Shafali , Deepti powers India to historical 1st ever Women World cup victory, Wolvaardt 100 in vain

 

As long as Laura Wolvaardt was at the crease, Harmanpreet Kaur couldn’t relax. After scoring a century in the semifinal, Wolvaardt repeated the feat in the final — but this time, it wasn’t enough. At last, India broke the jinx on their third attempt, lifting the World Cup on home soil. In the final, India defeated South Africa by 52 runs. Batting first, India posted 298 for 7, and then bowled South Africa out for 246 in 45.3 overs. Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma shone with both bat and ball to lead Harmanpreet’s team to glory.

Heavy rain delayed the start of the final by two hours. In such rain-affected conditions, any captain winning the toss would have chosen to bowl — and Wolvaardt did just that. Throughout the tournament, Harmanpreet had struggled with toss luck, winning only once, against Bangladesh. Yet fortune smiled on India when it mattered most.

With Pratika Rawal ruled out through injury, Shafali Verma was recalled to the side before the semifinal. Though she failed against Australia, she announced her return to form in the final in style. From the very first ball, she attacked the bowling, allowing Smriti Mandhana to settle in. Together, the openers gave India a superb start, adding a century partnership at nearly six runs an over.

Shafali reached her half-century off 49 balls, becoming — at 21 years and 278 days — the youngest opener, male or female, to score a fifty in a World Cup final. The previous record belonged to Virender Sehwag, who made a fifty at 24 years and 154 days in the 2003 men’s final. Shafali, who idolizes Sehwag, batted much like her mentor — fearlessly hitting from the start. In doing so, she also became the highest-scoring Indian opener in any World Cup (men’s or women’s).

Learning from her previous mistake of playing across the line, Shafali was more disciplined this time, using a straighter bat and timing the ball sweetly. She struck at over 100 before eventually falling for 87 off 78 balls, undone by fatigue and cramps. Mandhana missed her fifty, dismissed for 45.

Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur couldn’t capitalize against South Africa’s spinners, making 24 and 20 respectively. The innings was steadied by Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh. While Deepti anchored, Richa counter-attacked with her trademark big hits, lifting the run rate that had dipped in the middle overs. Richa scored 34 off 24, and Deepti compiled a crucial 58 as India finished on 298 for 7.

At the halfway mark, it seemed India might be 30 runs short, as chasing at the DY Patil Stadium is generally easier — especially under dew. When South Africa’s openers, Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, began fluently, the tension grew in the Indian camp.

It was India’s fielding that turned the game. Earlier criticized for dropped catches, the team redeemed itself with exceptional ground fielding and commitment. Amanjot Kaur’s direct hit ran out Brits for 23, followed by the dismissal of Anneke Bosch for a duck.

Wolvaardt, however, kept South Africa in the chase, building a threatening partnership with captain Suné Luus. Then came a bold move from Harmanpreet — handing the ball to Shafali Verma, who had bowled just 14 overs in her ODI career. The gamble paid off immediately: Shafali dismissed Luus in her first over, taking a sharp return catch herself. In her next over, she removed Marizanne Kapp — the key batter in South Africa’s previous chases.

Deepti Sharma joined the act, keeping the middle order in check with tight bowling, supported by spinner Shri Charani. Wolvaardt found some support from Annerie Dercksen, but the required rate kept climbing. Deepti dismissed Dercksen for 35, and soon after took the prized wicket of Wolvaardt for 101 — caught by Amanjot, who juggled but held on to a pressure catch.

Even after Wolvaardt’s dismissal, South Africa had a glimmer of hope, with Chloé Tryon and Nadine de Klerk — the pair that had beaten India in the group stage — at the crease. But Deepti removed both, sealing the match and the title. Her all-round brilliance — a half-century and a five-wicket haul for 39 — earned her Player of the Final honors.

The final catch came fittingly in the hands of the captain. As Harmanpreet Kaur pouched the ball, India became world champions — a dream realized at last on home soil.