The 2005 Women’s World Cup, the first edition to be hosted in South Africa, was also the last to be organised by the now-defunct International Women’s Cricket Council. As in 2000, there were eight teams in a round-robin league, followed by the knockouts.
The tournament began in anticlimactic fashion. The opening day, 22 March, featured four matches (in other words, all eight teams). All four were hit by rain roughly halfway through the day’s play. On 3 April, rain washed out all four matches in the entirety. Thankfully, these eight remained the only abandoned matches.
As was customary by now, Australia won all their remaining five matches, while India and England earned key points against them. Jhulan Goswami (4-27) and Neetu David (3-23) bowled out England for 139. Anjum Chopra and Rumeli Dhar then helped India recover from 35/3 to win by seven wickets.
Defending champions New Zealand, on the other hand, beat both India and England (Louise Milliken took 5-25 in the first match) to qualify as the second-ranked side. India and England finished third and fourth.
In the first semi-final, England collapsed to 158 against Cathryn Fitzpatrick (3-27) & co. Australia won by five wickets with three overs to spare. In the second, Mithali Raj got an unbeaten 91 to take India to 204/6. In response, New Zealand were bowled out for 158 against Amita Sharma (3-24) and Nooshin Al Khadeer (3-39).
India qualified for a Women’s World Cup final for the first time, leading to some coverage back home. However, they had little response to Karen Rolton (107*), who took Australia to 215/4. In response, four Indians were run out as they collapsed to 117, ten runs more than what Rolton had managed. Rolton was named Player of the Match as well as Player of the Tournament.
However, the Indians walked away with the bowling honours. David (20) was six wickets clear of anyone else in the tournament. The next two names on the list – Sharma (14) and Goswami (13) – were also Indians.
Semi-final: England 158 in 49.4 overs (Clare Connor 35; Cathryn Fitzpatrick 3-27) lost to Australia 159/5 in 47 overs (Belinda Clark 62; Clare Connor 1-24) by 5 wickets with 18 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Belinda Clark.
Semi-final: India 204/6 in 50 overs (Mithali Raj 91*; Rachel Pullar 4-39) beat New Zealand 164 in 43.4 overs (Maria Fahey 73; Amita Sharma 3-24) by 40 runs. Player of the Match: Mithali Raj.
Final: Australia 215/4 in 50 overs (Karen Rolton 107*; Rumeli Dhar 1-34) beat India 117 in 46 overs (Anju Jain 29; Shelley Nitschke 2-14) by 98 runs. Player of the Match: Karen Rolton.
Australia won the World Cup. Player of the Tournament: Karen Rolton.
Most runs: Charlotte Edwards (England, 280), Claire Taylor (England, 265), Karen Rolton (Australia, 246)
Most wickets: Neetu David (India, 20), Amita Sharma (India, 14), Jhulan Goswami (India, 13)