Rolton stars as 5th Cup won

So yet again we see an Australian side on top of the world, courtesy this time of a great fightback lead by Player of the Tournament Karen Rolton.

The South Australian compiled a superbly-timed unbeaten 107 as Australia were made to work after a great start for the underdogs.

For a long time the Indian bowlers restricted the Australian batting, and with 3 wickets falling as well, they had every reason to be pleased with their first 25 overs work, Australia have ground their way to only 71-3 when the bowling start of the Tournament, Neetu David, picked up her 20th wicket in just 8 games to remove Melanie Jones for 17 right at the end of that over.

From that point on though it was one-way traffic as Rolton was joined by Lisa Sthalekar in a match-winning stand of 139 in 147 balls. They had started fairly circumspectly, taking 73 balls over the first 50, before upping the pace to add the next 50 in 52 balls and the last 39 in only 22 before Sthalekar was dismissed in the last over for a crucial 55 from 75 balls.

That partnership set up a total of 215-4, but in truth India never looked likely to get close as a series of no fewer than 4 run outs, coupled with some superbly tight bowling, saw them collapse to 64-6 in the 25th over.

All the bowlers were tight, and there was no let up, although Amita Sharma and Jhulan Goswami did effect a mini-revival to 115-7 before the return of Cathryn Fitzpatrick saw a rapid end to the innings and a Tournament that has in all honesty been dominated by the victorious side.

AUSTRALIA 215-4
Rolton 107*(128), Sthalekar 55(75)
INDIA 117
Nitschke 2-14(9), Fitzpatrick 2-23(8), Smith 1-20(10), Hayes 0-28(10)