(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette) England completed a stunning fightback to beat India by nine runs and win the Women's World Cup at an ecstatic Lord's.
Chasing 229, India looked set for victory at 191-3, but Anya Shrubsole pinned Punam Raut lbw for 86 to spark a collapse of seven wickets for 28 runs.
The seamer finished with 6-46 - the best figures in a World Cup final - as India were bowled out for 219 with eight balls unused.
Even as Shrubsole was in the middle of a stunning spell of 5-11 in 19 deliveries, India were within touching distance of the highest successful chase in a World Cup final and a first major trophy.
Fears that England may have missed their chance were raised when Jenny Gunn dropped a sitter at mid-off to reprieve Poonam Yadav.
But Shrubsole bowled Rajeshwari Gayakwad next ball to spark joyous scenes on the pitch and among the majority of fans in a sell-out crowd.
Natalie Sciver made 51 and Sarah Taylor 45 in England's 228-7, which proved enough for a fourth World Cup crown.
It ended a wait for a global trophy that went back to 2009 and vindicated the approach of coach Mark Robinson, who dispensed with former captain Charlotte Edwards after defeat in the semi-finals of the 2016 World Twenty20.
After losing the World T20 semi to Australia in India last year, Robinson criticised his team's fitness and set about making changes.
Edwards was replaced as captain and retired, with new skipper Heather Knight leading a team of players that established themselves in the international arena.
Batters Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfeld and Fran Wilson have all been integrated into the top order, Alex Hartley's left-arm spin has become integral to the attack and Sarah Taylor has returned from an anxiety-related issue.
Knight's side were beaten by India in the first game of the tournament, but steadily improved to top the eight-team group, including beating defending champions Australia.
Their thrilling semi-final victory over South Africa was front-page news, but it was nothing compared to the drama of the final in the rain at a packed, partisan and raucous Lord's.
Before the final, Shrubsole's father shared a picture on Twitter of his daughter as a nine-year-old, who said she wanted to play in a World Cup final at Lord's.
The vice-captain had already hit the winning runs in the semi-final, and, in the final, lifted England when the World Cup looked to be slipping away.
"It worked wonders for my dad's media profile," Shrubsole told BBC Sport. "He's not always the most sentimental.
"You maybe have a dream, but you never actually think these things are going to happen. For that dream to be a reality is just amazing."
Raut, who should have been stumped by Taylor on 64, was trapped lbw before Sushma Verma was bowled by Hartley without scoring.
India needed only 33 from 39 balls with five wickets in hand, but Shrubsole, charging in from the Pavilion End, was irresistible.
She removed the dangerous Veda Krishnamurthy, who top-edged a swipe to Sciver, bowled Jhulan Goswami and ran out Shikha Pandey from point.
Deepti Sharma spooned to Sciver at mid-wicket as Shrubsole completed the first five-wicket haul in a World Cup final and, after Gunn's error, Shrubsole cleaned up Gayakwad to seal victory in style. (Courtesy BBC)
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