Girls’s Cricket World Cup: India beat South Africa by 52 runs in epic closing as Deepti Sharma stars for hosts in Navi Mumbai

India have gained the Girls’s Cricket World Cup for the primary time after an exciting 52-run victory over South Africa in a rain-delayed closing in Navi Mumbai.

Shafali Verma top-scored for India with 87 off 78 balls and placed on a 104-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana, whereas Deepti Sharma added 58 late within the innings, as they posted 298-7 after shedding the toss and being made to bat on the DY Patil Stadium.

South Africa slipped to 148-5 in reply after part-time bowler Verma claimed two wickets and Sharma (5-39) eliminated Sinalo Jafta (16), just for captain Laura Wolvaardt (101) to submit her second successive ODI century and push the Proteas nearer to their victory goal.

Deepti additionally bowled Annerie Dercksen (35) to finish a 61-run sixth-wicket stand, earlier than claiming the important thing wicket of Wolvaardt – by way of a juggling Amanjot Kaur catch – and Chloe Tryon (9) in her subsequent frantic over to maneuver momentum again India’s manner.

She then capped off her player-of-the-match show by operating out Ayabonga Khaka (one) and by dismissing Nadine de Klerk (18), leaving South Africa dismissed for 246 within the forty sixth over and India celebrating a historic victory.

How India made historical past with World Cup victory

A constructive begin from India – after play was delayed by two hours attributable to rain – noticed the co-hosts race to 50 inside the primary seven overs and placed on a 104-run first wicket stand, which ended when Smriti Mandhana (45) edged Tryon behind to Jafta.

Verma was dropped on 56 by Anneke Bosch at deep mid-wicket, as India seemed set to submit an enormous whole, however was caught by Sune Luus off Khaka to start out a mid-innings stutter that noticed them slip from 166-1 to 245-5.

Khaka additionally eliminated Jemimah Rodrigues (24) after a pointy low catch from Wolvaardt and Harmanpreet Kaur (20) was bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba, with Amanjot Kaur (12) caught and bowled by De Klerk as South Africa battled again.

Sharma steadied the innings with a run-a-ball 58, including 47 with Richa Ghosh (34) for the sixth wicket, earlier than being run out on the ultimate supply as India posted the second-highest whole in a World Cup closing.

South Africa threaten well-known chase earlier than falling quick

South Africa accelerated after a cautious begin to their chase and reached 51 with out loss when Tazmin Brits (23) was run out by a direct hit from Kaur, with Bosch trapped lbw by Shree Charani – with out scoring – quickly after.

Wolvaardt handed Alyssa Healy’s report of most runs in a single World Cup and accomplished her half-century with back-to-back boundaries, earlier than India claimed two fast wickets when Luus chipped again to Verma and Kapp edged the 21-year-old behind within the subsequent over.

Jafta virtually run out Wolvaardt chasing a fast single however was dismissed herself in the identical Sharma over, choosing out Yadav at quick mid-wicket, however Dercksen and Wolvaardt pushed South Africa handed 200 and arrange an exciting end.

Sharma dismissed Dercksen with a surprising yorker in the identical over Wolvaardt accomplished her sensible century, the place she turned simply the second participant to submit 100 within the semi-final and closing of a World Cup.

Amanjot wanted a number of makes an attempt to maintain maintain of Wolvaardt’s hack in the direction of deep midwicket and put South Africa seven down, with Tryon trapped lbw in the identical over – on umpire’s name – and Khaka run out attempting to take a fast single quickly after.

Sharma secured India’s victory by taking her fifth wicket when De Klerk scooped the ball to captain Kaur, round midnight native time, with India changing into simply the fourth nation to ever win the Girls’s Cricket World Cup.

Wolvaardt: We’ll develop from this as a workforce

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt…

“I think I couldn’t be prouder of this team for the campaign we have had. We have played some incredible cricket throughout. Outplayed today – I think India played fantastically well.

“Unlucky to be on the shedding facet however I’m certain we sick develop from this as a gaggle. I’m simply happy with the resilience we confirmed to get all the best way to the ultimate.”

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur…

“I am so grateful for this crowd, they have been so amazing. Thank you so much. The belief was there after we lost three back-to-back games but we know this team is special.

“Credit score goes to each member of this workforce that we stayed constructive. They deserve it.”

Nasser: India had an excessive amount of for South Africa

Former England captain Nasser Hussain, chatting with Sky Sports activities:

“It [popularity of women’s cricket in India], was going in that direction already with the WPL [Women’s Premier League] and the way this cricket team have played over the last couple of years. They just needed this evening, this tournament, to put a little seal on that deal.

“The group have been magnificent and the workforce have been magnificent. That they had that little blip in the midst of the match, however they began properly they usually’ve ended properly. Ultimately, they only had too many gamers in type in comparison with South Africa.

“If you look through that Indian line-up, there were a lot of players in pretty good nick by the end of the tournament. Unfortunately for South Africa, especially with the bat, they relied heavily on one or two, and that’s why they had to play the extra batter.

“Honest play to South Africa, they performed a variety of good cricket themselves. India have been simply too good, as we have seen on this a part of the world – males or girls and in any format – they seem to be a very troublesome facet to beat.”

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