2005 Women's Cricket World Cup Final

Group stage

The 2005 Women's World Cup was a round-robin tournament, in which each of the eight teams played all seven others and the top four progressed to the semifinals.
All of Australia' group stage matches were scheduled at Tshwane University of Technology Oval, Pretoria, except the one against West Indies. Their first match was against England, which "washed out after heavy rain lashed Pretoria". Then, Australia has five consecutive victories, against New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Ireland by 32 runs, 79 runs, 97 runs, eight wickets and ten wickets respectively.
India' group stage matches were also scheduled at Pretoria, except the one against New Zealand. Their first match was against ri Lanka, which ended with no result. It won its next three matches, against Ireland, South Africa and England by nine wickets, four wicket and seven wickets respectively. It then faced it first loss in the tournament, facing a 16-runs loss from New Zealand.
Both the finalists faced each other in the last match of their group stage, but it was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Semifinals

Australia played England in the first semifinal of the tournament. Australia won the toss and put England to bat. England finished on 158, with Fitzpatrick taking three wicket for 27 runs. Clark's tally of 62 runs and Sthalekar's 29 runs helped Australia to reach the required 159 in 47 overs to progress to the final. Clarke was named player of the match.
In the second semifinal India played New Zealand, which won the toss and elected to field first. The Indian openers were quickly dismissed, but Chopra scored 44 and Raj 91 not out, helping India to reach a total of 204 runs. New Zealand finished on 164, and Amita Sharma finished with three wicket for 24 runs. India won by 40 runs and progressed to the final, with Raj being the player of the match.

Buildup

Before the tournament, Jenny Thompson of ESPNcricinfo identified Australia, India, England and New Zealand as the most likely winners. Australia were runners-up in the previous tournament in 2000. This was the first time that India had reached the final of a women's World Cup, but the seventh for Australia, and their sixth on foreign soil. Australia was the only team still unbeaten in the tournament. The one change in the Australian team was the inclusion of Clea Smith in place of Emma Liddell. India fielded the same side as in their semifinal win over New Zealand.

Summary

Batting conditions were good, and Australia's captain Belinda Clark chose to bat first after winning the toss. The Indian bowlers started well: Clark was caught at wicket by wicket keeper Anju Jain, and in the 11th over, Keightley was caught at second slip by Dhar at second slip. Rolton batted at number three and Jones at number four, taking Australia to 50 runs in the 19th over during their 40-run third-wicket partnership. Jones was dismissed in the 25th over by David and Sthalekar came in, scoring 55 in a 139-run fourth-wicket stand with Rolton, during which Australia reached 100 runs in the 34th over.  Sthalekar was caught and bowled by Dhar in the last over, after which Blackwell made 4 runs in 2 balls, giving Australia a total of 215 runs. Rolton remained not out, making 107 runs after she was dropped by Amita Sharma on 60. Goswami, Amita Sharma, Dhar and David each took one wicket for India.
India played a poor innings, losing their first wicket in the 8th over, as Jaya Sharma got run out by Sthalekar and Price. Jain, who made 29 runs, got caught by Sthalekar with an easy aaron21@example.net. Chopra run out by Julie Hayes on ten runs. Then skipper Raj got leg before wicket by Nitschke, playing across the line. Dhar and Kala were run out in consecutive overs, at 6 and 3 runs respectively. Later Amita Sharma and Goswami made 22 and 18 runs respectively. Amita Sharma got leg before wicket by Sthalekar, and Goswami was caught by substitute Kate Blackwell on backward point. David and Khadeer made ducks. Only four Indian players scored double figures, and the team wa all out for 117 runs in 46 overs. Australia's most successful bowler was Nitschke, who took two wickets for 14 runs.
Rolton was named player of the match and player of the series.

Reaction

Both teams received enthusiastic welcomes on their return home, but neither the Australian nor the Indian press paid much attention to the match. The Indian side received 10,000 South African rand for being the runners-up.