Snehasis Mukherjee in Navi Mumbai
The stage is getting ready at the DY Patil Stadium, in Navi Mumbai, as India take on South Africa in the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Either side could lift their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title.
But for the home team to script that dream moment, they have to negate potential threats posed by the South Africa camp.
Spin Surprise — Mlaba and Tryon in Form
Before the tournament began, South Africa’s spin department looked like a weak link. Nonkululeko Mlaba was the only frontline spinner, with Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon expected to provide occasional support. But the story has been very different on the field.
Mlaba has taken 12 wickets in eight games at an economy of 4.86, while Tryon has stepped up superbly with five wickets in seven innings at 4.65. Their control and consistency have been impressive. In the league-stage clash against India, Mlaba and Tryon combined for five wickets while conceding just 78 runs in 20 overs (economy 3.90). Given India’s struggles against left-arm spin, the pair will again be a major threat.
Laura Wolvaardt — The Run Machine
Laura Wolvaardt began the World Cup quietly, with two low scores. But she found form against India, scoring 70. Since then, she has been unstoppable. Her run of scores- 60* versus Sri Lanka, 90 versus Pakistan, and a massive 169 in the semifinal against England – has taken her tally to 470 runs in eight innings at an average of 67.14 and a strike rate of 97.91.
For More Exciting Articles: Follow RevSportz
For India, dismissing Wolvaardt early will be crucial. New-ball bowlers – Renuka Singh Thakur and Kranti Gaud – both known for their sharp inswingers, will have the task of targeting her early before she settles in.
Marizanne Kapp — The Pace Spearhead finds her rhythm
In the league-stage clash against India, Marizanne Kapp had a decent outing, picking up two wickets for 45 runs in nine overs. But in the semifinal against England, Kapp finally showed her class, producing a stunning spell of 5 for 20 in seven overs at an economy of just 2.85.
With 12 wickets in eight games, Kapp has found her rhythm at the perfect time. Her ability to swing the new ball and extract bounce could be a massive threat for India, particularly against the opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. If Kapp strikes early, India’s plans could face an early shake-up.
Nadine de Klerk — The Finisher
India were in firm control during the league match against South Africa, reducing them to 81/5 while defending 252. But two key partnerships turned the game around. After Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon added 61 runs, it was Nadine de Klerk who finished the job. De Klerk smashed an unbeaten 84 off 54 balls to seal a famous win.
In fact, her late-hitting ability has been a recurring theme. De Klerk’s unbeaten 37 combined with Tryon’s 62 helped South Africa chase down the target against Bangladesh with three balls to spare. If the final goes down to the wire, India’s death bowlers must find a better plan to contain De Klerk and prevent another late surge.
Also Read: Deepti Sharma’s year of revival: Stepping up with the bat when India need her most