani claimed the early wicket of Anneke Bosch, while Radha Yadav applied pressure through the middle overs.
Deepti Sharma then took centre stage. Her clever variations undid South Africa’s middle and lower order, yorking Annerie Dercksen, trapping Tryon lbw.
South Africa’s chase unravelled in the final overs. With 53 required from the last five overs, Ayabonga Khaka was run out by Deepti’s sharp fielding in the 45th, effectively ending their resistance. Nadine de Klerk was the last to fall, attempting to go inside-out over cover, only for Harmanpreet to sprint back and leap to complete the catch.
It was a poetic finish to a commanding performance Deepti ending with figures of 5 for 37, having earlier contributed a vital 58 with the bat. Her all-round heroics crowned India as world champions for the first time.
