India celebrated a monumental victory, securing their first-ever Women’s World Cup title with a decisive 52-run win over South Africa. The triumph was largely orchestrated by the exceptional performances of Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma, who emerged as the tournament’s most impactful players.
Deepti Sharma’s outstanding all-round abilities and unwavering composure throughout the championship earned her the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. Her heroics in the final were particularly noteworthy; she not only scored a crucial 58 runs but also claimed a match-winning five-wicket haul, solidifying India’s path to their maiden world title. Throughout the tournament, Deepti dominated with the ball, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with an impressive 22 scalps in just 9 innings. Her performance in the final also marked a unique achievement, as she became the only player in the history of Men’s or Women’s World Cup knockouts to register both a fifty and a five-wicket haul in a single match.
Shafali Verma was rightly celebrated as the Player of the Match for her blistering 87 runs off just 78 balls. Her aggressive innings provided a solid foundation for India’s formidable total of 298/7.
Key individual accolades from the final included:
- Player of the Match: Shafali Verma
- Player of the Tournament: Deepti Sharma
- Most Runs: Laura Wolvaardt (571 runs)
- Most Wickets: Deepti Sharma (22)
Verma’s innings, characterized by powerful hitting and masterful control, shattered numerous age and performance records. It also represented a remarkable comeback, as she was brought into the semi-final following an injury to Pratika Rawal. Meanwhile, South African captain Laura Wolvaardt showcased her exceptional talent throughout the tournament, ultimately emerging as the leading run-scorer with an impressive 571 runs across nine innings. Her elegant century in the final, a fluent 101 off 98 balls, further cemented her place in history for achieving the most runs in a single edition of the Women’s World Cup.
After winning the toss, Wolvaardt chose to field first, but India’s opening pair, Smriti Mandhana (45) and Shafali Verma, quickly built a formidable 104-run partnership. This was only the second time a century stand had been achieved for the first wicket in a Women’s World Cup final. Later in the innings, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh (34 off 24 balls) delivered crucial finishing touches, propelling India’s total close to the 300-run mark.
In their pursuit, Laura Wolvaardt’s resilient batting kept South Africa’s hopes alive for a period. However, India’s spin attack, spearheaded by Deepti Sharma’s incredible 5/39 and supported by Shafali Verma’s two crucial wickets, ultimately dismantled the Proteas’ lineup, bowling them out for 246 runs. This victory was a testament to India’s campaign, which was defined by exceptional composure and unwavering self-belief. From successfully chasing down a challenging target of 339 against Australia in the semifinal to maintaining their nerve under pressure in the final, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team consistently performed at their best during critical moments.