In Navi Mumbai, India produced a complete performance — strong starts at the top, a late-innings shove from the lower middle order, and incisive bowling when it mattered. The hosts posted a challenging 298 for 7 and then defended it as South Africa’s chase was undone by two big spells: Ayabonga Khaka’s fightback with the ball and Deepti Sharma’s match-turning five-for. India’s victory sparked jubilant scenes as they sealed a long-awaited maiden World Cup crown.
India were well set after an aggressive platform up front from Shafali Verma with her 87 off 78 and useful contributions through the middle and late overs through Deepti Sharma’s 58 off 58 and Richa Ghosh’s 34 off 24, finishing on 298/7 (50). South Africa’s chase was anchored by captain Laura Wolvaardt’s century (101 off 98), but the Proteas lost too many key wickets through the middle overs and were bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs. Deepti’s five-wicket haul and a crucial two-wicket burst from Shafali with her part-time bowling swung the contest firmly to India.
Shafali Verma — 87 (78) & 2/36
Shafali gave India the ideal platform with a powerful, well-timed 87 off 78 balls — a lightning start that set the tone for a big total. But she also influenced the game with the ball late on, chipping in with two key wickets, breaking South Africa partnerships at critical moments with wickets of Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp and earning Player of the Match plaudits for an all-round impact. Her electric opening knock plus those late breakthroughs made her the perfect match-winner for the hosts.
Ayabonga Khaka — 3/58
For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka produced one of their best spells of the tournament — 3 for 58 — often pegging India back when the scoring looked likely to explode. Her disciplined lengths and ability to force mistakes from the batters, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, prevented India from completely running away with the innings in the final ten overs, and earlier in India’s innings she repeatedly stemmed the flow to keep the Proteas competitive. Khaka’s three wickets were a big reason South Africa were always in the game during the chase.
Deepti Sharma — 58 (58) & 5/39
Deepti produced a genuinely match-defining all-round performance. Lower down the order she added a calm 58 (58) that gave India late momentum and a push toward 300. With the ball, she was outstanding — 5 for 39 — ripping through South Africa’s middle order and removing Laura Wolvaardt in the 42nd over, the wicket that effectively ended the chase. Deepti’s double impact (valuable runs plus the five-wicket haul) earned her Player of the Series recognition and was the single biggest arrow in India’s quiver on the night.
Laura Wolvaardt — 101 (98)
South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt produced a resolute 101 off 98 balls, a superb innings in a high-pressure final and her second successive big score after earlier tournament form. Wolvaardt kept South Africa within reach with classical timing and sensible strike rotation, and her century was the backbone of the chase. Yet despite her heroics, the run rate pressure and the fall of regular wickets around her meant the rest of the chase never fully gelled; her dismissal in the 42nd over was the turning point that allowed India to wrap up the last few wickets.
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