India beat South Africa by 52 runs to lift maiden Women's World Cup title

NAVI MUMBAI, India :India won their maiden Women's World Cup title with a 52-run victory over South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

Put into bat, the hosts rode half-centuries from Shafali Verma (87) and Deepti Sharma (58) to post 298-7 even though 350 looked well within their reach at one stage. 

Laura Wolvaardt led South Africa's reply with a captain's knock of 101 but they were all out for 246 in 45.3 overs.

Sharma claimed 5-39 in a fine all-round display on a memorable night for the hosts.

The women's 50-overs cricket was guaranteed a new champion after South Africa hammered England and India chased down a record target to eliminate defending champions Australia in the semi-finals.

With this win, India joined Australia, England and New Zealand as the only countries to have won the showpiece tournament.

Put into bat after a delayed start following intermittent drizzle, India began strongly with their left-right combination of Smriti Mandhana (45) and Verma forging an opening stand of 104 before being separated in the 18th over.

Drafted into the side ahead of the knockout stage as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, Verma raced to a 49-ball fifty.

Mandhana, India's leading scorer in the tournament, fell short of a half-century after being caught behind to Chloe Tryon's left-arm spin.

Verma, dropped on 58, looked on course for a hundred but Ayabonga Khaka (3-58) ended her 78-ball knock that included seven fours and two sixes.

Khaka struck another telling blow in her next over when she removed Jemimah Rodrigues (24), whose sensational hundred sank Australia on Thursday.

India were cruising at 200-3 in 35 overs but South Africa managed to apply the brakes with the ball to drag themselves back