India defeated South Africa by an exciting 52 runs in a rain-delayed final in Navi Mumbai to win the Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time. After losing the toss and being forced to bat at the DY Patil Stadium, India scored 298-7 thanks to scores of 87 off 78 balls from Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who had a 104-run opening partnership. Deepti Sharma also contributed 58 runs late in the innings.After part-time bowler Verma took two wickets and Sharma (5-39) dismissed Sinalo Jafta (16), South Africa fell to 148-5 in reply. However, captain Laura Wolvaardt (101) scored her second consecutive ODI century, bringing the Proteas closer to their victory objective. Deepti also bowled Annerie Dercksen (35) to break a 61-run sixth-wicket partnership, before capturing the important wicket of Wolvaardt – via a juggling Amanjot Kaur catch – and Chloe Tryon (nine) in her next furious over to throw momentum back India’s way.She then finished off her player-of-the-match performance by removing Nadine de Klerk (18) and running out Ayabonga Khaka (one), which left India celebrating a historic victory with South Africa dismissed for 246 in the 46th over. How India’s World Cup triumph changed history. Following a two-hour rain delay, India got off to a strong start. They raced to 50 in the first seven overs and put on a 104-run first-wicket stand before Smriti Mandhana (45) edged Tryon behind to Jafta, who was dropped by Anneke Bosch at deep mid-wicket on 56. It appeared as though India would post a massive total, but Sune Luus caught him off Khaka to start a mid-innings stutter that saw them fall from 166-1 to 245-5.As South Africa fought back, Khaka also got rid of Jemimah Rodrigues (24) after Wolvaardt made a sharp low catch and Nonkululeko Mlaba bowled Harmanpreet Kaur (20). Amanjot Kaur (12) was caught and bowled by De Klerk. As India achieved the second-highest total in a World Cup final, Sharma steadied the innings with a run-a-ball of 58, adding 47 with Richa Ghosh (34) for the sixth wicket before being run out on the final delivery.
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