Potchefstroom: Poonam Raut and Mithali Raj shared an unbeaten 127-run stand as the Indian women's cricket team steamrolled their South African counterparts by eight wickets in the final of the Quadrangular Series, here on Sunday.

The much-experienced Jhulan Goswami, the record holder for most wickets in women's ODIs, and Poonam Yadav, the leg-spinner, picked up three wickets apiece as South Africa were shot out for 156 in 40.2 overs after being put in to bat.

Raut (70 not out off 92 balls) and Raj (62 not out off 79 balls) then delivered with the bat, taking their team to a comfortable win in 33 overs after a rather jittery start to the chase.

The win got sweeter considering India had lost to South Africa in the league stage once en route the final.

The other teams in the tournament were Zimbabwe and Ireland.

Captain Raj not only guided the team to a resounding win, but also became the first Indian captain to lead the side in 100 ODIs.

The tournament also turned out to be good preparation for India ahead of the World Cup, which begins in the UK next month.

Both Raut and Raj displayed top form throughout the tournament. Raut had scored an unbeaten 109 against Ireland.

Raj struck her sixth successive fifty, the joint most along with Lindsay Reeler, Charlotte Edwards and Ellyse Perry in women's ODIs.

Chasing a modest target, India lost opener Deepti Sharma and Mona Meshram cheaply before Raut and Raj completed the job in a clinical fashion.

Earlier, South Africa started poorly, losing Andrie Steyn and Trisha Chetty by the sixth over. Sune Luus, the opener, top-scored with 55. Luus, along with and Mignon du Preez, who made 30, added 73 for the third wicket to steady the innings.

Brief scores

South Africa 156 in 40.2 ovs (S. Luus 55; J. Goswami 3/22). India 160/2 in 33 overs (P. Raut 70 n.o., M. Raj 62 n.o.). India won by 8 wickets. (PTI)