India runners-up in Women's World CupWorld Cup Finals 
April 10 2005
Karen Rolton became only the second player to make a century in a Women's World Cup final as Australia outclassed India by 98 runs to win the trophy. Rolton hit 11 fours in her 107 not out off 138 balls at Centurion Park.
She put on 139 for the fourth wicket with Indian-born Lisa Sthalekar, who was caught and bowled in the final over of Australia's innings for 55.
Four run outs wrecked India's hopes and Cathryn Fitzpatrick picked up two late wickets as they were all out for 117.
Women's World Cup final, Supersport Park, Centurion: Australia 215-4 (50 overs) beat India 117 (46 overs) by 98 runs
Score Board
India upset holders in Women's World Semi; to face Australia in Final
April 7 2005
India reached the Women's World Cup final for the first time as captain Mithali Raj inspired them to a 40-run victory over holders New Zealand.
Rachel Pullar took 4-39 for the Kiwis but India reached 204-6 thanks to Raj's 91 not out, which included nine fours.
New Zealand slumped to 37-4 in reply and although Maria Fahey battled to an unbeaten 73, they were all out for 164.
Women's World Cup semi-final, Potchefstroom: India 204-6 (50 overs) beat New Zealand 164 (43.3 overs) by 40 runs
India to face World Champs in Semi today
April 6, 2005
Captain Mithali Raj believes India are poised to beat New Zealand and advance to the final of the Women's World Cup for the first time. "We lost to them in a group match but the girls are very confident this time," Raj told BBC Sport ahead of Thursday's semi at Potchefstroom.
"We have the world's best spinners and they will play an important role." The final between the winners of this match and Australia takes place on Sunday at Centurion.
Australia in Final
April 6, 2005
Riding on the 62-run knock of skipper Belinda Clarke
Australia moved into the final of the Women's Cricket World Cup after defeating arch-rivals
England by five wickets at the Supersport Park in Pretoria.
Australia reached the victory target of 159 for loss of five wickets in 47 overs after England, put in to bat by Clarke, were bundled out in 49.4 overs.
India progress to last four
April 2, 2005
India moved into the Women's World Cup semi-finals with a comfortable victory over
West Indies at Harlequins.
They bowled out their opponents for 135 and then cruised to 139-2 in reply as Anju Jain hit 68 not out.
It was even easier for favourites
Australia, who took only 14 overs to reach 68-0 after restricting
Ireland to 66-8 in a full 50 overs.
The omens did not look good for
Sri Lanka as their top three batters departed for ducks against the tournament hosts. Fernando carried her bat to the end of the innings for 78 not out.
South Africa faced a target of 159 but they collapsed to 126 all out as de Alwis took 3-19.
England women outplayed by India
March 28, 2005
England suffered their first setback of the Women's World Cup as Anjum Chopra and Rumeli Dhar steered
India to a seven-wicket win at the Laudium Oval.
Chasing a modest target of 140, India reached 141-3 in the 46th over with Chopra 64 not out and Dhar on 42. Jhulan Goswami (4-27) and Neetu David (3-23) had earlier played the leading roles as England were all out for 139.
Scores: India 141-3 (45.5 overs) beat England 139 (49.3 overs) by seven wickets.
Indian Women beat South Africa
March 26, 2005
Spinners Deepa Marathe and Neetu David claimed six wickets between them for just nine runs as
India defeated
South Africa by four wickets in Women's Cricket World Cup match at the Technikon grounds in Pretoria.
Player of the match Marathe claimed four wickets in her six overs while giving away just one run in the bargain while David returned with figures of 2 for eight as India skittled out the hosts for 80 runs in 34.3 overs.
In other matches,
Sri Lanka lost to
New Zealand by seven wickets. Sri Lanka scored just 58 in 34.3 overs which the defending champions overhauled in 18.4 overs.
England continued their winning ways too when they trounced
Ireland by 128 runs. England scored 221 for six in their 50 overs, and then managed to restrict Ireland to 93 for eight.
At Rustenberg near Pretoria,
Australia defeated
West Indies by 79 runs.
Eighth Women's Cricket World Cup
March 21, 2005
The IWCC Women's Cricket World Cup will take place in South Africa from 22 March to 10 April 2005.
The holders, New Zealand, will have to overcome Australia, England, India, Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies to retain the title they won on home soil in 2000.
This will be the eighth Women's Cricket World Cup. Aside from New Zealand, only Australia (1977, 1982, 1988 and 1997) and England (1973 and 1993) have lifted the trophy. In the 2005 competition eight teams will play each other once in a round-robin format before the top teams progress semi-finals and a final.
In Picture: Belinda Clark of Australia and Clare Connor of England shake hands ahead of the opening game of the eighth IWCC World Cup at the Technikon Oval in Pretoria, South Africa.
Mithali Raj to lead India in WC
March 02, 2005
Mithali Raj was named the captain of the Indian women's cricket team for next month's World Cup as Women's Cricket Association of India announced a 14-member squad for the mega event to be held in South Africa.
Mithali took over the reins of captaincy from Karnataka's Mamta Maben, WCAI secretary Shubangi Kulkarni said in a release adding the team would be coached by former captain and all rounder Sudha Shah of Tamil Nadu.
India squad: Mithali Raj (captain), Jaya Sharma, Hemalata Kala, Neetu David, Nooshin Al Khadeer, Amita Sharma, Deepa Marathe, Rumali Dhar, Arundhati Kirkire, Anju Jain, Jhulan Goswami, Anjum Chopra, Karuna Jain, Reema Malhotra.
On the 1st Day of the 2nd Test, India versus Australia, in March 2001, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Harbhajan Singh achieved what no other Indian cricketer had ever done - he snared a magnificent Hat Trick. 
