India, Nov. 2 -- Shafali Verma tore into South Africa in a rain-delayed Women's ODI World Cup final at DY Patil to become the youngest player to score fifty in an ODI World Cup final, men's or women's. India managed to post 298 runs on the board at the end of their 50 overs because of the foundation laid by Shafali.

The 21-year-old opened the innings with swagger. She looked confident from the outset and did not get overawed by the occasion or names in the opposition, stitching a 104-run partnership with Smriti Mandhana for the opening stand.

Shafali's landmark arrives at 21 years, 278 days - a mark no player has touched in men's or women's ODI World Cup final. The management and Indian fans would have hoped for a century from her; howe...