Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma starred with both the bat and the ball.
Laura Wolvaardt won the toss and opted for South Africa to bowl first. Shafali Verma set the stage ablaze with a sparkling 87 off 78 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes, and shared a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana (45). Jemimah Rodrigues (24) and Harmanpreet Kaur (20) made decent starts but couldn’t capitalize.
However, Deepti Sharma anchored the innings with a composed 58, striking 3 fours and a six, while Richa Ghosh’s quickfire 34 off 24 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) powered India to 298/7 in 50 overs. Ayabonga Khaka was South Africa’s best bowler, claiming 3/58.
In the chase, Laura Wolvaardt continued her remarkable form, crafting a fluent 101 from 98 balls with 11 fours and a six. Despite solid starts from Tasmin Brits (23), Sune Luus (25), and Annerie Dercksen (35), South Africa struggled to maintain the required run rate.
Deepti Sharma turned the game decisively in India’s favor, dismantling the lower middle order—including Wolvaardt’s crucial wicket—to finish with a match-winning 5/39. South Africa were bowled out for 246, handing India a memorable 52-run victory in the final.
Shafali Verma won the Player of the Match for her brilliant knock and 2/36. Deepti Sharma won the Player of the Tournament.
The Indian cricket fraternity was all praises for the World Champions, the Indian women’s team.
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