Eman 
Full Heart, Empty Hands: South Africa’s Anguish as India’s Stars Seize World Cup Glory
ZeeaK 
The ICC Women’s World Cup Final at DY Patil Stadium concluded in profound disappointment for South Africa, who fell short despite a heroic effort. The team’s devastating 52-run loss to India, ending their third consecutive bid for a major ICC trophy, was marked by the overwhelming dominance of India’s key players and critical failures in the field.
Kapp’s Quiet Day and Wolvaardt’s Record
South Africa’s hopes were hurt early by the unusual performance of team veteran Marizanne Kapp. Fresh off a stunning semi-final spell, Kapp was held wicketless for the first time in 41 innings where she bowled her full quota, conceding 59 runs. Her quiet performance contributed to a lingering sense of missed opportunity.
Adding to the frustration was a critical fielding effort where the usually reliable South Africans dropped four chances. Even Captain Laura Wolvaardt, who performed brilliantly, squandered a difficult chance—an uncharacteristic lapse for the tournament’s top performer.
Despite the collective struggles, Wolvaardt delivered a performance for the ages. Her brilliant 101 in the final made her only the second woman to score centuries in both a World Cup semi-final and final, and secured her record of 571 runs for the most runs scored in a single edition of the tournament.
Yet, as Wolvaardt admitted afterward, “We were in it for a lot of the chase. Just lost too many wickets.”
Image cedits : cricbuzz
India’s Double Punch: Verma and Deepti
The match was ultimately seized by the supreme all-round dominance of two Indian stars who perfectly counteracted Wolvaardt’s century:
- Shafali Verma (Player of the Match), who entered the squad as an injury replacement, delivered a crucial 87 off 78 balls at the top of the order, then returned with the ball to claim two vital wickets (2/36).
- Deepti Sharma (Player of the Tournament) contributed a vital 58 with the bat before executing a masterful, match-winning spell of 5 wickets for just 39 runs, including the decisive removal of Wolvaardt herself.
The final wicket, captured by a soaring catch from captain Harmanpreet Kaur at extra cover to dismiss Nadine de Klerk, confirmed India’s 52-run victory and their maiden World Cup title.
The Tears of a Nation
For South Africa, the defeat leads to deep reflection, particularly concerning the legendary Marizanne Kapp, who turns 36 soon and may have shot her last chance at World Cup glory. Wolvaardt’s emotional comments highlighted the team’s collective desire to win for their veteran: “The whole group really wanted to win it for her.” The tears seen on both captains at the end spoke volumes—one for finally finding the freedom to succeed, the other for accepting a painful, deserved loss.
For historical analysis, player reactions, and complete coverage of this landmark tournament, visit the ultimate cricket destination: www.crickethighlights.online
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