Australia clinch women’s World Cup
Australia crowned world champions for a sixth time as an outstanding Ellyse Perry inspires 114-win over the West Indies.
Ellyse Perry took three wickets and Jess Cameron scored a half-century to help Australia clinch the women’s World Cup for the sixth time with a 114-run win over the West Indies in the final on Sunday.
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.
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, who also represented her country in the women’s World Cup football, got three wickets in her opening three overs, including that of prolific run-getter Stafanie Taylor, to reduce the West Indies to 41-3.
The 22-year-old Perry, returning to the side after missing the Super Sixes round due to an injury, finished with 3-19 off 10 overs.
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.