Indian women script history Harmanpreet’s trailblazers beat South Africa by 52 runs in ICC ODI World Cup final

 

 

 

FROM heartbreaks to history, Indian women’s cricket completed its long, unfinished journey to glory as Harmanpreet Kaur’s fearless team outlasted South Africa by 52 runs in a gripping final to lift their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup crown here on Sunday. Indian women’s cricket finally touched its Everest as years of toil and near-misses culminated in an evening of redemption and history for the hosts. India’s breakthrough in the 13th edition of the global showpiece made them only the fourth team to win the trophy, joining Australia (7), England (4) and New Zealand (1) in the pantheon of champions. With the victory, Harmanpreet’s team finally buried the ghosts of past heartbreaks — the 2005 and 2017 finals — and delivered India’s much-awaited World title, a watershed moment for the game in the country. After posting 298 for 7 — the second-highest total in tournament history — India held their nerve to bundle out South Africa for 246 in 45.3 overs. The Proteas’ charge revolved around captain Laura Wolvaardt’s magnificent 98-ball 101, but the brilliance of Deepti Sharma (55 and 5-39) and Shafali Verma (87 and 2-36) ensured India’s moment of destiny could not be denied. 

 

 

Fittingly, India’s triumph was shaped by two players with contrasting journeys. Deepti, the ever-reliable workhorse, finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker (21) and bowled with guile and grace on the grandest stage. Shafali, on the other hand, was a story of second chances — drafted into the squad from outside the preferred group after Pratika Rawal’s injury. Confined to domestic cricket with Haryana weeks ago, the 21-year-old dynamo returned to the world stage with an innings of audacity and maturity — 87 off 84 balls — before taking two crucial wickets to tilt the game decisively India’s way.

 

Her re-entry into the XI proved a masterstroke as she and Smriti Mandhana (45) gave India the perfect launchpad with a 104-run opening stand, forcing South Africa’s bowlers into disarray after a two-hour rain delay. Mandhana’s dismissal denied her a half-century, but it capped off a record-breaking campaign — 434 runs at 54.25, the most by any Indian batter in Women’s World Cup history, including a century and two fifties. Star of India’s semi-final win over mighty Australia, Jemimah appeared to be prepping up for another long haul in the middle, but a superb low catch from skipper Laura Wolvaardt at cover off Khaka foiled her plans in the 30th over. With two set batters back in the dugout, India’s hopes were pinned on skipper Harmanpreet for a defining innings, but that was not to be.