India on the Brink of World Cup Glory! Shafali & Deepti Shine in Final Thriller vs South Africa, India Won By 52 Runs
This is it. The moment a billion hearts have been waiting for. On home soil, under the bright lights of the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, a new world champion is about to be crowned. After weeks of electrifying cricket, it all comes down to this: India versus South Africa in the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Forget the traditional powerhouses; this final is a breath of fresh air, a testament to the rising forces in women’s cricket. For South Africa, it’s their first-ever dance on the grandest stage. For India, it’s a chance to exorcise the ghosts of finals past and lift that coveted trophy in front of their roaring home crowd.
After a frustrating rain delay that only cranked up the tension, the stage was finally set. South Africa won the toss and put India in to bat. Little did they know, they were about to witness a batting masterclass.
A Mountain to Climb: India Sets a Record-Breaking Target
When the dust settled, the scoreboard read a mammoth 298 for 7. This wasn’t just a great score; it was the second-highest total ever posted in a Women’s World Cup final. But how did they get there? It was a story of explosive starts, record-shattering milestones, and nerves of steel.
Shafali and Smriti’s Opening Onslaught
The Indian innings was launched by a blistering 104-run opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. They didn’t just see off the new ball; they dismantled it.
- Shafali Verma’s Masterclass: The young phenom was simply unstoppable. Shafali played an innings for the ages, a scintillating 87 off just 78 balls. With every powerful drive and towering six, she wrote her name in the history books, becoming the youngest half-centurion in a Women’s World Cup final.
- Smriti Mandhana’s Milestone: At the other end, the ever-elegant Smriti Mandhana (45) was setting records of her own, surpassing the legendary Mithali Raj to become India’s highest run-scorer in a single edition of the ODI World Cup.
- Records Tumble in the Middle: The record-breaking didn’t stop there. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur became the leading run-scorer in knockout matches of the tournament’s history, while Richa Ghosh’s fiery cameo of 34 off 24 balls saw her tie the record for most sixes in a single World Cup edition.
Deepti Sharma played the perfect anchor role, holding the innings together with a composed 58, ensuring the early momentum wasn’t wasted. While South African bowlers like Ayabonga Khaka fought back bravely in the middle overs, India had already put a formidable, perhaps match-winning, total on the board.
The Chase: A Captain’s Valiant Stand vs. a Relentless Attack
Chasing 299 for World Cup glory is a monumental task. For South Africa, the pressure was immense. But in captain Laura Wolvaardt, they had a warrior.
Wolvaardt’s Heroic Century
Was there ever a more courageous innings in a final? While wickets tumbled around her, Laura Wolvaardt stood tall, playing an innings of pure class and defiance. Her magnificent 101 off 98 balls kept South Africa’s hopes flickering. In doing so, she achieved something extraordinary, becoming only the second player ever to score a century in both a semi-final and a final of the same World Cup. A true captain’s knock.
India’s Bowlers Turn the Screw
But cricket is a team game. As heroic as Wolvaardt was, India’s bowlers hunted as a pack. Supported by electric fielding, they never let the pressure drop. Deepti Sharma, already a star with the bat, proved to be the golden arm with the ball, picking up crucial wickets at critical junctures, including the prized scalp of the centurion Wolvaardt.
As the required run rate climbed and the wickets fell, the dream began to fade for the Proteas. With South Africa struggling at eight wickets down, the cheers from the Indian crowd grew deafening. The writing was on the wall.
A Historic Night in Mumbai
This final has been a showcase of everything we love about cricket: youthful brilliance, veteran composure, a lone warrior’s defiance, and a dominant team effort. India’s batters set the stage with a performance packed with historic milestones, and their bowlers backed it up with discipline and killer instinct.
While Wolvaardt’s century will be remembered as one of the great fighting innings in a losing cause, this night belongs to India. They are inching closer and closer to their maiden Women’s World Cup title, a victory that would not only be a triumph for the players on the field but a seismic moment for women’s sport across the nation. The dream is just moments away from becoming reality.
India Women put on a stellar performance to defeat South Africa Women by 52 runs in the Women’s World Cup 2025 Final. Led by brilliant innings from Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, India set a challenging total, and their bowlers ensured South Africa could not chase it down. This victory marks a historic moment for Indian women’s cricket, showcasing skill, determination, and teamwork on the world stage.
