The final of the World Cup was won by India in what looked to be an easy victory, but really wasn’t. Batting first on a docile wicket, the home side fell just shy of 300. Would this be enough? India had chased down Australia’s 338 in the semi-final, after all. Their innings was a team effort, led by Shafali Verma, who was only playing because of the injury to Pratika Rawal. Overjoyed to be given a second chance at 50-over cricket, she managed 87 from 78, with two sixes and seven fours. Her partnership with Mandhana at the top was worth 104 at a run a ball. Yet South Africa had not come all this way just to throw in the towel. The fielders flung themselves around the sward, and the bowlers did not give an inch. Wickets fell at intervals, but it was only when Deepti Sharma and Richa Gosh came together that the innings regained impetus. Deepti came in at no.5 and maanged a run-a-ball 58, while Richa muscled the ball around the park for a belligerent 34.
Special mention should go to Ayabonga Khaka, whose first three overs had cost 29. She had been trying too hard to swing the ball where none was available. Her later spells of six overs produced 3/29. She adjusted her length and tried to bowl stump to stump. Nonkululeko Mlaba also put the brakes on with ten tight overs for the wicket of the Indian captain. In reply South Africa left nothing to chance. Could their gallant captain back up after her devastating assault in the semi-final? Indeed she could. Wolvaardt completed another century, and at 6/220 from 41 the visitors were still well in it. Alas, she lost her wicket to Sharma’s deceitful off-breaks, and the innings folded thereafter.
South Africa did everything possible to win this match, and can hold their heads high in the bitterness of defeat. Amanjot and Radha’s overs were put to the sword, and Harmanpreet was forced to dig deeper than she might have expected. The seventh bowler called upon was Shafali herself. After her exhilarating innings she was probably still walking on air; and her seven overs contrived 2/36. She was named Player of the Match, and with some justice.
But the real architect of victory was Deepti Sharma, later named Player of the Series, and rightly so. A hard-hitting fifty, and five wickets? She could hardly have done more. Overall, she added 215 hard-hit runs to her 22 wickets, and more than once turned the tide in favour of victory. Her bowling is not characterised by either severe turn, or teasing flight. Where she excels in outfoxing the batsman at the other end. Better than any other player in women’s cricket, she understands that placing the ball where the batsman least wants or expects it is the key. The other crucial factor was India’s depth. This has always been the secret of Australia’s dominance of the summer game. And what a replacement Shafali Verma turned out to be!
India’s steel was also hardened by their ongoing near-death experiences. They lost three matches in a row and almost didn’t qualify. Yet when it really mattered, they turned up the heat and triumphed. For those unconvinced of the value of sport, we offer the following observation. India has never been exactly famous for its feminist credentials, although the same might also be said of many other nations. But the grandstands were filled – especially during the two finals – with Indian families. Men, women and children all watching, exalted, as the women in blue stormed to victory. One imagines that India’s women will walk taller hereafter.