Hosts India clinched their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title with a superb win over South Africa in the final.
India beat the Proteas by 52 runs to win the 2025 final at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, claiming their first-ever World Cup crown.
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma starred with both bat and ball to help India secure a tense win after South Africa had won the toss and elected to bowl.
Chasing 299, South Africa looked well set at one stage to get to the target but Deepti Sharma’s breakthrough sparked a dramatic collapse. After she dismissed Annerie Dercksen, the Proteas crumbled from 209/5 to 246 all out.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt (101) led from the front with a magnificent century but wickets fell regularly at the other end. Deepti was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with superb figures of 5/39 while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani chipped in with key wickets to seal a historic win for India.
Deepti Sharma had turned the tide for India with a brilliant spell that yielded three crucial wickets, including that of Wolvaardt, who had kept her side in the hunt with a valiant century.
But Deepti’s double strike in a single over that included the wickets of Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon came at a decisive stage, just as the required run rate began to climb, leaving South Africa under mounting pressure.
Earlier, Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen had offered resistance with a fifty-run stand, steering the Proteas past the 200-run mark after a mini collapse had left them reeling at 148/5. Deepti had earlier triggered that slide by dismissing Sinalo Jafta, following up on Shafali Verma’s impactful spell where she claimed two wickets in as many overs.
Verma had shifted the momentum India’s way by striking twice in quick succession, first removing Sune Luus in her opening over following up with the prized wicket of Marizanne Kapp in her next over. That double blow tightened India’s grip on the contest before Jafta’s dismissal deepened South Africa’s troubles.
In the first innings, India put up 298/7 against South Africa, posting the second-highest score in a Women’s ODI World Cup final. After a commanding 100-run opening stand, India were well placed at 223/3 but South Africa fought back to keep them below the 300 mark.
Shafali Verma (87) led the way with a fine knock while Deepti Sharma (58) steadied the innings towards the end. Richa Ghosh (34) added a lively cameo that gave India late momentum.
For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka (3/58) was the standout performer with the ball while Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon picked up a wicket each.
Article courtesy of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
