India fell just short of the 300-run mark, finishing their innings at 298 for 7 in the Women’s ODI World Cup final — the second-highest team total in the tournament’s history.
South Africa’s women’s team has never successfully chased such a big target in ODIs. Their highest successful chase is 275 — achieved against India in the 2022 World Cup in Christchurch. Their second-highest chase also came against India, when they reached a 267-run target in Lucknow in 2021.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, India got a brilliant start from openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. The pair put on 104 runs in 17.4 overs. Smriti missed her fifty by just 5 runs, while Shafali — playing in place of the injured Pratika Rawal — scored a career-best 87 off 78 balls.
The second half-century of the innings came from Deepti Sharma, who made 58 off 58 balls before being run out on the final delivery. Richa Ghosh added a quickfire 34 from 24 balls.
Now the question remains — can India clinch their first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title, or will South Africa make history by chasing down the total to lift the trophy for the first time?