ICC Women's World Cup: India script history as they lift maiden trophy after nail-biting win over South Africa

Synopsis

India has won the 2025 ICC Women's World Cup. They defeated South Africa in a thrilling final match. This victory marks a historic moment for Indian cricket. Shafali Verma's strong batting performance set a challenging target. South Africa fought back, but India secured the win. The final was played in Navi Mumbai.

Creating history in Navi Mumbai, Harmanpreet Kaur's India etched their name in glory on Sunday, lifting the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup after a thrilling triumph over South Africa in a pulsating title clash.

Hosts India posted 298-7 and then bowled out South Africa for 246, with spinner Deepti Sharma taking five wickets in the final in front of a sell-out crowd at the DY Patil Stadium.

Shafali Verma and Sharma starred with both bat and ball to propel India to their first Women's World Cup title with a 52-run win over South Africa on Sunday.

Verma top-scored with 87 and Sharma hit 58 off as many balls as India posted a challenging total after they were put in to bat in a final delayed two hours by rain.

South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt hit a valiant 101 but her departure off Sharma raised the noise at the 45,000-capacity stadium, which had turned into a sea of blue

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Openers Laura Wolvaardt (25) and Tazmin Brits (23) began the chase cautiously before opening up, striking six fours and a six between them to give South Africa a confident start.

However, a sharp direct hit from Amanjot Kaur ended the 51-run stand, catching Brits short of her crease after attempting a quick single.

Shafali Verma's majestic play

Opener Shafali Verma scored 87 off 78 balls as India reached 298-7 in 50 overs against South Africa in the Women’s Cricket World Cup final on Sunday.

Verma scored her career-best score as the Proteas were set a challenging target at the DY Patil Stadium.

India’s total is the second-highest in a World Cup final after Australia’s 356-5 against England in 2022. England holds the record chase in tournament final history – it scored 167-6 against New Zealand in 2009.

Earlier, the start of the final was delayed by two hours with no overs lost. South Africa won the toss and opted to field.

Verma led India’s innings as she hit seven fours and two sixes. She put on 104 for the first wicket with Smriti Mandhana (45).

Chloe Tryon got the breakthrough with Mandhana caught in the 18th over. Verma then added 62 more runs with Jemimah Rodrigues.

Medium pacer Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Verma 13 short of a century, and then semifinal star Rodrigues was out caught for 24. India was down to 171-3 in 29.4 overs.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur tried to restore the momentum but was bowled by Nonkululeko Mlaba in the 39th over. She scored only 20 runs, but shared a vital 52 runs off 56 balls with Deepti Sharma.

India was not able to get away – Nadine de Klerk then sent back Amanjot Kaur (12) with a one-handed return catch.

Sharma steadied the innings with a run-a-ball 58, including three fours and a six. It was a third half-century for Sharma in the tournament, and she put on 47 with Richa Ghosh for the sixth wicket.

Ghosh hit three fours and two sixes as India scored 69 runs in the last 10 overs. Khaka finished with 3-58 in nine overs.

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