Laura Wolvaardt says the pressure of a home crowd could play into the Proteas Women’s hands when they face India in the Women’s ODI World Cup final in Mumbai on Sunday.

The Proteas captain, who has led her side to their first-ever appearance in a women’s 50-over World Cup final, believes the expectation on hosts India could be a double-edged sword.

“I think with the whole crowd behind India, probably a sold-out stadium, it’s going to be a very exciting opportunity,” said Wolvaardt. “But at the same time, I think it puts a lot of pressure on them as well. So yeah, I think it sort of plays in our favour, hopefully.”

South Africa booked their spot in the decider with a memorable win over four-time champions England, while India beat seven-time winners Australia in a thrilling semi-final.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said victory on Sunday could be a defining moment for women’s cricket in her country.

“Last time when we reached the final and came back to India, we saw a big change,” Kaur said. “Women’s cricket moved ahead and we saw many girls on the ground. So I am sure that if we win this final, we will see many more changes and we will see more cricket, not only on the international level but also on the domestic level.”

India, who have twice finished runners-up, will be chasing a maiden title on home soil, while South Africa hope to lift the trophy for the first time in the competition’s 52-year history.

“It’s a proud moment for me and the entire team,” Kaur added. “I am sure the entire country must be proud of the way we have played the last two games. It’s a big day.”

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