India won their first Women’s World Cup on Sunday night in front of a packed house in Navi Mumbai by beating South Africa by 52 runs. It took 50 years since India first played on the world stage but the dream finally came true. The noise was so loud that captain Harmanpreet Kaur could barely hear the interview questions after the match.
This victory was sweeter because during the group stage, India lost three continuous games. Many had thought that they were finished, but this team believed in themselves. “We lost three back-to-back games, but we knew this team had something special to turn things around,” Harmanpreet said. The head coach of India, Amol Mazumda, said the players made every Indian proud and termed it a watershed moment for the country’s cricket.
Unlikely Hero Steps Up
Star of the match was 21-year-old Shafali Verma, who almost didn’t play at all. She only got into the team because another player Pratika Rawal hurt her ankle during the group matches. In the semi-final on Thursday, Shafali got out after just five balls. But on Sunday, she scored 87 runs off 78 balls and then shocked everyone with her bowling, taking two important wickets.
Before this game, Shafali had bowled only 14 overs in her entire career in 30 games. But Harmanpreet trusted her instinct. “I just saw Shafali standing there, and the way she batted today, I knew it was her day,” the captain explained. Shafali was so confident she told her captain she’d bowl 10 overs if needed. She got out Suné Luus and Marizanne Kapp, two key South African batters.
Heartbreak Continues for South Africa
It was another terrible day for the South Africans, who lost their third World Cup final in two years. Laura Wolvaardt starred for South Africa with her century, and finished the whole tournament with 571 runs, more than any other woman has ever scored in a single World Cup. But it was never enough.
Rain delayed the start by two hours. South Africa, hoping the wet pitch would make batting difficult, asked India to bat first. That plan backfired. Shafali and Smriti Mandhana smashed 104 runs together in just 18 overs to give India a flying start. India ended up scoring 298 runs for seven wickets.
South Africa fought hard trying to chase that total. Annerie Dercksen hit the biggest six of the whole tournament – 84 meters. But then Deepti Sharma, who had earlier scored 58 runs for India, bowled Dercksen out with a perfect yorker. Deepti then got Wolvaardt out too when Amanjot Kaur took a diving catch. It was the third time Amanjot tried to catch that ball before she finally held on. For India, it was third time lucky in a World Cup final after losing the previous two.
South Africa committed some mistakes, which also cost them dearly. Anneke Bosch dropped an easy catch when Shafali was on 56 runs. If she had caught that, India might not have scored so big. South Africa bowled well in pressure situations as Nonkululeko Mlaba and Ayabonga Khaka took essential wickets. It was not enough to stop the Indian celebration, though, which will last long into the night.
News At Glance
- India beat South Africa by 52 runs to win their first ever Women’s World Cup
- Shafali Verma made 87 runs and picked two vital wickets for her side despite barely bowling beforehand.
- India, after losing three successive group games, fought back to lift the trophy on home soil.
- Laura Wolvaardt scored 571 runs in tournament, most ever by a woman, but still lost final
- South Africa have now lost three World Cup finals in past two years
FAQs
Q: When did India last play in a World Cup final?
India had played in two World Cup finals but lost, so this was their third final and first win.
Q: Why was Shafali Verma playing?
She was a replacement player who only got into the team when Pratika Rawal injured her ankle during the group stage.
Q: How many runs did India score?
A: India scored 298 runs for seven wickets. South Africa fell short by 52 runs trying to chase that total.
Q: Did anyone from South Africa play well?
A: Yes, Laura Wolvaardt scored a century and finished with 571 runs for the tournament-the most ever by any woman in a World Cup.
Q: Where was the final played?
A: The match was played in Navi Mumbai of India, in front of a packed home crowd.
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