Smriti Mandhana Celebrates Historic ICC Women's World Cup Victory

Mandhana Reflects on World Cup Triumph

After an outstanding performance in the ICC Women's World Cup, Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana, who finished as the tournament's second-highest run-scorer, shared her joy over the team's victory. She emphasized that the achievement transcended merely winning the title, highlighting the team's commitment to advancing women's cricket. Mandhana's remarkable World Cup journey included setting records, culminating in a trophy win after previous disappointments. She surpassed Mithali Raj's record, amassing 434 runs across nine innings with an impressive average of 54.25, featuring a century and two fifties, and a top score of 109.

Team Spirit and Support

In her post-match comments, Mandhana stated, "Throughout our World Cup experiences, we've faced numerous disappointments. However, we always recognized our greater duty—not just to win but to foster the growth of women's cricket." She praised the overwhelming support from fans over the past month and a half, expressing that the sleepless nights were worthwhile for this moment. "Winning the World Cup today makes those 45 sleepless nights worth it. The last World Cup was particularly challenging, but we focused on becoming fitter, stronger, and better. What truly stands out about this team is our unity. We supported one another through highs and lows and celebrated each other's achievements. The positive and connected team environment has been a significant factor in our success," she concluded.

India's Batting Performance

South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first. India began strongly with a century partnership between Smriti Mandhana (45 runs off 58 balls, including eight fours) and Shafali Verma, followed by a 62-run partnership between Shafali (87 runs off 78 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) and Jemimah Rodrigues (24 runs off 37 balls, with one four). India established a solid foundation at 166/2. A partnership of 52 runs between captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20 runs off 29 balls, with two fours) and Deepti Sharma pushed India past 200. A late surge from Deepti (58 runs off 58 balls, with three fours and one six) and Richa Ghosh (34 runs off 24 balls, with three fours and two sixes) propelled India to a total of 298/7 in their 50 overs, with Ayabonga Khaka taking 3 wickets for 58 runs.

Deepti Sharma's Game-Changing Performance

During South Africa's chase, they started with a 50-run partnership, with Tazmin Brits (23 runs off 35 balls, including two fours and one six) being the first wicket to fall. Despite captain Laura Wolvaardt's strong performance, Shafali Verma (2 wickets for 36 runs) and Shree Charani's efforts reduced South Africa to 148/5. Wolvaardt formed a 61-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Annerie Dercksen (37 runs off 35 balls, with one four and two sixes), which began to apply pressure on India. Wolvaardt (101 runs off 98 balls, with 11 fours and one six) continued her excellent form, scoring a century after her semifinal performance against England. However, Deepti Sharma's pivotal bowling spell dismantled the set batters, leaving South Africa struggling at 221/8. Deepti became the first Indian woman to take four wickets in a World Cup final, finishing with figures of 5/39, leading India to a historic victory by bowling out South Africa for 246 runs.