ICC Women's World Cup, Navi Mumbai India 298-7 (50 overs): Shafali Verma 87 (78); Khaka 3-58 South Africa 246 (45.3 overs): Wolvaardt 101 (98); Deepti Sharma 5-39 Jubilant India held their nerve under the weight of huge expectation to beat South Africa by 52 runs and clinch an historic first Women's World Cup win.

The showpiece event in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd was delayed by two hours because of rain but no overs were lost and a match for the ages played out in Navi Mumbai. The hosts batted first and posted a competitive 298-7. Opener Shafali Verma led the charge with a dynamic 87 from 78 balls, backed up by Deepti Sharma's 58, which set the Proteas their record one-day international run-chase under the highest pressure.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt scored her second successive century, a flawless 101 from 98 balls, which kept South Africa in contention at 211-6, needing 88 from the final 10 overs. But her dismissal, via a sensational juggling catch from Amanjot Kaur at deep mid-wicket off Deepti in the 42nd over, sparked India's charge to victory and even with the game finishing after midnight local time, the packed crowd stayed and roared until the very last ball.

The emotions were contrasting for South Africa, who finished 246 all out which confirmed their third successive final defeat, having lost the previous two T20 finals. Verma, who was only called up for the semi-finals after an injury to Pratika Rawal, added figures of 2-36 to her knock to also become an unlikely hero with the ball but it was Deepti, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, who ripped through the Proteas batters to finish with 5-39 as bedlam unfolded.

It completes an incredible turnaround for India, who lost three consecutive group stage games which left their semi-final hopes a little doubtful, but the scenes at the DY Patil Stadium suggested that this triumph will ignite the beginning of a new era in the women's game. With both teams vying for their first World Cup title, the pre-match talk was all about who could handle the occasion – India with the enormous amount of expectation, contrasted with whether South Africa could use the underdog tag in their favour.

With rain washing out any hopes of starting on time, it was inevitable the captain who won the toss would bowl first but the Navi Mumbai surface remained batter-friendly as it had been in India's high-scoring semi-final against Australia, exemplified by Smriti Mandhana and Verma calmly cruising to 64-0 in the powerplay. It was actually South Africa's bowlers who appeared consumed by the occasion as they bowled too wide to the openers, who reeled off the boundaries with ease, before Mandhana was caught behind off Chloe Tryon and Verma chipped Ayabonga Khaka to mid-off.

The Proteas' ground fielding was brilliant, but they were guilty of dropping five catches including a crucial drop by Anneke Bosch with Verma on 56, while Deepti was also put down on 35 and 37. Verma was visibly distraught to miss out on a World Cup century but it was a staggering knock considering the lateness of her inclusion in the side and the magnitude of the game, and its attacking nature was invaluable in taking the pressure off the tournament's poster girl, Mandhana.

Jemimah Rodrigues, the semi-final hero, fell for 24 two overs after Verma which gave South Africa a chance to regain control, but India showed impressive composure in keeping partnerships ticking over, anchored by Deepti, before Richa Ghosh's dynamic 34 from 24 balls ensured they finished with a late flourish. Though it required a record chase, there was a sense that India did not have enough to feel completely comfortable – only adding 69 in the final 10 overs for the loss of three wickets – with the context of India's semi-final chase of 339.

Though Deepti's all-round performances have been sensational all tournament, few would have predicted that Verma would also be her accomplice with the ball.