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India Clinch Maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup Title with Dominant Win Over South Africa
Apr 26, 202666 views
India created history on Sunday by securing their first-ever Women’s Cricket World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a commanding final. The victory was powered by outstanding all-round performances from Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma.
Opening batter Shafali Verma, drafted into the squad as an injury replacement for the final, delivered a sensational knock of 87 off 78 balls — her career-best — propelling the co-hosts to a formidable total of 298/7 in 50 overs after being put in to bat.
In response, South Africa fell short, bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs. Captain Laura Wolvaardt led the fight with a brilliant 101, but her dismissal effectively ended the chase. Deepti Sharma sealed the match in style, claiming the final wicket and finishing with exceptional figures of 5/39 in 9.3 overs.
“This is the moment we’ve been waiting for,” said India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, reflecting on the team’s breakthrough after two previous final defeats. “Now we want to make this a habit.”
India’s road to glory was anything but easy. They entered the semifinals as the last qualifying team but stunned defending champions Australia — seven-time winners — by five wickets. South Africa, meanwhile, reached their maiden final after a convincing 125-run win over England.
The triumph marks India’s first major women’s cricket title and makes Harmanpreet Kaur’s team the first new champions since New Zealand’s win in 2000, which ended the long-standing dominance of Australia and England.
A visibly elated Shafali Verma credited her clarity of mind for the standout performance. “I just focused on scoring runs today. My mind was clear,” said the 21-year-old.
Deepti Sharma also played a crucial role with the bat, scoring 58 — her third half-century of the tournament — helping India post the second-highest total ever in a World Cup final, behind Australia’s 356/5 in 2022.
Sharma’s stellar tournament performance earned her the Player of the Tournament award, finishing with 22 wickets and 215 runs in nine matches.
“I enjoyed contributing with both bat and ball,” Sharma said. “We stayed calm throughout. I dedicate this trophy to my parents.”
Despite the loss, Laura Wolvaardt’s consistency stood out. Her century in the final capped an exceptional campaign, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 571 runs at an average of 71.37.
Chasing a record 299, South Africa began cautiously under pressure from India’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Renuka Singh, but ultimately couldn’t keep pace with the required run rate.
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