Proteas hearts broken as India claim maiden Women’s World Cup crown

South Africa’s dream of lifting their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup ended in heartbreak on Sunday night, as India clinched a 52-run victory in a rain-delayed final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

It was a match filled with tension, promise, and ultimately, painful what-ifs for the Proteas, who fought bravely through captain Laura Wolvaardt’s magnificent century before collapsing late in the chase.

Wolvaardt leads from the front

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, South Africa managed to restrict India to 298/7 — the second-highest total ever in a Women’s World Cup final. Ayabonga Khaka (3/58) led the attack with precision, supported by Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk and Chloe Tryon, who each claimed a wicket.

India’s innings had been anchored by opener Shafali Verma, who struck a fluent 87, and Deepti Sharma, whose composed 58 steadied the innings after Khaka’s double strike briefly halted the momentum.

Despite a late surge from Richa Ghosh (34), South Africa’s bowlers ensured India did not breach the 300 mark, with De Klerk delivering a tight final over that conceded only six runs.

When the Proteas walked out to chase 299, optimism rippled through their camp. Tazmin Brits and Wolvaardt provided a solid start, putting on 51 for the first wicket before Brits was run out by a direct hit from Amanjot Kaur.

Promise turns to heartbreak

Wolvaardt, calm and clinical under pressure, reached her half-century with back-to-back boundaries and appeared in complete control even as wickets tumbled at the other end. Her stroke play took South Africa past 100 with Sune Luus, and later beyond 200 alongside Annerie Dercksen.

At 209/5, the Proteas were still in the hunt — until Deepti Sharma’s spell turned the match decisively India’s way. She dismissed Dercksen and then struck a double blow in a single over, removing Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon just as the required run rate began to climb.

That collapse saw South Africa lose their last five wickets for just 37 runs, slipping from 209/5 to 246 all out.

Deepti finished with superb figures of 5/39, sealing her player-of-the-match performance. Shafali Verma also played a key supporting role with the ball, claiming two wickets including those of Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp in a momentum-shifting spell.

Pride and pain for the Proteas

Despite the defeat, Wolvaardt’s innings — a brilliant 101 — will be remembered as one of the finest in World Cup history. It was her second century in as many matches and kept South Africa’s hopes alive until the final overs.

Even as the players left the field visibly dejected, there was a sense of pride in how far they had come. Having reached their first-ever Women’s World Cup final, the Proteas had gone toe-to-toe with one of the world’s best sides and nearly pulled off something special.

India, meanwhile, celebrated their maiden World Cup triumph, ending decades of waiting for the title. For South Africa, it was heartbreak — but the kind that signals a team on the brink of something greater.