Women’s Cricket World Cup: Sharma, Verma the stars as India win first title

NAVI MUMBAI, India (AP):

Led by brilliant all-round performances from Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma, India won the Women's Cricket World Cup for the first time with a 52-run victory over South Africa yesterday.

Opening batter Verma scored a career-best 87 off 78 balls as the tournament co-hosts reached 298-7 in 50 overs after losing the toss and batting first at the DY Patil Stadium.

South Africa were dismissed for 246 in 45.3 overs in reply with their chase effectively over after skipper Laura Wolvaardt was out for 101 runs in 98 balls. Spinner Sharma took the final wicket of the match and finished with bowling figures of 5-39 from 9.3 overs.

It was India's third final after 2005 and 2017.

"We were waiting for this moment, and now this moment has come," said India's winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur. "Now we want to make this a habit."

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Verma - who was drafted in last week for the injured Pratika Rawal - also took 2-36 with the ball.

Verma was named player of the match - the youngest at 21 years, 278 days to win the award in an ODI World Cup final.

"God sent me to do something good (about the injury replacement) and that was reflected today," Verma said.

Player of the tournament

Before claiming five wickets, Sharma (58) scored her third half-century of the tournament as India reached the second highest total in a World Cup final after Australia's 356-5 against England in 2022.

Sharma finished with 22 wickets and 215 runs in nine matches including three half-centuries. She was named player of the tournament.

"I like challenges, so I am up for whatever situation we are in or whatever role I am given. I had to play as per the situation today, and I enjoyed myself with both bat and ball," Sharma said.

WOLVAARDT'S LATEST TON

Wolvaardt scored a fine century on the back of her semi-final heroics against England. She was easily the tournament's highest scorer with a total of 571 runs in nine matches at an average 71.37.

For India, it was the culmination of a successful home campaign as the Women in Blue lifted their first major international trophy.

Sedate start

Chasing a record 299, South Africa made a sedate start under immense pressure from medium pacer Renuka Singh.

Wolvaardt stood firm with Tazmin Brits and they added 51 for the first wicket, before a direct throw from Amanjot Kaur ran out Brits for 23 halfway through the 10th over.

Left-arm spinner Shree Charani then bowled Anneke Bosche for a six-ball duck.

Wolvaardt reached another fine 50 off 45 balls. She added 52 off 51 with Sune Luus, who scored 25 off 31 balls.

India lost their review in desperation to get Wolvaardt dismissed, and then gambled with Verma's gentle off-breakers.

The ploy worked with another double blow - Verma picked up two wickets in six deliveries to peg South Africa to 123-4 in 22.1 overs. She sent back Luus with an easy return catch, and then Marizanne Kapp was out caught behind for four.

Wolvaardt tried to keep the chase alive through partnerships with Sinalo Jafta (16) and Annerie Dercksen, who scored 35 off 37 balls. In doing so, the skipper reached 100 off 96 balls.

Sharma bowled Dercksen and a fatal blow came when Wolvaardt was caught by Kaur in the 42nd over, also off Sharma, to leave South Africa at 220-7.