It was so near yet so far for the West Indies women as they lost by a whopping 114 runs to their Australian counterparts in a lopsided contest in the ICC Women’s World Cup final in Mumbai, India, on Sunday.
However, Merissa Aguilleira’s side should be proud of their show as they made it to the finals after coming to India as the underdogs, but they failed to do an encore of their group match.
Jess Cameron smashed two sixes and eight fours in her 76-ball 75 as Australia posted 259-7, the highest total in the final, before dismissing the West Indies for 145 in the day-night match in Mumbai.
Shaquana Quintyne. Photo courtesy espncricinfo.com
Merissa Aguilleira (23), Deandra Dottin (22) and Kyshona Knight (21 not out) were the main scorers in a below-par batting performance by the West Indies, making their maiden appearance in the final.
Seamer Perry claimed three wickets in her opening three overs, including that of prolific run-getter Stafanie Taylor, to reduce the West Indies to 41-3.
Off-spinners Lisa Sthalekar and Erin Osborne, and seamer Megan Schutt took two wickets each for Australia, who had lost to the West Indies in the Super Sixes round.
Cameron and Rachael Haynes (52) scored half-centuries before Australia slipped from 181-3 to 209-7, but skipper Jodie Fields (36 not out) and Perry (25 not out) added a brisk 50 to help their team cross the 250-mark.
West Indies leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne, 17, was the most impressive bowler with 3-27 off 10 overs.
Cameron cracked the first six of the innings when she pulled seamer Tremayne Smartt and then completed her half-century with a second six in the same over.
Australia made a solid start after electing to bat as Haynes and Meg Lanning (31) put on 52 for the opening wicket. Haynes also added 64 for the second wicket with Cameron.
Rachael Haynes. Photo courtesy sportsmole.co.uk
“Our batting has been a downfall for us throughout this tournament. We went out there and didn’t execute well so I guess that was definitely an area,” Aguilleira said.
“I think we went out with a mission and that was to be first place but after all things happen and we didn’t play as a unit as we are accustomed to playing. So, there is so much room for improvement, we have done well but still there is a lot to be done as well,” she explained
However, the skipper also highlighted positives for her side after a dream run. “From fifth place (last time) to second place is extremely wonderful and I believe the people of the Caribbean will be pleased with us, so there is so much to be thankful for.
It is a really huge accomplishment. We have never reached a World Cup final but we are here. We had Stafanie Taylor who made 171. Deandra (Dottin), people have come to know her because of her power hitting.
“We played well and there were many positives, but as I said, there is room for improvement as well,” Aguilleira said.
Finalists Australia and West Indies together contributed a total of six players to the ICC Women’s World Cup team of the tournament which was announced with Player of the Tournament, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, named as captain.
Brief scores: Australia 259-7 in 50 overs (Jess Cameron 75, Rachael Haynes 52, Jodie Fields 36 not out, Meg Lanning 31, Ellyse Perry 25 not out; Shaquana Quintyne 3-27)
West Indies 145 all out in 43.1 overs (Merissa Aguilleira 23, Deandra Dottin 22, Kyshona Knight 21 not out; Ellyse Perry 3-19, Lisa Sthalekar 2-20, Erin Osborne 2-26, Megan Schutt 2-38)
Result: Australia win by 114 runs
ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 Team of the Tournament (in batting order): Suzie Bates (New Zealand/captain), Charlotte Edwards (England), Rachael Haynes (Australia), Stafanie Taylor (West Indies), Deandra Dottin (West Indies) Eshani Kaushalya (Sri Lanka), Jodie Fields (wicketkeeper/Australia), Katherine Brunt (England), Holly Colvin (England), Anya Shrubsole (England), Megan Schutt (Australia), 12th Player: Holly Ferling (Australia).
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