Australia win Women s World Cup for 6th time
18 February, 2013
Australia created Women s World Cup history on Sunday night as they won a record sixth ICC Women's World Cup title after thrashing West Indies by 114 runs in front of a vociferous crowd at the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium.
Electing to bat first, Australia posted a formidable 259/7 off its 50 overs - the highest score in a 50-over Women's World Cup final - before dismissing West Indies for just 145 runs. New Zealand's Suzie Bates was declared Player of the Tournament for her 407 runs with three half-centuries and a ton at an average of 67.83. She also took four wickets while captaining her side to a fourth place finish in the tournament. The final saw the return of Australia's Ellyse Perry, back from an ankle injury and bowling with all the aggression expected of a fast bowler, taking 3-19 in her 10 overs. Perry showed once again why she is one of the top rated bowlers in women's cricket as she took wickets in the 10th, 12th and 14th overs to have the West Indies 41/3 in the process also claiming the wicket of the dangerous West Indies all-rounder Stafanie Taylor with a spectacular caught and bowled. Once Taylor was gone, Deandra Dottin was West Indies' only hope. Dottin threatened briefly hammering two sixes as her first two scoring shots before Lisa Sthalekar dismissed the Barbados native. Sthalekar bowled beautifully to finish with 2/20 in her ten overs. Earlier, half-centuries from opener Rachael Haynes and Jess Cameron took Australia to a more than respectable 259. Haynes, who has performed well throughout the tournament, continued her merry run on a flat pitch stroking six boundaries in her 74-ball 52. Cameron was the aggressor, as she put the West Indies bowling to the sword, hammering two sixes and eight fours in a 76-ball 75. The two added 64 for the second wicket after Meg Lanning was dismissed caught at mid-off off Taylor. Lanning made 31 putting on 52 for the first wicket with Haynes in under ten overs. Cameron was later adjudged Player of the Final for her efforts. End. |
