🏏ICC Women's World Cup 2025: South Africa W vs India W, FINAL🏏 - Page 12

de Klerk to Smriti, FOUR, sublime!

63 without loss, 9 overs.

Just like her idol: Shafali Verma is a huge fan of Virender Sehwag. We all know what Sehwag did the whole tournament (ODI WC) in 2011 - aim to hit the first ball for a four. Looks like Shafali has come out with an intent to dominate today. After being left out from the World Cup squad initially and then a failure against Australia in the semi-final, she sure has more than a point to prove. She looks in decent touch so far and is looking to find a boundary in the first 2 balls of an over (whenever she gets an opportunity to take strike). Not a good sign if you are a South African supporter.

STAT: India's highest score after first 10 overs in a World Cup game (where ball-by-ball data available). This pair had added 68 in this phase against the same opponent in a must-win game in Christchurch in 2022.

11th over

0 0 0 1 0 0 (1 runs)

INDW 65-0

Smriti Mandhana

27(37)

Shafali Verma

30(29)

Nadine de Klerk

2-0-6-0

Mlaba to Smriti, FOUR, oh that's too easy.

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

Just like her idol: Shafali Verma is a huge fan of Virender Sehwag. We all know what Sehwag did the whole tournament (ODI WC) in 2011 - aim to hit the first ball for a four. Looks like Shafali has come out with an intent to dominate today. After being left out from the World Cup squad initially and then a failure against Australia in the semi-final, she sure has more than a point to prove. She looks in decent touch so far and is looking to find a boundary in the first 2 balls of an over (whenever she gets an opportunity to take strike). Not a good sign if you are a South African supporter.

Chup ho jao commenters 🧿🧿

First six in this Final, by Shefali Verma.

India 87/0

Smriti, the best student of the game: The best students of the game are those who work hard on not repeating their mistakes. When India played South Africa in the group stages (in Vizag), Smriti defended a full toss against Mlaba first ball (first over after the powerplay) and got out next ball (ran down the pitch looking to hit a maximum - only to be caught at long-off). Today, Mlaba was introduced quite early as the pacers struggled for control. And when a left-arm spinner bowls to a left-hander inside the powerplay, there is always a great amount of temptation for the big hit with only 2 fielders outside the circle. Smriti, however, looked absolutely unhurried while facing Mlaba in the 8th over. Although she got a couple of leg-stump deliveries, she seemed keen on just negating it into the leg-side with soft hands. With India in the driver's seat from the onset, there is no need to take any extra risks - a lesson all the aspiring cricketers can learn from one of the game's finest - Smriti Mandhana.

Drinks break

India 92/0 after 16 overs