Team India opening batter Shafali Verma made an immediate impact with the ball after top-scoring in the first innings during the Women’s World Cup 2025 Final against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2.
The part-time spinner struck twice in quick succession to dismiss Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp in the middle overs of the summit clash. Drafted into the squad after Pratika Rawal’s injury, Shafali played a huge role in India posting 298 on the board after being put into bat first. She scored a sublime 87 runs off 78 deliveries and has unexpectedly headlined the show in the second innings as well.
Shafali was brought into the attack in the 21st over, as South Africa were rebuilding their run chase through skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus. With both Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma going for runs, captain Harmanpreet Kaur turned towards an unorthodox option.
In the second ball of the over, Sune Luus attempted to play across the line but was far too early in her shot. The ball stopping on the surface also did not help her case. The all-rounder could only end up lobbing the ball straight back to the bowler’s hand for a soft dismissal.
In Shafali Verma’s next over, she dismissed Marizanne Kapp off the very first delivery. She bowled a stray delivery down the leg side, which the South African all-rounder tried to glance. However, she could only get a faint edge, which was swiftly taken by wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh.
South Africa collapsed from 114-2 to 123-4 after being rattled by Shafali Verma’s twin strikes out of nowhere.
Shafali had only taken one ODI wicket prior to the IND vs SA Women’s World Cup 2025 Final. The youngster has rolled her arm over occasionally across formats in international cricket. Ahead of the final, she had 12 wickets to her name, with only one of them being in ODI cricket.
Verma had bowled 14 overs with an economy rate of 5.42 and an average of 74. Her last two bowling displays had come during India A’s unofficial Test against Australia A in August, and the fifth T20I against England in Birmingham, with both efforts ending wicketless.
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