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New Delhi: Shafali Verma's aggressive 87-run knock along with Deepti Sharma's calculated 58 was the cornerstone of India's total of 298 for seven against South Africa in the Women's World Cup final in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
It is the second-highest total in a Women's World Cup final after Australia’s 356/5 against England in 2022.
India were put into bat when play started after a two-hour delay due to wet outfield at the DY Patil Stadium owing to rain.
The hosts were off to a bright start as Shafali and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (45) put on 104 for the opening wicket at a brisk rate of nearly seven runs per over.
Initially not in the Indian squad, Pratika Rawal’s injury paved the way for Shafali to get drafted into the team before their semi-final against Australia.
She managed only 10 in the last four match but made most of the opportunity to score her first ODI fifty in over three years in the final. It was her fifth ODI half century overall as her 78-ball knock was studded with seven boundaries and two sixes.
She looked set for a century but was dismissed in the 28th over with India's score at 166, enabling South Africa to stem the run-flow and claw back into the contest.
Ayabonga Khaka (3/58 from nine overs) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/47) triggered India's slide in the middle-overs to deny them from reaching the psychology-boosting 300-mark.
Khaka removed Shafali and Jemimah Rodrigues (24) in quick succession in the middle phase, while Mlaba sent back skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (20) just as her partnership with Deepti Sharma was about to bloom.
Deepti then held one side together with a steady 58 off as many balls, her 18th ODI half-century and third in the ongoing tournament, that allowed Richa Ghosh (34 from 24 balls) to plunder crucial runs towards the end of India's innings.
India 298/7; 50 overs (Shafali Verma 87, Deepti Sharma 58, Smriti Mandhana 45, Richa Ghosh 34; Ayabonga Khaka 3/58) vs South Africa.
