In a thrilling encounter during the 2025 Women’s World Cup final, South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk made a remarkable one-handed catch to dismiss Indian batter Amanjot Kaur. However, in the process, she accidentally struck her teammate, Deepti Sharma, on the back of the head. Kaur misjudged a slower ball and offered a simple catch to de Klerk, who executed the catch brilliantly while narrowly avoiding a collision with Sharma.
India’s Strong Start
Despite facing setbacks, Team India began the final with a vigorous approach. The opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana set a solid foundation. They forged a remarkable 104-run stand, which was pivotal to India’s innings.
- Shafali Verma: Top-scored with an impressive 87 runs off 78 balls, marking her highest ODI score.
- Smriti Mandhana: Scored a commendable 52 runs before falling to a delivery from Chloe Tryon.
Middle Order Struggles
After the strong opening, India encountered difficulties as they lost quick wickets. Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma steadied the innings for a time. However, the partnership was broken by Nonkululeko Mlaba in the 39th over, who bowled Kaur and shifted momentum towards South Africa.
- Harmanpreet Kaur: Contributed significantly with a vital innings before her dismissal.
- Jemimah Rodrigues: Attempted to rebuild but was dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka shortly after her arrival.
Key Moments in the Match
Shafali Verma’s return to form, characterized by her first ODI fifty in three years, has been a highlight for India in this match. As India pushes for a commanding total, they hope to set a challenging target for South Africa in their quest for victory.
With both teams displaying skill and determination, the final promises to be an exhilarating showdown at the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
