Wolvaardt heroics not enough for final glory as India shatter Proteas’ World Cup dream

Laura Wolvaardt carried her team on her shoulders, dragged them to the finish line, but ultimately could not single-handedly lead the Proteas Women to the promised land of a first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup title in Navi Mumbai on Sunday evening.

Instead, that honour belongs to India, who on their third attempt after previous disappointments in 2005 and 2017, fulfilled the dreams and desires of a nation when captain Harmanpreet Kaur claimed the catch that clinched their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup trophy.

It was a final the competition deserved, with the DY Patil Stadium decked in blue and the tricolours of India’s national flag. Not even the weather, which threatened to push the match into a reserve day, could spoil the festivities, with play getting underway 90 minutes after the scheduled start.

Wolvaardt struck a brilliant 101 — the first woman cricketer to score a century in both a semi-final and final of a World Cup — but she did not have sufficient support as the Proteas failed in their bid to chase down a record total in a grand final. Her dismissal, courtesy of an excellent juggled catch by Amanjot Kaur on the boundary with the Proteas still needing 78 off 58 balls, swung the momentum firmly towards India.

The home team rode the wave to the end, with Deepti Sharma providing the coup de grâce through a five-wicket haul to go with her half-century earlier in the innings that helped set up India’s 298 for seven.

The chase was always going to be dependent — perhaps overdependent — on Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits for an authoritative start. Brits struggled with her timing, and some of her more elegant strokes went straight to fielders.

Brits (23) eventually broke the shackles with a lofted six down the ground off Renuka Singh before pumping Deepti Sharma for another boundary. But just as the partnership was gathering momentum and the Proteas had moved past 50 without loss, the stadium erupted when Amanjot nailed a direct hit from mid-on to run out the opener.

Anneke Bosch’s nightmare World Cup ended in equally grim fashion, the top-order batter registering her third duck of the competition after dropping two catches earlier during India’s innings.

The much-vaunted Proteas middle-order could not withstand the pressure of a World Cup final, with experienced batters such as Sune Luus and the renowned Marizanne Kapp wilting in the cauldron. Only youngster Annerie Dercksen offered her captain any real support, the pair adding 61 for the fifth wicket.

India ought to have made more than the 298 they eventually mustered, but it proved enough on the night. The hosts raced to 100 without loss in just 17.2 overs through openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.

Even when Mandhana (45 off 58 balls, eight fours) fell two balls later, caught behind off Chloé Tryon, Verma (87 off 101 balls) built another solid 62-run partnership with semi-final hero Jemimah Rodrigues.

The pitch, however, began to slow down, with Proteas left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba applying the squeeze before seamer Ayabonga Khaka found her range after a difficult start that saw her concede 29 runs in her first three overs.

Khaka (3 for 58) gave little away thereafter, conceding just 29 runs in her final seven overs while claiming the key wickets of Shafali, Rodrigues and the dangerous Richa Ghosh (34 off 24 balls, three fours, two sixes).

Deepti Sharma ensured India did not lose their way altogether, crafting a vital half-century that lifted the hosts to the second-highest total in a Women’s World Cup final — enough to crush the dreams of a Proteas side that fought valiantly until the end.

Scorers

ICC World Cup Final

India: 298/7

Shafali Varma 87, Deepti Sharma 58, Ayabonga Khaka 3/58

South Africa: 246 all out

Wolvaardt 101, Dercksen 35, Deepti Sharma 5/39

Indian won by 52 runs