New Delhi [India], November 3 (ANI): Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Monday congratulated the national women's team for the first-ever ICC Women's World Cup win, calling it a victory of 'spirit, grace and every girl who dared to dream.'

In a post on X, Gautam Adani said, 'Congratulations to Team India!! What a victory for Bharat and her daughters! This is not just a victory in cricket. It is a victory of spirit, of grace, of every girl who ever dared to dream.'

'Har gend pe josh, har shot mein shan, ye hai humari Team India - desh ki pehchan! Proud of Team India - fierce, fearless and forever Bharat. Jai Nari Shakti. Jai Hind,' the post added.

https://x.com/gautam_adani/status/1985172559088992570

After heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017 finals, the luck, skill-set, balance and depth favoured Team India a clinical Women in Blue overcame South Africa, the first time finalists by 52 runs to secure their first-ever World Cup title across both T20I and ODI formats. All-round performances from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma were the crowning jewels for the team in the title clash.

South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first. A century partnership between Smriti Mandhana (45 in 58 balls, with eight fours) and Shafali Verma kick-started things for India, followed by another 62-run stand between Shafali (87 in 78 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) and Jemimah Rodrigues (24 in 37 balls, with a four). India was at a fine platform of 166/2.

A 52-run stand between skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (20 in 29 balls, with two fours) and Deepti Sharma took India beyond the 200-run mark. A final flourish by Deepti (58 in 58 balls, with three fours and a six) and Richa Ghosh (34 in 24 balls, with three fours and two sixes) helped India reach 298/7 in their 50 overs.

Ayabonga Khaka (3/58) was the leading wicket-taker for SA.

During the run-chase, a fifty-run stand started things for SA, with Tazmin Brits (23 in 35 balls, with two fours and a six) being the first victim. Eventually, despite skipper Laura Wolvaardt's dominance, the golden arms of Shafali Verma (2/36) and Shree Charani reduced SA to 148/5.

Wolvaardt had a 61-run stand for the sixth-wicket with Annerie Dercksen (37 in 35 balls, with a four and two sixes), which slowly started to rebuild pressure on India. Wolvaardt (101 in 98 balls, with 11 fours and a six) continued her red-hot form, bringing up her century after having registered 169 against England in semifinal just a few days back.

However, a game-changing spell from Deepti removed both set batters and had Proteas struggling at 221/8. She became the first Indian woman with a WC final four-fer. Deepti (5/39) eventually managed to convert it into a fiver, as India made history to win their maiden WC title by bundling out SA for 246 runs. (ANI)