India vs South Africa Women's World Cup Final Live Cricket Score Updates: India have won their first ever Women's World Cup title. (Express Photo by Narendra Vaskar)India Women vs South Africa Women Final Live Cricket Score Updates: Harmanpreet Kaur fittingly took a sensational catch to square it all off as India beat South Africa by 52 runs and won their maiden World Cup title. It was also, just as fittingly, Deepti Sharma’s fifth wicket of the day, after having scored a crucial half-century earlier. Laura Wolvaardt scored a century, incredibly following up on her ton in the semi-final. However, she fell soon thereafter to Deepti, who went on to take yet another wicket in that 42nd over and suddenly South Africa were down to their last two wickets. Earlier, Shafali Verma took matters into her own hands. After top scoring for India earlier in the day, she has come in and taken two huge wickets to suddenly South Africa into wobbletown.
South Africa’s chase got off to a back-and-forth of a start, with the batters doing well for much of the first 10 overs before India roared back with two quick wickets. Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus have since steadied things for South Africa and India are now searching for a wicket. Wolvaardt has scored a half-century and broken the record for most runs by a batter in any edition of the World Cup. Earlier, Amanjot Kaur’s brilliant direct hit gave India the breakthrough as she ran out the dangerous Tazmin Brits, thus ending her opening stand with Laura Wolvaardt on 51. Anneke Bosch fell two overs later.
India vs South Africa Women’s World Cup Final Live Cricket Score Streaming Online: Watch Here
South Africa managed to pull things back after India got off to a flying start and restricted the hosts to a score of 298/6 in the 2025 Women’s World Cup Final. India looked poised to score well over 300 for much of the first half of their innings, particularly during a 104-run opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma steadied the boat for India after they lost a few wickets in quick succession in the middle overs. However, that period of stability ended in the 39th over when Nonkululeko Mlaba cleaned up Harmanpreet.
Well there it is. Harmanpreet receives the trophy and then proceeds to celebrate it with her teammates. Pratika Rawal is on the dais as well on a wheelchair. Well these are pictures that are going to be shown endless times for years to come.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsLadies and gentlemen, the new World Champions - INDIA! ??????
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 2, 2025
They BELIEVED. The whole of India BELIEVED. ??#cwc25 #indvsa pic.twitter.com/GvDVjwuqC0
"I am so grateful for this crowd, they have been really amazing. Thank you for being with us in all our ups and downs. Last game also, we spoke that self-belief was there, even though we lost three back-to-back games. we knew we had something special to turn things around. They stayed positive, we knew what we had to do, everyone was so involved, they were there day and night and this team deserves to be there. (On Shafali bowling) When Laura and Sune were batting, they were looking really good. I just saw Shafali standing there, and the way she was batting, I knew it was our day. I thought I have to go with my gut feeling. If my heart was saying, I had to give her at least one over. And that was the turning point for us. When she came to the team, we spoke to her that we might need 2-3 overs, and she said if you give me bowling, I will bowl ten overs. Credit goes to her, she was so positive and she was there for the team. Salute her (for the way she was there for the team). (On the score) Today's pitch was totally different. We knew this total is enough for a final because you always have a little extra pressure. We should give credit to South Africa, they batted beautifully. In the end, they panicked a little and that is where we cashed (in). at the right time, Deepti came in and took those wickets. Every time, after every World Cup, we were always discussing to cross that line. In the last two years, Amol sir was with the team and he was always telling us to come up with something special, and to keep preparing for the big occasion. We should give credit to the support staff and the BCCI. We did not make too many changes (to our squad), and they really invested in us, and because of everyone, we are standing here. This is the start. We wanted to break this barrier. And our next plan is to make this a habit. We were waiting for it. now this moment has come. So many big occasions are coming, and we want to keep improving. This is not the end, just the beginning."
Jones starts calling out the Indian names and there are big cheers all around the stadium. The biggest of course, reserved for the last name, the captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. She walks over to have a chat as well, Jones starts asking her questions but no use, Harmanpreet can't hear a thing. The DY Patil Stadium roars as one for the Indian captain.
"It's unfortunate to be on the losing side today, but I’m sure we’ll definitely grow from this as a group. I think we did so well to put those couple of bad games behind us. We were either really good or really bad, but thankfully there was a lot more really good throughout this tournament. There were so many different players stepping up. It’s been an amazing tournament for a lot of them, and I’m just really proud of the resilience we showed to make it all the way to the final. I probably didn’t have my best year leading into the World Cup, and I didn’t start this tournament too well either. Maybe I was overthinking things early on. So I just tried to separate the two - the captaincy and the batting - and that freed me up towards the back end to play my natural game and then focus on leadership separately. We were hoping for a little bit more early on, but I still think it was the right call. There was something in the wicket. We stayed in the chase for a long time - just lost a few too many wickets at key stages. that was brilliant. I kept checking the scoreboard and they were definitely tracking for 350. That back-end bowling effort was amazing. We’ve been really good at closing out innings throughout the tournament. I think 300 was about par on that wicket, and we genuinely believed we could chase it. Definitely. Especially with the ball early on, but she batted excellently too. That’s just the way she plays - aggressive, fearless - and when it comes off like today, she can really hurt teams. She’s been absolutely phenomenal through so many editions of this tournament. It’s really sad that this might be her last one. The whole group wanted to win it for her. She’s been such a huge figure in South African cricket - honestly like having two players in one. We’re just so lucky she’s on our team."
Mithali Raj walks out and places the trophy on the platform. She came within touching distance of lifting it in 2017, a performance that kicked off a sea change in women's cricket in India. Mel Jones then mentions South Africa and invite them to collect their medallions. No one seems to have left the stadium yet at the DY Patil and they all cheer for the Proteas as one. An incredible team, led by an incredible captain.
She scored a run-a-ball 58 and then returned with figures of 5/39. In a World Cup final. That is enough to win you any award really.
"Honestly, this is feeling like a dream because we have not been able to come out of that emotion. Feeling really nice I could contribute this way in a World Cup final. We have always thought about how we can use the takeaways from every match. Thanks to them (the people), this would not have been possible. As a team, we are feeling very happy. (On her responsibilities and roles and preparation) I always enjoy, whichever department I am in, or whichever situation is. I wanted to play according to the situation. Enjoyed a lot. As a stage, to perform as an all-rounder, it cannot be a more amazing feeling. Laura played a very good innings. But we were always calm, and cheering each other up. As a bowling unit, we were talking about going to the last ball and to focus on our best ball, and that is what we did. (On what she wants to see changing) There has been a lot of change since 2017. I hope there are even more matches now (for us). I just wanted to dedicate this (POTS) trophy to my mom and dad."
On a sensational night at the DY Patil Stadium, after enduring failures and pain of losing the 2005 and 2017 finals, the Indian women’s cricket team’s unrestrained love for cricket was finally solemnised. Everybody from the women who played those games could now claim they had delivered a World Cup for India too, as they became a somebody in India’s sporting history. Read more from Shivani Naik here.
87 off 78 balls opening the innings and then figures of 2/36. This is the stuff of dreams and well, it was reality today for Shafali Verma.
"I said at the start, that God has sent me here to do something nice, and that reflected today. Very happy that we won and I cannot express it in words. It was difficult but I had confidence in myself - that if I can stay calm, I could achieve everything. My parents, my friends, my brother, everyone supported me and helped me understand how to play. It was very important for my team and myself, and I just wanted to make my team win. My mind was clear and I worked on my plans. So happy that I could execute and Smriti di and Harman di, everyone was supporting me. They (seniors) asked me just to play my own game, and when you get that clarity, that is all you need. It is a very memorable moment. When I saw him (Sachin Tendulkar), it gave me an incredible boost. I keep talking to him, he keeps giving me confidence. He is the master of cricket, and we keep getting inspired just looking at him."
"Honestly, I don’t even know what to expect. To be here again, as a world champion, it’s unbelievable. It’s been such a recovery - from where I was a year ago to where I am now. This means a lot. You can see the crowd - they’re all around us, the energy is incredible. We’re just getting started. We’re going to take it to the next level and dominate across the world, in every moment. I just want to say congratulations to everyone - my family, everyone watching in India and around the world. They’ve supported me, sitting at home, cheering, believing. They’re the ones who helped me the most. I’m so grateful we could do this together. It’s amazing. The fans have been unbelievable. This one’s for all of them - for every woman, for everyone watching, and especially for Pratika. Not everything in life is good - but there’s good in everything. I’m just grateful. Truly grateful."
"Every World Cup we’ve gone into, there have been so many heartbreaks for all of us. But we always believed that we had a bigger responsibility - not just to win, but to keep growing women’s cricket. And honestly, just look at the support we’ve had over the last month and a half. It’s been incredible. To finally lift the World Cup today - I’ll take those 45 sleepless nights any day for this moment. That last World Cup was definitely tough for all of us to take. But after that, we had a clear focus - to get fitter, stronger, and better in every area. And honestly, what’s special about this team - and no one really talks about it - is how much we stuck together. Everyone supported each other, through good days and bad. We genuinely celebrated each other’s success. The team environment this time… it was just so positive, so connected. That’s been the biggest difference, I think."
Well Harmanpreet cried and hugged so many people. And then she composes herself and calls her players to form a line and shake hands with the South Africans. The camera did cut to Wolvaardt right after Harmanpreet took that catch, she was sat in the dug out in the South African colours with no expressions on her face. What a towering presence she is in women's cricket, she leads her team to the final with a century in the semifinal, and then almost single-handedly fuels their challenge with yet another century. The crowd here appreciated what she did, not many times do you see Indian crowds giving a standing ovation to an opposition player for scoring a century against them. Her compatriot AB de Villiers experienced this a number of times and she did today.
OH AN INCREDIBLE CATCH BY THE CAPTAIN HARMANPREET KAUR TO END THIS FINAL! INDIA ARE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS! INDIA BEAT SOUTH AFRICA BY 52 RUNS AND WIN THEIR MAIDEN WORLD CUP TITLE!
Deepti Sharma's third ball of the 46th over was a low full toss outside off, De Klerk tries to go inside out. It seemed set to evade Harmanpreet but the Indian captain takes the catch running back over her shoulder. A stunner of a catch if there ever was one, fitting for this momentous occassion that is going to be spoken of for decades to come. Deepti Sharma finishes off with five wickets to her name in a World Cup final. Unbelievable stuff.
Harmanpreet runs off with her arms raised after that. The Indian players are everywhere! They are running around in every corner of the ground. The legends that came before them watch on from the stands, this moment is a culmination of the journey that was undertaken by the likes of Edulji, Rangaswamy; Agarwal and Chopra; Mithali and Jhulan. It is now being lived by all of them alongwith Harmanpreet, Deepti, Mandhana, Rodrigues and the rest on that field. India have done it, they have come close to the summit and faultered in the past. This time, they went up to that peak and planted the Indian flag.
Shivani Naik: Catch running back while winning World Cup by captain - where have we heard that before?
How about it, it was very close but the umpire decided to give the run out anyway instead of sending it upstairs. That is quite unusual.
Moreover, 14 runs come off the 45th over before that run out and that is largely because the bowler and the fielder have made a right mess of whatever it is they wanted to do. It is all happening!
De Klerk dashed off after tapping the last ball of the 45th to short third. Deepti is the fielder, she throws at the striker's end and it is good, Richa Ghosh does the rest.
Khaka run out (Deept/Ghosh) 1 (7)
South Africa 246/9 in 45 overs
Former India captain Anjum Chopra urges the players downstairs to stay in the moment from the commentary box. Pretty sure they can't hear her but surely Harmanpreet must be saying the same to her teammates. Renuka Singh brought back for the 44th over, Khaka tries to work the third ball leg side but pings off a leading edge to the bowler's left. It was a tough chance, Renuka dived but couldn't hold on. De Klerk then swings at the next ball, it goes straight into the hands of Jemima Rodrigues at deep backward square leg and well, well, well she drops it. She is a better fielder than Renuka and this was an easier chance. None of it matters in the cauldron of a World Cup final. De Klerk takes a single last ball and keeps strike.
South Africa 232/8, need 67 off 36 balls
Charani back into the attack 43rd over, De Klerk lofts the first ball up and it just about clears square leg, two runs ran off that. Then De Klerk sweeps the second over short fine leg for a ball. De Klerk runs a single next ball and well, the buzzer goes off for no ball. Khaka is then stumped off the free hit delivery and then Charani gets some vicious turn away from her for the remaining three balls.
SA 229/8 in 43 overs, need 70 to win from 42 balls
Wicket No.2 in the over, wicket No.4 for Deepti to add to that half-century she scored earlier today. What a performance this is from here. India appeal after the fourth ball thumps on Chloe Tryon's pads, the umpire raises the finger and the batter reviews immediately. No bat on it, ball tracking shows it is pitching in line, impact is line, wickets... UMPIRE'S CALL! India celebrate again.
Tryon lbw b Sharma 9 (8)
SA 221/8 in 41.4 overs
Oh Amanjot juggles it a 100 times and takes it at last. The DY Patil Stadium is bouncing here. Is this the game? Is this history? Deepti flights the first ball of the 42nd, Wolvaardt goes for the big one and miscues. Amanjot is up at deep midwicket. She settles under it but the ball pops out of her hands at first, she juggles, and then again, then again and finally, she holds on flat on the ground.
Wolvaardt c Amanjot Kaur b Deepti 101 (98)
SA 220/7 in 41.1 overs
India were 229 for 4 at the end of the 40 overs and scored 69 runs in their last ten overs with Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh taking them to the total of 298. South Africa are 211 for 6 at the end of 40 overs but they still have captain Laura Wolvaardt at the crease with danger batter Nadine de klerk still to come out to bat. Is there a twist in the tale in this final?
- Nitin Sharma
A century in the semi-final and now a century in the final. Standing ovation from the overwhelmingly Indian crowd at the DY Patil Stadium, but Wolvaardt doesn't care about any of that. No celebrations at all, she is focussed on the job at hand. 100 in 96 balls for Wolvaardt.
SA 211/6 in 40 overs, need 88 to win from 60 balls.
Well she sends in a yorker third ball of the 40th. Dercksen can't get her bat down in time and is cleaned up!
Dercksen b Deepti 35 (37)
SA 209/6 in 39.3 overs
Both of them come due to a couple of pretty poor fielding efforts from the Indians. Shafali's fifth ball in the 39th is a drag-down outside off, Wolvaardt sends it past extra cover, Renuka dives right over it and it goes to the boundary. Shafali then sends in a low rull toss, Wolvaardt hits it past long on, Amanjot unable to stop it from reaching the boundary.
Wolvaardt on 98 off 94.
South Africa 207/5 in 39 overs, need 92 to win from 66 balls.
Well, this period of stability might be slightly worrying for India, although they have done well to not allow South Africa to get a steady flow of runs going. Meanwhile, South Africa's required run rate is closing in on 8.5 and they are still going at about 5.2. Wolvaardt is on 90 of 91 though, and as long as she is there, South Africa can hope. Dercksen at the other end on 33 off 32.
South Africa 198/5 in 38 overs
Laura Wolvaardt has been an island of calm for South Africa amid the chaos that has unfolded at the other end. She has moved to 85 off 86 balls, Annerie Dercksen is at the other end on 23 off 19. These two have steadied the ship somewhat for South Africa.
SA 183/5 in 35 overs, need 116 to win from 90 balls
Not over yet. 75 runs or so from last 10, South Africa will still fancy their chances. Their death overs batting has been phenomenal in this World Cup so far.
- Vinayakk Mohanarangan
Oh Radha Yadav has a nightmare finish to the 32nd over and suddenly, that's 17 runs off it. Just four singles until the fifth ball, and then Yadav bowls a beamer at Dercksen, who pulls it emphatically over deep midwicket for a six. That was a no ball, obviously. Yadav tosses the free hit ball on off stump and Dercksen sends it soaring over cow corner for six more.
South Africa 173/5 in 32 overs, need 126 to win off 108 balls
Half of South Africa's batting lineup is back in the hut now. Deepti tossed up the third ball of the 30th outside off, Sinalo Jafta takes a slog at it. It pops right into the hands of the fielder at short midwicket.
Jafta c Yadav b Sharma 16 (29)
SA 148/5 in 29.3 overs
Shafali replaced by Charani in the 27th over and well, she bowls a few absolute peaches in it and gets no wickets. Deepti then bowls the next over, just three runs in it and then Shafali returns. Harmanpreet shuffling them up now. India on top for now but they need more wickets.
South Africa 141/4 in 28 overs, need 158 to win in 132 balls.
The last time Shafali Verma picked up an international wicket was two years ago, against Bangladesh in Mirpur in a T20 game. Her lone scalp in the 50-over form had arrived three years ago, in Canterbury. Only 12 wickets in 125 international games tells the story of her bowling utility. But at the start of the 21st over, Harmanpreet Kaur summoned her off-breaks on a surface that was holding. It turned up to be an inspired decision. With her second ball of the first over, she removed the experienced Sune Luus and broke a promising partnership. Luus, forensically sweeping the spinners, tried to whip a seemingly benign straight ball. Only that the ball gripped the surface, stopped at the South African and offered the most delicious return catch to Verma. She was not finished, with the first ball of her second over, she had Marizanne Kapp caught down the leg-side, an even horrendous delivery. Shafali could not believe the slices of fortune that kept coming her way. She was not to refuse those either.
- Sandip G
Shafali Verma gets the wicket of Marizanne Kapp in the World Cup Final. Words I didn't think I'd be putting together in a sentence. Not one bit. This is an incredible phase in the match. She nearly bowled a wicket-maiden. Two wickets in two overs!
- Vinayakk Mohanarangan
SHE CAN DO NO WRONG TODAY! India's highest scorer with the bat, now two wickets inside six balls! Back of a length by Shafali, pitching around middle and leg and then spinning in. Kapp tries to work it leg side, ends up edging it through to the wicketkeeper. Shafali Verma was not even in the squad for this World Cup, she had been brought back only after an injury to Pratika Rawal. And now, she has top scored for India and taken two gigantic wickets in the World Cup final. If this was the script for a movie it would've got bad reviews for being too unrealistic.
Kapp c Ghosh b Shafali Verma 4 (5)
SA 123/4 in 22.1 overs
Wow, India are out of reviews just 21 overs into the SA innings. Deepti's fifth ball in the 22nd over is sent on a length down leg side. Ghosh appeals loudly, the umpire signals wide and she really wants Harmanpreet to review this. Wolvaardt is the batter and she had tried a sweep shot there. Harmanpreet reviews, absolutely nothing on ultra edge. Unbelievable stuff this.
"That is a shocker. Both reviews lost in the 22nd over. Indecision Review System at it again. Poor stuff. 16 reviews taken while bowling, 11 of those wrong!" says Vinayakk Mohanarangan in agony.
How about that for a bowling change from Harmanpreet Kaur! India have pulled a rabbit out of their collective hats. Shafali brought in to bowl the 21st over, angles the secone ball on a length, Luus simply lobs the ball back to the bowler and just like that, the stand is broken!
Luus c & b Shafali Verma 25 (31)
South Africa 114/2 in 20.2 overs
Luus slams the fourth ball of the 19th over through square leg for four. Then she sweeps the fifth ball as well, this time past the keeper for yet another four. She takes a single to keep strike.
South Africa 109/2, need 190 to win from 186.
Radha Yadav brought in for the 17th over, so left arm spinners from both ends with Charani operating at the other. Her third ball is smashed towards long on by Wolvaardt where Mandhana dives over it and it goes for four. That's 51 in 45 balls for the incredible Wolvaardt, who has also broken the record for most runs scored by a batter in any edition of a World Cup over the course of this innings. That record was held by Alyssa Healy when she scored 509 runs in the last edition.
Then she slashes hard at the next ball, it evades the keeper and goes for another four. Two singles after that, Wolvaardt ends the over on 56 off 47, Sune Luus on 11 off 14.
SA 95/2 in 17 overs, need 204 to win from 198 balls
Just two runs in the 14th over by Sree Charani, she has given just five runs in her first two overs and taken a wicket. "Smriti Mandhana running from long-on to long-off each time Laura Wolvaardt came on strike in that over from Charani," chimes in Shankar Narayan from the stadium.
Luus then cuts Amanjot away second ball of the next over for four past point. South Africa take a total of seven runs in that over, with the rest coming in singles.
Laura Wolvaardt has moved to 43 in 39 balls, Sune Luus on 8 off 10.
SA 78/2 in 15 overs, need 221 to win from 210 balls.
Charani strikes fifth ball of her first over. Bosch has had a nightmare tournament, a nightmare day in the field with 2 dropped catches and it all comes to an end with a duck. Slow delivery on middle and leg, Bosch plays all around it and is rapped on her pads. Bosch has a little chat with Wolvaardt and decides not to review that. This stadium is bouncing at the moment.
Bosch lbw b Shree Charani 0 (6)
SA 62/2 in in 12 overs
Oh what a way to break that partnership! Renuka's third delivery in the 10th over is slow and shortish, Brits plays it to mid on and sets off. Amanjot collects the ball and fires it at the non-striker's end. She had just one stump to aim at and she nails the direct hit. Excellent stuff.
Brits run out (Amanjot) 23 (35)
SA 51/1 in 9.3 overs
Ayabonga Khakha who grew up in Middledrift or Ixesi in Eastern Cape grew up in an area where men's cricket was buzzing, but she chose bowling because she didn't want to get peppered by the ball as a batter. Also after street cricket, she joined mini cricket at primary school level, and for five straight years was the only girl amongst the boys. While former men's national team fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam at the cricket academy of the University of Fort Hare in Alice, was someone she worked with on her bowling, her all-time hero was Makhaya Ntini. "He has always been my role model. I was fortunate to grow up in the same region where he comes from. I used to look up to him and the way he was committed to the game of cricket. He also positioned rural cricket on the international map," she told gsport Newsroom in 2022. Her three wickets pulling India back - though 298 should be plenty, with highest womens finals chase being less than 170 - helped the Proteas as they mount a tough World Cup challenge against hosts India
- Shivani Naik
When South Africa chose to bowl first, much of it might have been because of rain threat. They would have preferred to have clarity in case of DLS comes to play. But whether they factored the dew factor remains to be seen. Thanks to the rain, there is no dew so far and if it stays that way India would relish the conditions. They are out there with the towels, so let’s see how this pans out for the rest of the evening.
- Venkata Krishna B
Amanjot Kaur brought into the attack now and Brits mines 2 runs from the first two deliveries. She takes a single again as Wolvaardt comes back on strike. Good, tight running from the Proteas captain and she ends the over with double boundaries, which is greeted by silence from this Navi Mumbai crowd.
SA 44/0 after 8 overs
Renuka will continue and Brits has absolutely smashed the second ball over the ropes for a huge 6!!! First six Renuka has conceded in this whole tournament. The next 3 deliveries yield just a single and Wolvaardt sees this over off with a dot.
SA 33/0 after 7 overs
After a quiet start, South Africa are beginning to find boundaries. On to the 6th over and Kranti has been smashed for a 4 by Wolvaardt to start this one away. Follows it up with a single to put Brits on strike. She takes a single of her own. India won't mind this at all. Wolvaardt finds a gap and takes 2 runs. Good work in the deep by India.
SA 26/0 after 6 overs
India have had their issues with DRS in this tournament but that was a close call. Third ball of the third over by Renuka, Brits misses her flick and is hit on the knee roll. Big appeal for LBW and the umpire shakes her head. Harmanpreet takes the review. No bat on it and the tracker shows that the ball was just missing leg stump. India have built up some good pressure early on.
South Africa 10/0 in 3 overs
Wolvaardt gets off strike fourth ball of that over from Renuka and then Brits sees off the last two balls. A quiet over to start off for the Proteas.
Renuka Singh has the ball in her hands, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt is on strike with Tazmine Brits at the other end. South Africa need 299 to win.
Well Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami, two of the greatest women cricketers that the country has ever produced, are part of the commentary panel. Apart from them, there are quite a few stars in the stands today.
Richa Ghosh is not imposingly built; she is not a pack of muscle either. But there are few effortless boundary hitters than her. When she walked out to bat, the pitch was holding, a few balls had already stopped at batters. But the moment she started to unfurl the big shots it seemed like a different strip, the ball coming onto the bat, the boundaries flowing from the sweet spot. Timing is the essence of her batting; she rarely uses all her might or gets into unwieldy positions. Everything flows, from her fluid movement of the limbs, the transfer of weight to the follow through. She had dexterous hands and flexible wrists. A snap of the wrists is all she requires to change the destination. Like the boundary behind backward point she fleeced off Nadine de Klerk. It was wide and full, but most would have targeted the cover region. But she tilted the wrists at the last second to find the perfect placement. The most gorgeous stroke of another valuable innings was her first six, inside out over covers.
- Sandip G
Just six runs and a run out off the last ball and that brigs an end to the Indian innings. They would be disappointed that they couldn't go past 300 considering the start they had. India looked well on their way to something close to 350 for much of the first half of their innings. However, South Africa's spinners led by Nonkululeko Mlaba led the way in pulling things back for them. Deepti Sharma managed to score 58 in 50 balls while Richa Ghosh played a valuable cameo. But, as Rodrigues herself said the other night after India's record run chase in the World Cup semifinal to topple Australia, any total is chaseable here. India have their work cut out.
She won't be there to give this innings some finishing touches. Last ball of the 49th over by Khaka, she follows Ghosh as the batter moves leg side and the latter is forced to swat it away leg side, where Derckson takes an easy catch at deep backward square leg.
Ghosh c Dercksen b Khaka 34 (24)
India 292/6 in 49 overs
Marizanne Kapp's last World Cup over ends in frustration. She gave a juicy full toss for Richa Ghosh, who tries to pull it over deep midwicket. Doesn't get any kind of connection there, Bosch comes in from deep midwicket, gets low, gets her hands to it, and drops it! She had dropped another earlier in the innings at that same position.
India 286/5 in 48 overs
Single off the fifth ball of the 48th over does the job for Deepti. She gets to 50 in 53 balls. At the other end, Richa Ghosh has been going big guns and she is on 33 off 20. Can India get to around 310 here?
Khaka bowls the last ball of the 45th over on Ghosh's pads, the batter breaks her wrists and clips it between deep midwicket and long on. De Klerk gives chase, as does Bosch and there is nearly a collision between the two. The ball reaches the fence.
Ghosh is in 13 off seven, Deepti on 46 off 48.
India 262/5 in 45 overs
What a catch that is from de Klerk off her own bowling! She starts the 44th over with a slower one back of a length outside off, Amanjot plays a bit of a nothing shot. It goes to de Klerk's right who flings at it in her follow through and takes it one-handed.
Amanjot c & b de Klerk 12 (14)
India 245/4 in 43.1 overs
Harmanpreet Kaur's affinity to knockout World Cup cricket is well documented. Her 171 against Australia in the 2017 semifinal is the stuff of legends and she also had a half-century in the subsequent title clash. The skipper's 89 off 88 balls on Thursday would have only burnished her big-game credentials.
So when she took her own time to get set and scored mainly in singles and risk-free shots, one thought she was setting herself up for a late assault to take India to a sizable score.
But out of the blue, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba produced an arm ball that halted that line of thought. Harmanpreet made room to cut a ball that was too close for comfort. The angular bat made it difficult to make any contact with the onrushing delivery, and as it removed the bails, a hush swept the DY Patil Stadium. Harmanpreet had fallen for just 20 in a World Cup knockout game.
Kapp returned once again after Harmanpreet fell to bowl the 40th over. Her last ball was a length ball outside off, Deepti pushed at it right back to Kapp to her left. She got her fingertips on it in her follow through but couldn't hold on. Mlaba continues from the other end, her fifth ball in the 41st over is floated up full outside off. Deepti the batter once again, she tries to go big downtown, can't get enough elevation and Wolvaardt comes running in from long on. She dives forward but can't hold on.
Deepti on 39 off 40 at the end of that over, Amanjot on six off five.
India 236/4 in 41 overs
What a big wicket that is, just as we go into the last 10 overs of this innings. Mlaba went wide of her crease for the last ball of the 39th over, Harmanpreet rocks back, looking to play it fine. She misses it all ends up and her bails are knocked over. Mlaba is pumped up in her celebrations, South Africa know just how valuable that wicket is. Harmanpreet could've done some real damage in the back end of this Indian innings.
Harmanpreet Kaur b Mlaba 20 (29)
India 223/4 in 39 overs
Big appeal for LBW from South Africa first ball of the 37th over by Nadine de Klerk, the umpire raises her finger. Deepti has a chat with Harmanpreet and then takes the review. There was no bat on it but then it turns out that the ball has pitched well outside leg stump! Well, that's a blooper from the umpire. Four singles after that and then Deepti ends the over by swatting the last ball away leg side for four.
India 211/3 in 37 overs
The tempo of run-scoring had slowed down after Shafali Verma's dismissal, as it once used to after Virender Sehwag got out in the men's game. The run rate, that had reached 7.5 in the Powerplay, had come down to around 5.5 as Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma tried a rebuilding operation in the middle overs after Jemimah Rodrigues couldn't repeat her semifinal heroics. It involved running some risky singles, not one of Deepti's strengths, and the all-rounder survived some anxious moments. Skipper Laura Wolvaardt brought back her trump card, Marizanne Kapp, to snare out another vital wicket. But out of the blue, she was slog-swept over deep midwicket. It was the first six the South African veteran had conceded in the tournament. With Harmanpreet bringing out a late cut in the next over, bowled by Chloe Tryon, to find a boundary, it signalled that it was time to push on once again.
- Tushar Bhaduri
Well, Deepti Sharma was gone for all money if there was a direct hit off the first ball of the 34th. She was slow to start off from the non-striker's end, a problem that has followed her throughout her career. Three more runs off the next two balls, and then Tryon gives Harmanpreet some width to work with fourth ball. The Indian captain cuts it emphatically past backward point for a four. A single next ball and India have double digits off an over for the first time in what seems like ages.
Harmanpreet on 12 off 17, Deepti on 15 off 15.
India 195/3 in 34 overs
Earlier in the tournament, Laura Wolvaardt took a superb diving catch at cover to dismiss Lea Tahuhu in the match against New Zealand. That was high to her right, as she dived to her right and plucked one of thin air at speed. In the final, it was a low catch and a big one. Jemimah Rodrigues timed it well but it went low to the South Africa captain’s left and she caught it inches above the pitch. Speaking to The Indian Express in Vizag, Wolvaardt highlighted how important that fielding performance against New Zealand was. "For sure, it's probably the best we've fielded in a very long time, and I think fielding is a part of the game where you're really out there together as a team, so it was really nice to just see that energy in the group and just feed off that vibe in the field. It's definitely something we've worked on hard as a group, it's probably not been our best area within the last couple of years, so it was awesome to see that performance after the manner of our defeat against England.” It set the tone for their comeback into the tournament after that dismal start against England. And she’s been brilliant in the field right through.
- Vinayakk Mohanarangan
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Oh how sharp is that catch from captain Wolvaardt! The umpires send it upstairs for a look. It was fullish outside off from Khaka, Jemimah tries to send it scorching through covers but can't keep it down. Wolvaardt goes low to her left, that was coming at her at some pace and replays show that she caught it low and then kept those fingers under the ball as they touched the ground. Brilliant stuff form the South African skipper and her side has now pulled it back in these middle overs.
India in a spot of bother.
Rodrigues c Wolvaardt b Khaka 24 (37)
India 171/3 in 29.4 overs
Kapp brought back in the 29th over right after Shafali fell. Rodrigues takes a single off the first ball and then Harmanpreet kept pinned for the next three. The fifth ball of the over is full outside off, Harmanpreet laps it right over the wicketkeeper's head for a four. How about it!
She is on four off six at the end of that over, Rodrigues on 24 off 33.
India 171/2 in 29 overs
That shot was coming from Shafali. The cramps had made it almost impossible for her to run. Even the last single she took before getting out was one of pain.
- Shankar Narayan
Shafali tries to go over mid-off, ends up putting it straight down the throat of the fielder there. A hint of tiredness there in that shot.
Khaka gets the big wicket. She pitches this delivery on a length on leg stump, Shafali gaves herself room and tried to get the elevation. A brilliant innings comes to an end.
Now Harmanpreet Kaur joins Rodrigues. This was the partnership that knocked the wind out of Australia's sails in that incredible semi-final a couple of nights ago.
Shafali Verma c Luus b Khaka 87 (78)
India 166/2 in 27.5 overs
What a fascinating passage of play that was. Khaka oversteps fifth ball and a bit of a discussion between her and Wolvaardt about what she can do for the free-hit delivery. Well, Khaka bowls a wide yorker just inside the tram line, Shafali leaves it thinking it will go wide but it isn't. She lets out a scream and throws her head back in disappointment... and then responds by carving the last ball of the over past extra cover for four!
She is on 83 off 73, Rodrigues on 19 off 26.
India 158/1 in 26 overs
Sune Luus's fifth ball in the 25th over is nicely tossed up and Shafali replies by dancing down the track and sending back over the bowler's head for a six. She takes a single next ball and keeps strike. Before that she had played a rare dot fourth ball of that over. Shafali has gone to her highest ODI score.
She is on 78 off 68, Rodrigues on 18 off 24.
India 151/1 in 25 overs
Shafali cramps up after running a single off the second ball of the 25th over. It is pretty humid out there, even though its not that hot by Mumbai standards.
"Shafali seems to be down with cramps. The physio is out. South Africa have gathered together for a chat. A much-needed break for them," says Shankar Narayan.
These are equal sized boundaries today with pitch no.2 in use. South Africa have a deep midwicket in place, yet Shafali riding her confidence to try and clear the boundary.
- Shankar Narayan
Shafali Verma's first half-century in ODIs in three years, and it has come in a World Cup final. How about it! She takes a single off the last ball of that over from Tryon in which Mandhana had fallen. Rodrigues, meanwhile, gets off the mark with a single off her first delivery. After the extreme high of the other night where she played an innings of a lifetime, Rodrigues has to start from scratch. Penny for her thoughts.
Shafali on 50 off 49, Rodrigues on one off one.
India 106/1 in 18 overs
Edged and gone! The opening stand is broken at last by the left-arm spin of Chloe Tryon. The stadium had erupted just two deliveries ago when Mandhana effortlessly sent the second ball over mid off for four. Now there is pin-drop silence. Back of a length delivery that skid right through Mandhana.
The silence doesn't last too long, though, as the next batter walking in is Jemimah Rodrigues. "Expectedly a massive roar greets Jemimah Rodrigues to the middle," says Shankar Narayan from the press box at the DY Patil Stadium.
Mandhana c Jafta b Tryon 45 (58)
India 104/1 in 17.4 overs
Shafali Verma held the pose as she lofted the ball down the ground for a six. A full delivery, in the 15th over from Nadine de Klerk and Shafali hit through the line with a straight bat in one fluid motion. If former Australia captain, and Delhi Capitals skipper Meg Lanning was watching from where ever she is, she’d have applauded it. Not every day Meg Lanning plays second fiddle. In a match for DC against GG in March 2023 at this very venue in Navi Mumbai, Shafali raced to an unbeaten 76, blitzing five sixes and 10 fours in 28 balls of carnage. At the post-match presentation, Anjum Chopra asked Lanning: Were you guys in hurry to catch a flight? “Shafali certainly looked as if she was (trying to make sure she caught an early flight),” Lanning laughed. “That was a pretty cool show to watch from the other end. I was just cheerleading from the non-strikers’ end. Some pretty clean hitting, some of the best I’ve seen, a pretty amazing performance.” When asked about her advice to Shafali, Lanning said: “I did say to her, ‘just keep it simple, stay still and hit the ball straight’ – and that’s exactly what she did,” said Lanning. When asked about her advice to Shafali, Lanning said: “I did say to her, ‘just keep it simple, stay still and hit the ball straight’ – and that’s exactly what she did.”
- Vinayakk Mohanarangan
Shafali Verma stands three runs away from her half-century. What a knock this is turning out to be from her. She had been dropped and seemingly completely out of this squad due to Pratika Rawal's incredible form, her being back was a forced changed due to Rawal's injury. And now she is batting with the kind of composure she has seldom shown in her career.
At the same time though, it will be interesting to see how she responds to this situation. Mlaba and de Klerk have brought Mandhana and Verma's run rate screeching down in these last six overs.
India 92/0 in 16 overs
Just seven runs in three overs after the first 10. The field has spread out; De Clerk and Mlaba have kept it tight as well and so India's free flow of runs has been stemmed a bit. Mandhana and Verma shouldn't really let that get to them though, this remains a very good start for the hosts.
Verma on 38 off 39 balls, Mandhana on 33 off 45.
India 80/0 in 14 overs
The brilliant Nonkululeko Mlaba bowls the first over of spin for South Africa in eighth over and Shafali welcomes her with a four through cover. Then Nadine de Klerk replaces Khaka in the ninth over and Mlaba continues to in the 10th.
India finish the first poweplay with their highest score in this period in this tournament. Shafali on 29 of 25 balls, Mandhana on 27 off 35.
India 64/0 in 10 overs
And a 50-run opening stand between Shafali and Mandhana in quick time. Mandhana with fours off the second and third balls from Khaka in the sixth over. And then there was another four third ball of the seventh off Kapp by Mandhana, which took India past 50 in 6.3 overs.
Mandhana on 21 off 24 at the end of that one, Shafali on 22 off 18.
India 51/0 in 7 overs
Shankar Narayan: South Africa have a fielder in between cover and point to stop the Mandhana cover drive from going for four. Field a bit more spread out for Shafali
She hits a four off the first ball of Khaka's second over as well, finishes that on 13 off 10 balls. And then Mandhana takes a single off the first ball that Kapp bowls in the fifth. This is followed by Shafali hitting back to back fours - the second ball is met with an inch perfect cover drive all along the turf and the third is flicked neatly through midwicket for another. That is all the runs that come in that over and Shafali ends it on 21 off 15. Smriti Mandhana on seven off 15.
India 31/0 in 5 overs
Seven runs in that second over. Khaka starts off with a fullish delivery shaping away outside off. Shafali comes down the track and sends it between point and cover for a four off the very first ball that she faces in this final. She takes one on the pad next ball and runs a leg bye after which Mandhana takes a single after sending the third to deep point. Shafali sends the fifth ball past midwicket for another single.
India 7/0 in 2 overs
Tight start there from Kapp. A bit of seam movement around middle and leg third ball. Mandhana kept pinned to the crease. Ayabonga Khaka is sharing new ball duties with Kapp, Shafali Verma facing up now.
All right then! We have had a nearly two-hour delay but that hasn't dampened the occassion one bit. The DY Patil Stadium is absolutely packed. A large majority of the colours that can be seen are blue of course but there is some support for the South Africans as well. Smriti Mandhana is on strike for India, Shafali Verma at the other end. Marizanne Kapp steaming in to bowl the first ball of this World Cup final.
South Africa's "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" come first. Marizanne Kapp visibly fighting tears as it is belted out by Tarryn Lamb. Then Sunidhi Chauhan sings India's "Jana Gana Mana". What a way to set up the atmosphere.
And fittingly, Harmanpreet Kaur loses another toss! Her luck with the coin has been pretty wretched, just one toss won in the tournament. Laura Wolvaardt opts to bowl first with rain around and this being a chasing ground. Harmanpreet Kaur says not the worst thing to put runs on board, but this is a good toss to win for SA. Both teams unchanged. The big challenge for India is to deal with Marizanne Kapp early on, with the pitch being under cover and conditions overcast.
- Vinayakk Mohanarangan
All right, there is the great man. He is at the ground in a smart black shirt and grey pants and a pair of trendy glares. It was in a more famous stadium 35km away from the DY Patil about 14 years ago that Tendulkar had what he calls the greatest moment of his legendary career, when India won the 2011 World Cup. He of all people knows the weight of this occassion.
India Women XI: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Amanjot Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur.
South Africa Women XI: Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sinalo Jafta(w), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
TOSS: South Africa win toss, opt to bowl!
Harmanpreet Kaur: We were looking to bowl looking at the overhead conditions. We will try to bat well and put up a decent score. I don't think there will be much on the pitch after 5-6 overs. We are going with the same team. We had two days to recover after the semis and everyone is looking forward to this game.
Laura Wolvaardt: We are going to bowl first. Bit of rain around and there might be dew later on, hoping for a bit of slippinness early on with all the rain around. We are unchanged from the semis.
The Indian team is in a huddle with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur all set for the coin flip, just seven minutes away. The nerves will be the one thing the home side will do best to put in place, before taking the field today.
Shivani Naik: Even cold November rain can't last forever.
It will be interesting to see if India apply any changes to the playing XI from the semi-finals given the weather this evening. They will tend to be careful and not tinker too much given that a reserve day could also be in place. But it will be an interesting proposition before the management, will they back the same XI or have some discussions over playing their five best bowlers and an additional batter over the safety net of a sixth bowling option today?
Precautionary covers are back in place even as the skies have partly cleared up. The super-soppers are quick at work as the coin flip stands under 20 minutes away.
Revised timings: Toss at 4:30 PM and the first ball at 5 PM.
More positive news coming in with sunshine. The covers are coming off.
And there comes the golden words from Mihir at the DY Patil Stadium: Finally it's opening up a bit, thoda sun.
More than 40 minutes of delay since the scheduled start, it is learnt that we will only start losing overs this evening from 5 PM onwards. That is should the game get underway before 5 and we will have no further delays thereafter, we can reel in a potentially 100-over game tonight.
The final opportunity for the match to begin as a full 20-overs-per-side game is 9:08 PM. If play manages to start by this cut-off time but is later interrupted by more rain, the match will then carry over to the reserve day.
Defiant fightbacks and leaving it all out there for the team is something Jemimah Rodrigues has regularly done for her school, St Joseph’s Convent in Bandra West, and for Mumbai cricket. And in her backyard in Navi Mumbai, on the biggest stage, she got the better of the mighty Aussies Thursday and helped India take a monumental leap into the World Cup final. Jemimah’s first coach and father, Ivan, who was there on the sidelines of the emotionally charged game with his wife, came up with a biblical David vs Goliath reference to describe the tense battle between the tall Aussie bowlers and his daughter. Read Shankar Narayan and Devendra Pandey's story on India's newest WC sensation
It is that kind of a day in Navi Mumbai. On and off, off and on! The covers were coming off just when the rain picked up pace again and now the entire centre and the stretch between the two sight-screens have been cordoned off by sheets!
During the course of the 2025 World Cup, Smriti Mandhana and Laura Wolvaardt went past 5000 ODI runs as openers, surpassed White Ferns legend Suzie Bates and currently occupy the top-2 positions in the format. Both openers, though three years apart in age and international experience, possess uncannily similar ODI opening records.
The only noticeable difference in their batting templates have been the big scores and the strike rates. Well, SA skipper Wolvaardt had put those questions to rest during a mesmerising semi-final performance against England, smashing 169 off only 143 balls.
Most runs as W-ODI openers
S Mandhana (IND-W): INN: 115; Runs: 5252; HS: 136; AVE: 48.62; 100s: 14; 50s: 34
L Wolvaardt (SA-W): INN: 117; Runs: 5121; HS: 184*; AVE: 50.2; 100s: 10; 50s: 38
Shivani Naik has an advice for India's batting superstars. Ahead of their cricket World Cup final, Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana must replay their carefree, conversation from five years ago, with the then freshly minted badminton World champion, PV Sindhu, who spoke of pressure of elite athletes amidst girly giggles and grit. READ MORE
Shankar Narayan, our correspondent, pings from the DY Patil press box: That looks like a flood if you ask me..
For a tournament marred by washouts, this seems consistent with the theme but disappointing for the game and everyone involved this evening.
The weather forecast for the afternoon has gone for a toss as the rain's returned, 15 minutes before the rescheduled coin flip. Goes without saying that the toss will be delayed yet again in Navi Mumbai. Bummer....
India's batters have struggled against left-arm spin earlier in the tournament:
Therefore, the performance of left-handers Smriti Mandhana (at the top of the order) and Deepti Sharma (in the middle order) will be critical in neutralising this specific Proteas bowling threat from Tryon and Mlaba in the final.
Uh oh, our correspondent Mihir Vasavda pings from Navi Mumbai: ...and covers are coming back on. Precautionary, mostly because of a dark cloud hanging over the ground
We will not have an on-time start as expected. The toss has been pushed back by 30 minutes to 3 PM with the start slated for 3:30 PM IST provided there are no further rain showers. The umpires are currently speaking with the captains (who are still in their training gear).
Harmanpreet's assured knock in the semi-final was vital for India to take the record chase as deep as they could. The skipper may have had a wavering run but the sheer pressure of the knockouts often brings the best out in Harmanpreet.
In only three World Cup knockout games, Harmanpreet Kaur has piled on 311 runs at a jaw-dropping 155.50 average. Only Australia legend Belinda Clark stands ahead of her with 329 runs in WC knockouts.
What makes Harmanpreet a knockout sensation? Read this superb piece from Vinayakk Mohanarangan to find out more
Huge cheers at the DY Patil Stadium as the covers come off. The rain has relented and though there might be a delay in the coin flip, we can hope it won't be too far out from now.
Former India coach WV Raman puts it succinctly on what it would mean for Indian cricket if Harmanpreet Kaur and her team win the ICC Women’s World Cup: “Something similar to man’s landing on the moon…”
That’s the kind of impact India’s triumph on Sunday could have as they take on South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai in front of what’s expected to be a massive turnout. In what is the first final in the tournament’s history not to feature either Australia or England, a new champion will be crowned, which will set off a chain of events that would significantly alter the women’s landscape either way. While South Africa’s decades of heartache in ICC events will be healed, it is undeniable that an Indian win would be seismic for the sport. Read More from Vinayakk Mohanarangan
India's batting lineup faces a significant threat from a varied South African bowling attack, particularly the deadly left-arm spin duo of Nonkululeku Mlaba and Chloe Tryon.
In his preview of the final, our correspondent Shankar Narayan picked up on the key area of weakness for the Proteas that India can exploit well on the red soil surface of Navi Mumbai.
Despite finishing third in the league table with five wins, South Africa's two tournament defeats were marked by severe batting collapses, highlighting a key vulnerability heading into the final.
Against England (Tournament Opener): The Proteas were bowled out for just 69 runs. Spinners Linsey Smith and Sophie Ecclestone were instrumental in tearing through the batting order.
Against Australia (End of League Phase): Having already qualified for the semifinals, South Africa suffered another major collapse in Indore, losing all 10 wickets for only 97 runs. Spinner Alana King delivered a sensational performance that day, recording figures of 7 wickets for 18 runs to completely dismantle the team's batting lineup.
India predicted XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur
South Africa predicted XI: Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Marizanne Kapp, Sinalo Jafta(w), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
The red soil surfaces at the Navi Mumbai play to the general strengths of India. It is understood that the pitch that will be used for the final will be the same as the surface previously employed for the India vs New Zealand contest, where the home side racked up a whopping 340 on the board. What's more, it is a fresh witness to the greatest chase in women's cricket history.
Around eight years ago, the somewhat rural town of Moga in Punjab woke up to a new dawn of unexpected fame, thanks to local girl Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar. She made headlines by scoring 171 runs against Australia in the semifinal of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 in England.
In Moga, the remarkable cricketing achievements of a woman like this were unheard of. It was only on the day she starred against Australia that many people in Moga realised she was a local girl who had made her way to the national team after years of playing in the dusty local grounds and parks.
The town lined up in huge numbers to welcome home “daughter Harman” after the 2017 World Cup, in which India agonisingly lost the final to England. That was also the year when women’s cricket earned many new followers in Punjab, thanks to Harmanpreet. Read More
India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Uma Chetry, Shafali Verma.
South Africa squad: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase
The covers are spread across the turf as a heavy downpour continues in Navi Mumbai. Not the scenes you'd be hoping for on a momentous day like this.
The families of the Indian women's cricket team are undertaking their own journeys, prayers, and preparations as their loved ones get ready to compete in the ICC World Cup final against South Africa in Mumbai.
Read Nitin Sharma's lovely story on how the family of India's stars are preparing for the final
Muggy afternoon in Navi Mumbai. The covers are on at the centre with only an hour to go for the toss.
Welcome to a landmark day for women's cricket! Navi Mumbai gears up for a pivotal finale with India and South Africa both eyeing their maiden ODI world title. But as we await the contest of seismic proportions, one cannot afford to rest assured without having a look at the skies above in the city. Bad news came early this afternoon, with the heavens opening hours before the coin flip. Stay tuned for the latest update from the venue.
After a spectacular result against Australia in the semi-final on Thursday, an upbeat India will play their third ICC Women’s World Cup final, this time at home at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, hoping to break their trophy drought. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had a topsy-turvy league phase run, where they lost three matches in a row before overcoming New Zealand to enter the semis where they knocked out the most successful team in the history of the competition. On Sunday, the hosts will face South Africa, who produced their best all-round performance against England in Guwahati. With a new winner of the tournament guaranteed, here’s a look at the tactical match-up between the two teams. Read more from Shankar Narayan's preview here.
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