After reaching the final of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup chasing a record target of 339 runs against Australia, the Indian team has raised the title hopes of the fans. Harmanpreet Kaur and her team will face South Africa in the title match. Both the teams have been trying to become world champions for the last 52 years. While the Indian team has reached the finals twice, the African team is qualifying for the first time. Fans are excited about this title match and there is competition for tickets. Some fans are confident that India will end the title drought this time given their better ODI record against South Africa.
India vs South Africa Women’s ODI head-to-head record
India and South Africa have played 34 ODIs so far, out of which India has won 20 and South Africa has won 13. Apart from this, one match has been a draw. The first ODI between the two countries was played on December 22, 1997 in Patna, where India won by 5 wickets. India won by 8 wickets in Christchurch on September 30, 2000. After this, the match held on March 7, 2002 was a draw.
The South African women’s team won its first ODI match against India on March 10, 2002. On March 13, 2002, South Africa again won by 3 wickets. In 2014, India won one match against South Africa, while losing two. In 2017, six ODIs were played between the two countries, out of which Team India won four. The next year, India won two out of three matches. If we look at the last 10 ODI matches between India and South Africa, India has won five, while South Africa has won the same number of matches. Team India has won four of its last five matches. However, India lost to South Africa in the league stage.
Why is this year’s final special?
This will be the fifth time in the Women’s ODI World Cup that the host team will play in the title match. Earlier, Australia had played the final on its own soil in 1988. England did so in 1993 and 2017, while New Zealand played the final on its home ground in 2000. The Women’s ODI World Cup started in 1973. Since then, Australia or England have participated in every ODI World Cup. This will be the first World Cup in which neither Australia nor England will be in the final. Additionally, South Africa, both men and women, have reached the final of the ODI World Cup for the first time.