Australia clinched their sixth Women's World
Cup title after they comfortably defeated the West Indies by a huge margin of
114 runs in the final at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday, February 17, 2013.
Needing 260 to win, the Caribbeans were bundled
out for 145 runs in 43.1 overs, miserably failing to recover from Elysse
Perry's early three-wicket burst. Batting first, Australia rode on Jessica
Cameron's quick-fire 75 and a half-century by Rachael Haynes to post a
challenging 259 for seven.
Cameron's almost run-a-ball knock, which was studded with eight fours and two
sixes, coupled with some lacklustre fielding by the Windies, allowed the
five-time champions to record the highest ever total in a Women's World Cup
final.
Australian pace spearhead Perry, who was back in the side after suffering an
ankle injury, ripped through the West Indies top-order and had them reeling at
41 for three.
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| Australian Women Team with Trophy |
The pacer struggled to get her run up right twice
for her first delivery but drew first blood when she trapped Kycia Knight leg
before in the last ball of her first over.
She then struck in her second and third over to
get rid off Stafanie Taylor and opener Natasha Mclean. Perry, who thought she
had dismissed Taylor in the first ball of her second over when the ball just
bounced before carrying to first slip fielder Meghann Lanning, struck three
balls later.
Perry's figures after her first three overs read 3-2-2-3, and her devastating
first spell ended with three wickets for eight runs in six overs.
She was introduced two overs later when Deandra
Dottin, known for her hitting prowess, was batting after Kyshona Knight retired
hurt.
Offie Lisa Sthalekar castled captain Merissa
Aguilleira (23) to break the fourth wicket partnership of 47 runs.
Aguilleira had hit two fours and a six in her
brief knock. Dottin, who hit a four a two sixes in her 28-ball 22, was also
bowled by the all-rounder.
After being reduced to 109 for five, things
nosedived for the West Indies as they soon found themselves reeling at 114 for
eight. Anisa Mohammed tried hard to fight back and shared a 27-run partnership
for the ninth wicket.
Megan Schutt, who was the joint wicket taker
earlier, became the bowler with most dismissals in the tournament with 15
wickets, after picking up two in the final.
Australia took home a prize money of US$ 75,000
along with the distinction of being the top ranked team in the world, while
runners up West Indies received US$ 30,000.
Electing to bat, openers Meghann Lanning and
Haynes provided a good start to Australia, putting on a 52-run stand, with the
former being more aggressive of the two, striking six fours during her 31 off
41 balls. The right-hander perished at mid-off in the last ball of the 10th
over.
Left-hander Haynes, who later forged a 64-run
stand with Cameron, notched up 52 off 74 balls. Her 88-minute knock fetched her
six boundaries.
The Caribbeans, who were otherwise sloppy on the
field, managed to hold onto the catches at least. After sending back Haynes,
the West Indies were quick to take the wicket of Alexandra Blackwell (3), who
was playing her 100th ODI.
Australia, however, did not let West Indies take
an upper hand as Cameron and Lisa Sthalekar consolidated the innings with a
55-run stand for the fourth wicket. Just as it seemed that the two were set for
a long haul, Cameron was dismissed.
Australia, who had been cruising along, had a few
hiccups as West Indies struck twice to dismiss Sthalekar and Sarah Coyte (7) to
reduce them to 190 for six.
The Aussies couldn't utilise the power play overs,
scoring only 15 runs, while losing three wickets. A late attack from Jodie
Fields (36) and Perry (25) helped the side to reach a challenging total.
For the West Indies, Shaquana Quintyne was the
pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 27.
