K. Annamalai, the vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu, commended the impressive performance of the South African team in the ICC Women’s World Cup. The Proteas emerged as the runners-up on Sunday as they faced a 52-run defeat against Harmanpreet Kaur’s India in a thrilling final at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, witnessed by a packed audience.
Opting to field first, South Africa managed to restrict India to 298 for seven before being all out for 246 in 45.3 overs. Annamalai observed that in sports, there can only be one victor, with minute differences separating two exceptional teams at the elite level.
Highlighting the achievements of the South African women’s team in professional cricket over the past 12 years, Annamalai described their journey as remarkable. Despite previous setbacks in major tournaments, including losses in the T20 World Cup final to Australia in 2023 and a defeat to New Zealand in Dubai the following year, the 2025 World Cup marked their inaugural appearance in an ODI final, where they fell short against India.
Recognizing the resilience and determination of the South African team, Annamalai praised their ability to bounce back from low scores in the World Cup and secure a spot in the final after a dominant semifinal performance against England. He particularly lauded South African captain Laura Wolvaardt for her exceptional performance as the leading run-scorer of the tournament, setting a new record for the most runs in a single Women’s World Cup edition with consecutive centuries in the semifinal and final matches.
Commending Wolvaardt’s leadership and sportsmanship throughout the tournament, Annamalai congratulated her on a stellar World Cup campaign. Despite a challenging start with a heavy defeat against England, South Africa showcased their resilience by staging a remarkable comeback to reach the semi-finals and eventually the final, where they displayed commendable determination and fighting spirit.