NAVI MUMBAI: Shafali Verma's robust 87 was followed by combative knocks from Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh before South Africa rallied to limit India to an under-par 298/7 in the Women's World Cup final here on Sunday.

Deepti's run-a-ball 58 with three fours and a six and Richa (34 off 24 balls, 3x4s, 2x6s) provided the much-needed late impetus with a 47-run partnership for the sixth wicket after India's innings faltered in the middle overs with Jemimah Rodrigues (24) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20) failing to convert their starts.

A plucky South Africa seemed to have spoiled India's aim of a big first-innings total with regular strikes, aided by a pitch which slowed down and provided grip to the spinners as the contest progressed following a two-hour rain delay to the start of the ma

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