Cricket for women is now considered one of the most viewed sports around the world, and there have been some of the most iconic moments in sporting history during the Women’s Cricket World Cup Finals. It has produced thrilling matches and record backdrops that celebrate milestones in the game for women. These records symbolise the growth of women cricketers, their skills, and their importance on the world stage!
In this article, we take a look at some of the best records in Women’s World Cup Finals, from batting, bowling, and fielding to team records, and how they have contributed to shaping the legacy of the game.
A Glimpse into Women’s Cricket World Cup History
The 1973 Women’s Cricket World Cup was the first Cricket World Cup tournament, and it was held two years before the men’s tournament, which makes it the oldest cricket tournament held among world cups. Since that maiden event, titanic Aussie, English, New Zealand, and Indian players have battled for supremacy on the pitch. Every final has been a display of heart, tactics and nerve-shredding displays. They are not games, these finals; they are occasions when champions write their names into history in the pages of record books.
Batting Records in Women’s World Cup Finals
1. Highest Individual Score in a Final
Alyssa Healy of Australia retains one of the distinctive batting records in history. Healy scored a remarkable 170 runs off 138 balls in the 2022 Women’s World Cup Final against England. Not only did Healy’s innings lead Australia to a title, but it also became the highest individual score in any World Cup Final (men’s or women’s).
2. Most Runs in World Cup Finals Career
The remarkable consistency of Belinda Clark and Charlotte Edwards spanned a number of finals. Clark ranked among the best run-scorers in World Cup final history, and she was a pivotal run-scorer on a title-winning team in Australia.
3. Fastest Fifty in a Final
Healy’s fireworks in 2022 also featured the Australian batter raising her half-century in 55 balls, proof of how women’s cricket has changed to accommodate aggressive power-hitting.
Bowling Records in Women’s World Cup Finals
4. Best Bowling in a Final
Cathryn Fitzpatrick of Australia gave one of the best performances with the ball in a final. Fitzpatrick bowled with a good line and enough pace to cause some concern for batters, while her figures of 3/27 in the 2000 final against New Zealand were crucial in how the match unfolded.
5. Most Wickets in Career Finals
Legends of the women’s game, like Jhulan Goswami (India) and Lyn Fullston (Australia), have often stood up in knockout situations – and they have continued to pick up important wickets, despite the pressure. There is also a quirky angle here: both of Goswami’s excellent performances in the 2005 and 2017 finals produced crucial wickets for India – but the team lost in both cases!
6. Economical Bowling in High-pressure Situations
Bowling in finals can be challenging as it takes discipline. England’s bowlers, most notably Anya Shrubsole, displayed this level of discipline in the 2017 finals at Lord’s because her final figures of 6/46 dismissed India’s batting order to allow England to win its fourth World Cup title.
Fielding and Wicketkeeping Records
7. Most Catches Taken in a Final
Players like Sarah Taylor and Lisa Keightley are recognised for their quick reflexes. In a final, dropping a catch can change the course of a game altogether, and these two players have shown their ability to complete very tough chances under pressure.
8. Most Dismissals by a Wicketkeeper in a Final
Wicketkeeping in finals can be an intense position, so the pressure is always high, but Sarah Taylor has proven she has safe hands. Her stumping and catching behind the stumps in the 2017 final significantly turned the match in England’s direction.
Team Records in Women’s World Cup Finals
9. Highest Team Total in a Final
Australia amassed the grand total of 356 runs for 5 wickets against England in 2022, marking the highest team total in the history of Women’s World Cup Finals. Such figures illustrate the strength they potentially possess in their batting and, likewise, modern women’s cricket has widely adopted the practice of pushing runs aggressively.
10. Lowest Total in a Final
England, on the other hand, scored just 128 runs against New Zealand in 1993, a total which would rank amongst the lowest in Women’s World Cup Final history, reminding us that, at times, the pressure can lead to a major decline in even the strongest of sides.
11. Biggest Margin of Victory in a Final
Australia has usually taken control of finals, and their victory over England by 98 runs in 2022 ranks as the biggest winning margin in Women’s World Cup Finals in history.
12. Most Titles Won
Australia is clearly the queen of Women’s World Cups with 7 title wins (1978, 1982, 1988, 1997, 2005, 2013, and 2022). Their consistency and dominance place them with the best team in Women’s World Cup history.
Individual Legends of Women’s World Cup Finals
- Alyssa Healy (Australia) – Record-breaking 170 in 2022 final.
- Anya Shrubsole (England) – Match-winning 6/46 in the 2017 final.
- Jhulan Goswami (India) – Inspirational bowling performances in 2005 & 2017.
- Belinda Clark (Australia) – Consistent contributor across finals.
- Charlotte Edwards (England) – Led with both bat and leadership in key finals.
These players not only set records but also inspired a new generation of cricketers worldwide.
Impact of These Records on Women’s Cricket
Every Women’s World Cup Final has assisted in bringing greater attention to the sport. Alyssa Healy displayed that timing, angles, and hitting the ball could be just as exhilarating in women’s cricket as in men’s after a period where batting took a back seat. Anya Shrubsole’s bowling performance showed how pressure and skill can change a match in a single ball, and teams like Australia have provided example after example of how depth and consistency create dynasties in sport.
The finals have become aspirational moments with a global audience and encourage millions of girls to play the game of cricket by breaking its own record every time to see how much women’s cricket has evolved forward, but also backwards in other female sports.
Future of Women’s World Cup Finals
Although leagues such as the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and The Hundred have enriched the game with talent that is more skilled, fitter, and fearless, one can think any subsequent milestones and Women’s World Cup finals will naturally be higher totals and fast chases, along with a more aggressive approach to bowling. Sporting and competitive spirits will, however, remain irreplaceable regardless of any records that may change.