India beat South Africa in final to win maiden title

The Indian cricket team beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final to win the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

After heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side produced a complete performance to lift their Women’s Cricket World Cup title, also becoming the first women’s team from Asia to win a global title across formats.

Put into bat first, the Indian women’s cricket team posted 298/7 in their 50 overs. Shafali Verma top-scored for the hosts with a 78-ball 87 - her highest ODI score - while Ayabonga Khaka (3/58) was the pick of the bowlers for the Rainbow Nation.

In reply, South Africa rode on a fluent century from their captain Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 101 from 98 balls but struggled for support from the other end.

The first-time Women’s ODI World Cup finalists finished on 246 in 45.3 overs. Deepti Sharma, with figures of 5/39, became the first bowler to pick up a fifer in the Women’s World Cup final.

Shafali Verma was named the Player of the Match for her knock and figures of 2/36 with the ball.

Deepti Sharma, who finished as the top wicket-taker in the Women’s World Cup 2025 and scored three half-centuries, was named the Player of the Tournament.

Earlier in the day, Marizanne Kapp began with a maiden but Shafali Verma and world No. 1 Smriti Mandhana countered with a fluent start, bringing up their 50-run stand in just 39 balls. India reached 64 without loss in 10 overs - their best powerplay of the tournament.

South Africa, who were 113/2 in 20 overs, managed just 37 in the next 10 overs, losing three wickets in the process.

South Africa needed 149 runs from the final 20 overs. Annerie Dercksen, with consecutive sixes off Radha Yadhav in the 32nd over, brought the required rate back to seven for the Proteas.

The run-a-ball 61-run partnership was ended by Deepti Sharma in the 40th over, leaving South Africa needing 88 in the final 10 overs with just four wickets in hand.

The key wicket of Laura Wolvaardt in Deepti Sharma’s next over, followed by the scalp of Chloe Tryon left South Africa needing 78 from the last eight overs.

Nadine de Klerk tried to fight a lone battle in the final overs but with the required rate climbing over 10 and no support from the other end, South Africa’s innings folded on 246 in 45.3 overs.

In the semi-finals on Thursday, India ended Australia’s reign as champions by pulling off a record run-chase of 339 runs in Navi Mumbai.

In the league stage, India were on the verge of elimination after three successive defeats against South Africa, Australia and England but a commanding win over New Zealand saw them make the last four.

Australia remain the most successful nation in the history of Women’s ODI World Cup with seven titles while England are second with four trophies. New Zealand won the title once in the year 2000.

IND-W vs SA-W, Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 final brief scores: India 298/7 in 50 overs (Shafali Verma 87, Deepti Sharma 58; Ayabonga Khaka 3/58) beat South Africa 246/10 in 45.3 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 101; Deepti Sharma 5/39) by 52 runs.

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