Australia put up a comprehensive performance to hold aloft the Women's World Cup for the fifth time at SuperSport Park, Centurion. Their success came at India's expense. India, despite a spirited show throughout the tournament, were the underdogs as Australia have been the team to beat, having raced through their matches for a place in the finals.

For India to restrict Australia, dismissing Belinda Clarke was of the essence. India were fortunate in that Amita Sharma did just that and Jhulan Goswami added the wicket of Lisa Knightley have Australia in a spot of bother at thirty-one for two. But Karen Rolton changed all that with an authoritative performance with the bat. She gained in strength and confidence as the innings progressed and registered the first century in a Women's World cup final. After the solid forty run partnership with Mel Jones, Rolton combined in a decisive 139 in company with Lisa Stahalekar for the fourth wicket to put up a challenging 215 on the board.

While India still fancied their chances, they seemed to have got an attack of nerves. There were as many as four run outs that were terribly disappointing, as coach Sudha Shah would later admit. Shelley Nitschke bowled a miserly spell and picked up two wickets, including that of the Indian skipper Mithali Raj who averaged above sixty in the tournament.

Cathryn Fitzpatrick remained the danger bowler to watch out for, but while picking up a couple of wickets herself, she proved to be at her lethal best as India slumped to sixty-four for the loss of six wickets. Apart from Anju Jain's twenty-nine at the top of the order, there was little to write home about. India's final disappointment was the fact that they were bowled out for a paltry 117 in forty-six overs, conceding a ninety-eight run defeat and with it the elusive World Cup. But it meant jubilation for Belinda Clarke and Australia who were deservedly the champions!

The champion Australian team with the World Cup.