Navi Mumbai, Nov 2 (NationPress) Laura Wolvaardt, the captain of South Africa, won the toss and chose to bowl first against India in the final match of the ICC Women's ODI World Cup held at the DY Patil Sports Academy today.

The toss was delayed by two hours due to rain that affected the stadium since the afternoon, but fortunately, no overs were lost.

Both teams entered the final with the same playing XIs they had in their respective semifinals.

Wolvaardt noted that the pitch appears favorable for chasing. The early conditions were slightly damp, and she hoped her new-ball bowlers would find their lengths quickly. "With some rain in the area, it seems like a good day to chase later with some movement on offer. The surface looks solid, and we're optimistic about achieving some swing early on with the rain we've experienced over the last few hours. Overall, it looks like a great wicket," she stated.

"This is a significant match for us, but we are thrilled. It’s a unique experience playing in front of such an audience, and we aim to relish every moment," she added.

On the other hand, India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed that she would have preferred to bowl first given the weather. However, she believes batting first could be advantageous as they can play more freely. "We would have bowled first too, considering the conditions. But it’s a crucial game, and it feels like we’ve found our rhythm again. We hope to bat openly and set a strong total," she mentioned.

While she acknowledged the pitch was a bit sticky from the rain, she does not foresee major issues due to the wet ball. "The outfield is slightly damp too, but I believe it will settle down nicely after five or six overs. We'll focus on maintaining our intent, positivity, and sticking to our plans," she added.

Both India and South Africa are vying for a historic title, as neither has won it before. India has a slight advantage, having reached the final twice before (in 2005 and 2017), and they will benefit from the support of a large crowd. They have also played three matches at this venue, while this marks South Africa's first appearance in Navi Mumbai during this World Cup.

Playing XIs:

India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba