NAVI MUMBAI, India :India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said it was her "gut feeling" to bowl part-time spinner Shafali Verma, which paid rich dividends as they claimed their maiden Women's World Cup title at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.

Verma's breezy 87 was crucial to India's total of 298-7 but Laura Wolvaardt led their robust reply with a stellar 101 to make sure it was far from a cakewalk for Kaur and her team.

South Africa cruised to 113-2 in 20 overs when Kaur sprang a surprise by tossing the ball to Verma, who had gone wicketless in the five ODIs she had bowled prior to this match.

The 21-year-old, who was later adjudged player of the match, responded by dismissing Sune Luus with her second delivery to break a dangerous stand and removed Marizanne Kapp in her next over to turn the

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