LONDON: England beat India by nine runs to win the Women’s World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday.
India, set 229 for victory, were on course at 191 for three but Punam Raut’s dismissal for 86 sparked a dramatic collapse.
Anya Shrubsole took five wickets for 11 runs in 19 deliveries as India slumped to 219 all out with eight balls to spare.
India lost their last seven wickets for 28 runs, with pace bowler Shrubsole finishing with six for 46 in 9.4 overs.
Earlier, India held England to 228 for seven with veteran pace bowler Jhulan Goswami enjoying an excellent return of three for 23 in 10 overs in an innings where Nat Sciver’s 51 was the top score.
The 34-year-old pace bowler, in what could well be her last chance to help India win an inaugural World Cup title, enjoyed a superb return of three for 23 in her maximum 10 overs, including two wickets in two balls.
Her haul included the dismissals of star batsman Sarah Taylor (45) and top-scorer Nat Sciver (51).
England, who saw captain Heather Knight bat first on an overcast morning, were in a dire position at 164 for six in the 38th over.
But their tailenders kept them in the game by batting out the full 50 overs and ensuring India would at least have to chase a total in excess of 200 in front of a full house of some 26,500.
Jenny Gunn (25 not out) and Laura Marsh (14 not out) added an unbroken 32 in 25 balls.
England made a steady start against an India side who had beaten them by 35 runs in their opening pool match in Derby on June 24.
But from 47 for none, they lost three wickets in quick succession to be 63 for three in the 17th over, with leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (two for 36) taking two for one in five balls.
Lauren Winfield (24) was bowled round her legs trying to sweep left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad before Yadav saw England’s other opener Tammy Beaumont (23) hole out to Goswami at deep midwicket. — AFP
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