MUMBAI, Feb 17 (PTI): 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 here today.
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.
The previous best was 215 for four by the same side in 2005 against India.
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.
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.
SCORECARD
Australia: Meghann Lanning c Kyshona b Taylor 31, Rachael Haynes c Kyshona b Qunityne 52, Jessica Cameron c Kyshona b Daley 75, Alexandra Blackwell c Aguilleira b Smartt 3, Lisa Sthalekar c Campbelle b Qunityne 12, Sarah Coyte c Daley b Qunityne 7, Jodie Fields not out 36, Erin Osborne c Qunityne b Mohammed 7, Elysse Perry not out 25. Extras: (LB-3, NB-4, W-4) 11. Total: (for 7 wkts in 50 overs) 259. Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-116, 3-126, 4-181, 5-187, 6-190, 7-209. Bowling: Shanel Daley 10-0-43-1, Tremayne Smartt 5-0-43-1, Stafanie Taylor 9-1-44-1, Shaquana Qunityne 10-1-27-3, Anisa Mohammed 10-0-61-1, Kyshona Knight 3-0-23-0, Shemaine Campbelle 3-0-15-0.
West Indies: Kycia A Knight lbw b Perry 17, NY McLean lbw b Perry 13, SR Taylor c & b Perry 5, Kyshona A Knight not out 21, MR Aguilleira b Sthalekar 23, DJS Dottin b Sthalekar 22, SA Campbelle c Lanning b Schutt 11, SF Daley c & b Schutt 2, SL Quintyne c Blackwell b Osborne 2, A Mohammed c Schutt b Osborne 14, TD Smartt c Sthalekar b Hunter 0. Extras: (b1, lb8, w6) 15. Total: (all out; 43.1 overs) 145. Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-38, 3-41, 4-88, 5-109, 6-109, 7-114, 8-114, 9-141, 10-145. Bowling: ML Schutt 10-2-38-2, JL Hunter 4.1-0-18-1, LC Sthalekar 10-3-20-2, EA Perry 10-3-19-3, EA Osborne 7-2-26-2, SJ Coyte 2-0-15-0.
