Snehasis Mukherjee in Navi Mumbai
India posted 298/6 in 50 overs against South Africa in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. Shafali Verma’s 87, Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten fifty, and Richa Ghosh’s quick cameo were the main highlights of India’s innings.
Just before the scheduled toss time, rain interrupted proceedings, causing a delay of almost two hours. But thanks to an outstanding effort from the DY Patil ground staff, play finally began without any overs being reduced. After winning the toss, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt opted to bowl first.
Openers Shafali and Smriti Mandhana gave India a strong start. Shafali, who had failed to score big in the semi-final, looked in sublime touch from the first ball. She timed her shots beautifully, with some boundaries even surprising Marizanne Kapp. Supported well by Smriti at the other end, the pair added 104 runs for the first wicket.
Smriti fell for 45, and the star from the semi-final, Jemimah Rodrigues, walked in at No. 3. Shafali and Jemimah carried the momentum forward, rotating the strike well and punishing loose deliveries. Riding on her luck after being dropped earlier, Shafali narrowly missed a century in the World Cup final, falling for 87. Soon after, Jemimah was dismissed for 24, with Wolvaardt taking a sharp catch.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then joined Deepti. Although Harmanpreet did not look fully settled, she contributed 20 in a 52-run stand that helped India reach 229/4 in the 40th over. Her dismissal, clean bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba, brought some pressure back on India.
In a surprising move, Amanjot Kaur was sent ahead of Richa Ghosh, but the plan did not pay off. She was dismissed for just 12, caught brilliantly by Nadine de Klerk off her own bowling. Richa then walked in and changed the tempo immediately. She smashed 34 off 24 balls with a few powerful hits, guiding India close to the 300-mark. Deepti held one end solidly and finished unbeaten on 58.
By the end of the innings, the pitch appeared to slow down, making stroke play harder. South African bowlers like Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, and de Klerk used cutters and slower deliveries effectively. Khaka was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with three wickets.
Now, all eyes are on the Indian bowlers. Can they defend the score and lift the nation’s maiden Women’s World Cup title on home soil, or will South Africa spoil the party? The next few hours will decide.
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