‘It was the toughest catch of my life’: Amanjot Kaur reflects on taking Laura Wolvaardt’s catch in Women’s World Cup final

It is a famous adage in cricketing folklore, that catches win you matches. Kapil Dev’s 1983 World Cup final catch of Sir Viv Richards and Suryakumar Yadav’s catch of David Miller in the 2024 T20 World Cup, is written in golden words in Indian cricket history.

India’s Amanjot Kaur wrote her name in the same list when she took a fine diving catch to dismiss South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt. The Proteas opener was going strongly after scoring 101 runs and her wicket was the game-changer for India while defending the target of 299.

Kaur had fumbled a bit but she was able to keep calm and completed the catch on the third grab.

“My god, it was the toughest catch of my life. I have never fumbled before — either I have taken them or spilled them. There has been nothing in between but for the first time god gave me three chances (to take it). It was a crucial catch and we knew she would attack after completing her century and charge from one end,” Amanjot said after the match.

Amanjot said skipper Harmanpreet Kaur told them to give their best before the final clash against South Africa.

“It had been more difficult for her because the highs and lows that she has seen are something that we have not. To lose by small margins is not good and she had said this time around that she does not want to lose out by a small margin, everyone will have to go all out. We were just counting the wickets and not keeping an eye on what the score was,” Amanjot said.

Furthermore, Amanjot was able to get the run out of Tazmin Brits to break a crucial South African opening partnership.