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Shafali Verma repaid the faith shown in her by the Indian team management and selectors by breaking her three-year drought of not scoring a fifty, delivering a dazzling 87 off 78 balls in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday. Her innings, marked by seven fours and two sixes, laid the foundation of Indian innings. This innings marked Shafali’s first fifty since July 2022, when she last reached the milestone against Sri Lanka. Brought into the side as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, Shafali had failed to make an impact in the semi-final against Australia, managing just 10 off 5 balls. But on Sunday, she rose to the occasion when it mattered the most. India had a quiet start with the opening over being a maiden, but Shafali soon found her rhythm. She struck her first boundary in the second over and followed it up with another in the next, setting the tone for the innings. She showed positive intent against her Delhi Capitals teammate Marizanne Kapp, finding the gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving. Shafali forged a vital 104-run opening-wicket partnership with Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana, who broke the record for the most runs by an Indian batter in a single edition of the World Cup, was the first to fall, but the partnership had already given India a strong start. Shafali's timing and placement reflected long hours of preparation in the nets. Even when South Africa’s left-arm spinners slowed the scoring rate, she responded with a powerful six off Nadine de Klerk in the 15th over before reaching her fifty off 49 balls. She survived a scare when she was dropped by Anneke Bosch at deep mid-wicket while batting on 56, but made full use of the reprieve. Eventually, she fell short of a hundred by just 13 runs. The knock not only ended a long wait but also reaffirmed her place among India’s most explosive batters on the big stage. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Sports, Cricket and around the world.
