Proteas Women fall at the final hurdle again as India clinch maiden World Cup trophy

South Africa’s wait for a first Cricket World Cup trophy continues as India clinched their first Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy after a 52-run win over the Proteas on Sunday.

It was more World Cup heartbreak for South Africa as the Proteas Women have now lost the final of the last three tournaments they’ve played in, in as many years — including the T20 World Cups in 2023 in South Africa and in the United Arab Emirates in 2024.

This time, the mournful moment happened in Mumbai as the hosts outplayed South Africa in every facet to secure their first Cricket World Cup trophy to jubilant scenes in front of a home crowd.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this team for the campaign that we’ve had,” Proteas skipper Laura Wolvaardt said after the clash.

“[We] played some brilliant cricket throughout. [We were] outplayed today. I think India played fantastically well. [We were] unfortunate to be on the losing side, but I’m sure we’ll definitely grow from this as a group.”

India’s score of 298 looked slightly under par at the halfway stage, particularly for the pleasant batting conditions in Mumbai, but any first-innings runs in a final are plenty. A run chase of 100 would have felt like scaling Mount Everest for South Africa.

This is what made skipper Wolvaardt’s decision to bowl first, after making the right call at the toss, in the final, somewhat perplexing.

But for a while in South Africa’s pursuit of the target, through Wolvaardt’s own blade, it looked like history would be rewritten.

Captain fantastic

Wolvaardt followed her semifinal century with another in the final, scoring 101 runs off 98 deliveries to raise her bat for an 11th ODI 100.

Where her 100 against England four days ago started with fluid strokeplay through the offside, in the final, she started more aggressively, pounding the white leather to the legside boundary as she looked to assert herself on the match.

South Africa’s chase collapsed around her, however, as they were bowled out for 246 with four-and-a-half overs left in their innings.

The Proteas Women’s 2025 Cricket World Cup campaign was built on the foundations of a few players stepping up when the occasion presented itself.

This time, skipper Wolvaardt fought a lonely battle with the willow.

There were contributions from Tazmin Brits (23 off 35), Suné Luus (25 off 31) and Annerie Dercksen (35 off 37), but none at the magnitude required in the context of the match.

“I think we were in it for a lot of the chase [but] we just lost too many wickets,” Wolvaardt said.

The innings by the captain was absolutely chanceless until her first false shot, an attempted slog over the leg side, bounced more than expected and hit high on her bat as she was caught at long on.

The fielder, Amanjot Kaur, had three juggles at the ball, which sailed high into the Mumbai sky before she clung on to a match-winning grab.

Wolvaardt’s innings took her to the most runs (571) scored in a Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign as she finished the tournament more than 100 runs ahead of the next highest scorer.

New champions

India were on track for a score in excess of 320 after opener Shafali Verma (87 off 78) set the home side off to a blistering start.

South Africa’s usually impeccable opening bowlers, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka, uncharacteristically struggled to secure the opening breakthrough.

India were on 166 for one after 28 overs, but clusters of wickets and economical bowling from South Africa ensured the required score was manageable.

Despite the momentum shift in South Africa’s favour, India started stronger when it was their turn to bowl.

It’s similar to how the Women in Blue shifted the momentum in their campaign despite losing three consecutive matches in the round robin phase. South Africa, Australia and England beat the hosts, who snuck through as the lowest-placed semifinalists.

They exacted their revenge on favourites Australia in their semifinal before clinching the elusive Cricket World Cup trophy at home.

“Even though we lost three back-to-back games, I always knew this team had something special to turn it around,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said after the match. DM