The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australian women reign supreme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 11, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Australian women reign supreme

CENTURION, APRIL 10. Australia won its fifth women's World Cup title defeating India by 98 runs in the final at the SuperSport stadium here on Sunday.

Chasing Australia's 215 for four in 50 overs, India was bowled out for 117 in 46 overs. Australia's Karen Rolton, who remained unbeaten on 107, was adjudged Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Tournament.

The Indians ran themselves into trouble, and four of the first six women to be dismissed were run-out victims. Opener Jaya Sharma (5), Anjum Chopra (10), Rumeli Dhar (6) and Hemalata Kala (3) were caught short of the crease by the quick-footed Aussies.

Anju Jain (29) offered some resistance, before she was caught at mid-wicket off medium pacer Clea Smith. The Indian innings suffered a huge blow when in-form skipper Mithali Raj (6) was trapped leg-before by left-arm spinner Shelly Nitchke.

Tail-enders Amita Sharma (22) and Jhulan Goswami (18) delayed the inevitable, before the Aussies, who bowled with discipline, romped home in the 46th over.

Shaky start

Earlier, Australia, which opted to bat, did not have the best of starts, but finished at a healthy 215 for four. Skipper Belinda Clark (19) edged an away going delivery from Amita Sharma for wicketkeeper Anju Jain to hold on. Soon Lisa Keightley (5) was held at second slip by Rumeli Dhar, medium pacer Jhulan Goswami being the bowler. Australia had lost its openers with the score only 31.

Karen Rolton found some support in Melanie Jones (17) and the duo added 40 important runs for the third wicket during a period when a buoyant Indian attack threatened to make major inroads.

Neetu David provided India the breakthrough when Jones was adjudged leg-before attempting to sweep the left-arm spinner, but Lisa Sthalekar proved hard to dislodge. In what was a World Cup winning partnership, Rolton and Sthalekar added 139 runs in 25.3 overs.

With Rolton holding firm as well as scoring, Sthalekar (55, 75b, 2x4) nudged and pushed at the other end to keep the scoreboard ticking. During the fourth-wicket stand, Rolton (107 not out, 128b, 11x4) became only the second cricketer to score a hundred in a women's World Cup final. England's Enid Bakewell had earlier achieved the feat. This was also Rolton's sixth one-day century.

Sthalekar was eventually caught and bowled by seamer Dhar in the final over, but Australia, recovering from a bumpy start, had managed to post a challenging target in a Cup final. This also meant India had failed to cash in on the early dents its bowlers had made.

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