India's women's cricket team star, Shafali Verma, justified the selectors' faith and the captain's choice with a remarkable half-century in the Women's World Cup 2025 final against South Africa on Sunday. After being named as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, the opener struggled in the semi-final against Australia Women, which raised concerns about India's top-order strength for the crucial match. Nevertheless, Verma met expectations by scoring a fifty off 49 balls in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Before the semi-final against Australia Women on October 30, Shafali had not played a WODI since October 2024. She was brought in as an injury replacement for Rawal, who is India’s second-highest run-scorer in the ongoing Women's World Cup 2025. In the semi-final, she could only manage 10 runs before being dismissed. However, she made a strong comeback in the final against South Africa, hitting five fours and one six on her way to a half-century. Also Read | Watch: Sara Tendulkar in attendance at Hobart as India chasing 187 The half-century against South Africa Women in the WC 2025 final marks Shafali’s fifth in WODIs. The last time she surpassed fifty runs was in July 2022. To date, the opener has played 31 WODIs for the national team, accumulating 712 runs, with a highest score of 71 runs and an average of 24.55. Rain-Delayed Final Sets Up Historic India-South Africa Clash In the Women's World Cup 2025 final at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, South Africa Women won the toss and chose to bowl first. The match experienced a delayed start due to rain. India's top run-scorer in the Women's World Cup 2025, Smriti Mandhana, was the first batter to be dismissed, falling short of a half-century by five runs. Both India and South Africa are vying for their first-ever ODI World Cup title, as history is poised to be made with the crowning of new champions for the first time in the tournament's history.