India Wins Women's Cricket World Cup for the First Time

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Warm-up Questions: (1) What do you know about India? (2) Have you watched a cricket match?

India women's cricket team celebrates with the World Cup trophy as gold confetti falls.
India's players lift the World Cup trophy in a shower of gold confetti.

India is celebrating its first Women's Cricket World Cup win with fans across India. The team beat South Africa by 52 runs on Sunday in front of home supporters.

Cricket is the favorite sport for many of India's 1.4 billion people. It is part of family life and brings hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

This victory lets women in India share more of that success and pride. It is the first new champion since 2000. Many people hope it will open more doors for women in public life.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the team calmly. Deepti Sharma scored 58 runs and took important wickets. Shafali Verma, who replaced injured Pratika Rawal, added two wickets. She was named player of the match. The team lifted the trophy together.

Fans filled the stadium with crowds of more than 35,000 for both the semifinal and the final. Even more people watched online, with the main TV app counting over 300 million views of the final.

India was the last of four teams to qualify for the semifinals. The team then defeated seven-time champion Australia, while South Africa made its first final after beating England.

Families across India waved flags and sang. The cricket board wrote C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S on social media to mark the historic win.

Published:

Sources: edition.cnn.com, nytimes.com

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Audio

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Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

India is (1) __________ its first Women's Cricket World Cup win with fans across India. The team beat South Africa by 52 runs on Sunday in front of home supporters.

Cricket is the (2) __________ sport for many of India's 1.4 billion people. It is part of family life and brings hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

This victory lets (3) __________ in India share more of that success and pride. It is the first new champion since 2000. Many people hope it will open more doors for women in public life.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the team calmly. Deepti Sharma scored 58 runs and took important (4) __________. Shafali Verma, who replaced injured Pratika Rawal, added two wickets. She was named player of the match. The team lifted the trophy together.

Fans filled the stadium with crowds of more than 35,000 for both the semifinal and the final. Even more people watched online, with the main TV app counting over 300 million (5) __________ of the final.

India was the last of four teams to qualify for the semifinals. The team then defeated seven-time champion Australia, while South Africa made its first final after beating England.

Families across India waved flags and sang. The cricket board wrote C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S on social media to mark the historic win.

Comprehension

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click Check Answers to see your results.

  • India beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final.
    India won the final by 52 runs.
  • Pratika Rawal was the player of the match.
    Shafali Verma was the player of the match.
  • More than 35,000 fans went to both the semifinal and the final.
    Both games had crowds of over 35,000.
  • South Africa had already won the World Cup before this final.
    South Africa reached its first final.

Comprehension

1. India beat South Africa by 52 runs in the final. TRUE/FALSE

2. Pratika Rawal was the player of the match. TRUE/FALSE

3. More than 35,000 fans went to both the semifinal and the final. TRUE/FALSE

4. South Africa had already won the World Cup before this final. TRUE/FALSE

Vocabulary n = noun, v = verb, adj = adjective, adv = adverb, prep = preposition, phr. v = phrasal verb, pl = plural

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocabulary

Match each vocabulary word with a definition:

1. Trophy (n)

2. Tournament (n)

3. Wicket (n)

4. Semifinal (n)

5. Champion (n)

6. Qualify (v)

7. Crowd (n)

8. View (n)

a) A time someone watches a video or show.

b) A large group of people together.

c) To earn the right to join the next round.

d) The player or team that wins first place.

e) A game before the final game.

f) A way to get a batter out in cricket.

g) A series of games to find the best team.

h) A special cup or prize you get when you win.

Discussion

  1. Do you play sports? Do you watch sports?
  2. Do you want to try playing cricket? Why or why not?
  3. What sports do women play in your country?
  4. Did your country win any big sports games? How did you feel?
  5. What makes a good team captain?
  6. Is this World Cup win good for young girls in India?
  7. Do you watch games at the stadium or on your phone?
  8. Is cricket like baseball? How are they different?

Answers

Listening:

  1. celebrating
  2. favorite
  3. women
  4. wickets
  5. views

Comprehension:

  1. True. India won the final by 52 runs.
  2. False. Shafali Verma was the player of the match.
  3. True. Both games had crowds of over 35,000.
  4. False. South Africa reached its first final.

Vocabulary:

  1. Trophy (n): A special cup or prize you get when you win.

  2. Tournament (n): A series of games to find the best team.

  3. Wicket (n): A way to get a batter out in cricket.

  4. Semifinal (n): A game before the final game.

  5. Champion (n): The player or team that wins first place.

  6. Qualify (v): To earn the right to join the next round.

  7. Crowd (n): A large group of people together.

  8. View (n): A time someone watches a video or show.

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