(BBC Sport) Jubilant India held their nerve under the weight of huge expectation to beat South Africa by 52 runs and clinch an historic first Women’s World Cup win.
The showpiece event in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd was delayed by two hours because of rain but no overs were lost and a match for the ages played out in Navi Mumbai.
The hosts batted first and posted a competitive 298-7. Opener Shafali Verma led the charge with a dynamic 87 from 78 balls, backed up by Deepti Sharma’s 58, which set the Proteas their record one-day international run-chase under the highest pressure.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt scored her second successive century, a flawless 101 from 98 balls, which kept South Africa in contention at 211-6, needing 88 from the final 10 overs.
But her dismissal, via a sensational juggling catch from Amanjot Kaur at deep mid-wicket off Deepti in the 42nd over, sparked India’s charge to victory and even with the game finishing after midnight local time, the packed crowd stayed and roared until the very last ball.
The emotions were contrasting for South Africa, who finished 246 all out which confirmed their third successive final defeat, having lost the previous two T20 finals.
Verma, who was only called up for the semi-finals after an injury to Pratika Rawal, added figures of 2-36 to her knock to also become an unlikely hero with the ball but it was Deepti, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, who ripped through the Proteas batters to finish with 5-39 as bedlam unfolded.
It completes an incredible turnaround for India, who lost three consecutive group-stage games before their march to glory.
The scenes at the DY Patil Stadium suggested this triumph will ignite a new era in the women’s game.
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