It was a night of mixed emotions for South Africa’s Proteas women as captain Laura Wolvaardt’s brilliant century wasn’t enough to steer her side to victory in the 50-over World Cup final against India at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Despite her heroics, the Proteas fell 52 runs short, bowled out for 246 in pursuit of India’s 298/7.
Wolvaardt once again led from the front with a sublime 101 off 98 balls, featuring 11 fours and a six — her second consecutive century after a match-winning 169 in the semifinal against England. Unfortunately, she received little support from the rest of the batting order, with only youngster Annerie Dercksen (35 off 37) offering meaningful resistance.
For India, it was their all-round stars Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma who turned the final in their favour. Verma top-scored with 87 off 78 balls, setting the tone with an aggressive start, while Sharma’s composed 58 off 58 anchored the back end of the innings. The pair also shone with the ball — Sharma spun through the Proteas lineup with 5/39, and Verma chipped in with 2/36, sealing a memorable home victory.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team for the campaign we’ve had,” Wolvaardt said post-match. “We played some brilliant cricket throughout, but India were outstanding today. It’s unfortunate to fall short, but we’ll grow from this as a group.”
The Proteas chase started promisingly with a 51-run opening stand between Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits (23), but momentum was lost after a mix-up led to Brits’ run-out. Quick wickets followed, with Anneke Bosch dismissed for a duck and Sune Luus (25) departing just as a partnership began to build. India’s inspired captaincy saw Verma introduced into the attack, and she struck twice in quick succession — removing Luus and the dangerous Marizanne Kapp (4).
As wickets tumbled, Wolvaardt continued to hold firm, showcasing her trademark elegance and calm under pressure. A 61-run partnership with Dercksen briefly reignited hopes, but once Sharma removed both in successive overs, the Proteas’ chase unraveled.
Earlier, India’s innings was built on a 104-run opening partnership between Verma and Smriti Mandhana (45), which laid the foundation for a strong total. Tight bowling from Ayabonga Khaka (3/58) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/47) in the death overs kept India below 300, but the damage had been done.
Despite the loss, the Proteas’ campaign will be remembered for resilience and moments of brilliance — from Wolvaardt’s world-class form to key performances from Dercksen, Khaka, and De Klerk. The team showed grit and unity throughout, proving they belong on the biggest stage.
While the dream of a first-ever World Cup title will have to wait, Wolvaardt’s leadership and the team’s progress signal a bright future ahead. The Proteas may have fallen short in the final, but they’ve earned the respect — and hearts — of fans worldwide.
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