The world order has shifted. Four-time champions England have packed their bags and mighty Australia, winners of the title a record seven times, are gone too. Come Sunday night, cricket will have new queens of the world. Whether it’s South Africa or India lifting the trophy, the balance of power has tilted, perhaps for the better.

For decades, England and Australia have ruled the women’s game with mechanical precision. Their cricket, though effective, often lacked sparkle, more substance than style. West Indies had style, in plenty, but no substance.

South Africa and India, on the other hand, bring flair to the crease. Tazmin Brits caresses the ball through covers like Kumar Sangakkara in full flow, while Harmanpreet Kaur’s inside-out drives are pure vintage Mahela Jayawardene. Their strokeplay is poetry in motion.

England had thumped South Africa by ten wickets in the group stage, and many expected a repeat in the semis. But cricket is the game of glorious uncertainties. The Proteas, skittled out for 97 against Australia earlier, regrouped under their ice-cool captain Laura Wolvaardt. Much like Arjuna Ranatunga in his pomp, she led from the front — calm amid chaos. Her majestic 169 turned the tables, setting up a target that left England shell-shocked. The English top order folded like a deck chair, losing three wickets before troubling the scorers.

Veteran Marizanne Kapp was again the heartbeat of South Africa’s effort. A tireless trier, she swung the new ball with guile and chipped in with valuable middle-order runs — including two fifties in this tournament.

There’s a certain guilty pleasure in seeing the Aussies tumble. For a nation so small, their sporting dominance often inspires envy. Unbeaten throughout the competition, they looked destined for another crown. Even after posting 339, they somehow found a way to lose. The hosts, India, chased down a World Cup record total — proof that in cricket, the ball is never dead until it crosses the rope.

Australia’s hallmark has been fielding that borders on art — not a blade of grass missed, not a chance spilled. Yet, under Bombay’s floodlights, they melted. Sitters went down, even from Alyssa Healy. Pressure, that invisible twelfth man, did the damage.

Enter Jemimah Rodrigues, India’s new darling. Dropped earlier in the tournament, she returned with a vengeance — a live wire in the field and a match-winner with the bat. For long, Smriti Mandhana stole the limelight with both grace and glamour. Now she has competition. Jemimah’s century not only floored the seven-time champions but also won Indian hearts by the millions.

Tears flowed as she thanked her parents and coach before quoting the Bible: “Just stand there and God will fight for you.” (Exodus 14:14). It was faith meeting firepower — and a moment for the ages.

Most Sri Lankans will quietly cheer for South Africa in the final. The Rainbow Nation, after years of turmoil, has become every neutral’s sentimental favourite. And they’ve got some remarkable stories too — none more inspiring than Tazmin Brits. Once a javelin gold medallist bound for the 2012 London Olympics, a car crash nearly ended her career. She fought back, traded the spear for a bat and now stands on the brink of World Cup glory.

Yet, an Indian triumph could redefine the women’s game. Remember 2007? When India’s T20 win lit the fuse for franchise cricket and sent player earnings skyrocketing. A World Cup crown for Harmanpreet’s side could do the same for women’s cricket. Love it or loathe it, India’s influence is the sport’s “necessary evil” — a force impossible to ignore.

by Rex Clementine