look news india
Navi Mumbai. On the field of DY Patil Stadium, the Indian women’s cricket team did what every Indian dreams of. Team India has won the Women’s ODI World Cup title for the first time by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in an exciting and memorable final match. The heroes of this historic victory were all-rounder Deepti Sharma and explosive batsman Shefali Verma, who created such a ruckus first with the bat and then with the ball that the South African team kept watching.
Storm came out from the bat of Shefali and Deepti
After losing the toss and coming to bat first, the Indian team made a strong and steady start. Openers Smriti Mandhana (45 runs) and Shefali Verma (87 runs) laid the foundation of a big score by making a brilliant partnership for the first wicket. Shafali was seen in her aggressive style and attacked the South African bowlers fiercely, although she missed a memorable century by just 13 runs.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20) and Jemimah Rodrigues (24) could not make much contribution in the middle order, but in the end Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh took charge. Richa played a quick inning of 34 runs in just 24 balls, while Deepti Sharma remained unbeaten till the end and played an important inning of 58 runs in 58 balls, taking the team’s score to 298/7 in 50 overs.
Captain Wolvaardt’s century went in vain, Deepti-Shefali wreaked havoc with the ball
Chasing the huge target of 299 runs, the first blow to the South African team was given by a brilliant direct hit from Amanjot Kaur, when Tajmin Britts (23) was run out. But after this, South African captain Laura Wolvaardt stood like a rock at one end and created lines of concern in the Indian camp. He kept his team in the match by scoring a brilliant century (101 runs).
Turning Point: As long as Wolvaardt was at the crease, South Africa’s hopes were alive. But then Deepti Sharma came to bowl and changed the fate of the match. Deepti almost ensured India’s victory by dismissing Wolvaert, who had scored a century. After this, he destroyed the lower order of South Africa and took a total of 4 wickets.
Playing the role of a part-time spinner, Shefali Verma also took two biggest wickets. He broke the back of South Africa by sending experienced batsmen like Sune Luus and Marizanne Cap to the pavilion. In front of this all-round performance, the entire South African team remained 52 runs short of the target and India captured the World Cup trophy.
Deepti Sharma was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for her brilliant all-round performance (58* runs and 4 wickets). This victory is the beginning of a new era for Indian women’s cricket.
