Summary

  • India win Women's World Cup for first time - full report

  • Tournament hosts complete victory on stroke of midnight local time

  • Deepti Sharma takes 5-39 as South Africa fall short

  • Wolvaardt hits sublime 101 but falls to juggling Amanjot catch

  • Part-time bowler Verma removes Luus & Kapp

  • India post 298-7 - Verma top-scores with 87 off 78 balls

  • Deepti hits unbeaten 58, Ghosh smashes 34 off 24

  • Khaka takes 3-58 but SA drop number of chances

Live Reporting

by Elizabeth Botcherby

  1. 'We're going to do this'

    South Africa bowler Nonkululeko Mlaba: "Earlier on it was difficult but we brought it back nicely.

    "The aim was to bowl stump to stump, I didn't want to leave the wicket. For spinners, I think I bowled really slow today and it worked for me."

    On the chase: "We're going to do this."

  2. How's stat?!

    Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    South Africa have been set 298 or more on 11 occasions previously in ODI cricket but have never chased it down. Their highest successful chase in ODI history is 275, against India in the 2022 World Cup.

  3. Thanks, Elizabeth. This all looks set up for a thrilling chase, I'll say that much.

    In a final, I'd tend to lean towards runs on the board so despite India stumbling towards the end of the innings - they were 69-3 in the last 10 overs - I think I'd just go with Harmanpreet Kaur's side.

    That said, I've seen enough of South Africa getting over the line in dramatic run-chases at this World Cup to be entirely unconvinced by own prediction...

  4. The final is looking pretty evenly poised.

    My verdict is if Laura Wolvaardt makes it through the powerplay, South Africa will lift the World Cup. If not, it's probably India's.

    How about you, Sam Drury?

  5. South Africa need 299 to win

    Ind 298-7

    Well, South Africa did an excellent job of dragging that back.

    India were 158-1 at the halfway mark, with opener Shafali Verma flying, but they've been restricted to under 300. Verma top-scored with 87 (78) while Deepti Sharma (58) also scored a half-century.

    Ayabonga Khaka (3-58) was the pick of South Africa's bowlers but they may come to rue their five dropped catches.

  6. wicket

    WICKET

    Deepti run out (Tryon/Jafta) 58 (Ind 298-7)

    The innings finishes in chaotic fashion, with Deepti Sharma run out for 58. There was a wild swing from Radha Yadav and she definitely lost her bat and then bails came off and... who knows.

    Rather sums up the second half of India's innings.

  7. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I think Richa Ghosh's timed that too well; if she strikes it goes for a six, but because she flicks it, it ends up going straight to Annerie Dercksen.

  8. wicket

    WICKET

    Ghosh c Dercksen b Khaka 34 (Ind 292-6)

    Richa Ghosh hammers one straight to Annerie Dercksen in the deep and departs for 34 (24).

    Dercksen, unlike a couple of her teammates, has been excellent in the field.

  9. dropped catch

    Dropped catch - Ghosh on 32

    Ind 286-5

    'It's her second drop of the day' - Bosch drops Ghosh on 32

    A fifth drop of the day for South Africa and it's another from Anneke Bosch. She's put down Richa Ghosh at deep mid-wicket.

    Marizanne Kapp glares in the fielder's direction. She is NOT happy.

  10. 50 runs

    50 for Deepti Sharma

    Ind 285-5

    SharmaGetty Images

    A third half-century of the tournament from Deepti Sharma - this one off 53 balls.

    Her batting has gone under the radar for India.

  11. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    There are not many women in the game who can consistently hit with the power that Richa Ghosh does.

  12. 6 runs

    Ind 283-5

    Dot. Dot. SIX. One step and over cover. Richa Ghosh - wow.

    'What a shot!' - Ghosh smashes Kapp for six

  13. How's stat?!

    Rufus Bullough
    CricViz analyst

    Great innovation from Richa Ghosh hitting that reverse sweep for four to a sweeper-less point boundary. It’s not a shot she usually deploys, having played it just six times in her ODI career.

  14. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Richa GhoshGetty Images

    This situation suits Richa Ghosh perfectly, coming in the back end of the innings and having the license to go after it. She manipulates the field so well with her shot-making.

  15. Ind 277-5

    Crunch! Another boundary for Richa Ghosh, hammering a reverse sweep for four. She has three fours and one six in her 25 (15).

    Nine off the over. Can India make it to 300?

  16. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Ridiculous shot, and the way Richa Ghosh is able to get underneath it and use that bottom hand to loft the ball is incredible.

  17. Ind 268-5

    Nadine de Klerk nails a yorker, which Richa Ghosh swings past. The ball stopped dead in front of the wicketkeeper.

    No matter. Next ball, Ghosh carves one over point for four.

  18. Phil Long
    BBC Test Match Special statistician on Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Second half of the innings, seven boundaries and two sixes. Doesn't feel a lot or enough, does it?

  19. Ffion Wynne
    BBC Sport cricket writer on BBC Radio Sports Extra

    Frustration for Ayabonga Khaka, who started the over really well. That could be the boundary that India needed to get going in the final five overs.

  20. Ind 262-5

    Ayabonga Khaka returns and concedes five singles in five balls.

    However, Richa Ghosh picks a gap in the field in the leg side and despite the best efforts of a sliding Nadine de Klerk, who has to duck under a leaping Anneke Bosch, the ball is carried into the rope.

    Nine from it.