MUMBAI, India (CMC)

Crippled by their chronic weak batting, West Indies failed in their bid to win the ICC Women's World Cup for the first time when they went down to five-time champions Australia by 114 runs in yesterday final at Brabourne Stadium.

Chasing a challenging 260 for victory, the Windies' batting collapsed yet again, as they tumbled to a disappointing 145 all out off 43.1 overs, to end their fairy tale run in the tournament.

Captain Merissa Aguilleira top scored with 23 and the aggressive Deandra Dottin chipped in with 22, but the batting once again failed to shine when it was most needed.

West Indies were undone by an outstanding spell from seamer Ellyse Perry who finished with three for 19 from her ten overs, while off-spinners Lisa Sthalekar (2-20) and Erin Osborne (2-26) along with pacer Megan Schutt (2-38) all weighed in with two wickets apiece.

Earlier, Jess Cameron stroked 75 from 76 balls and opener Rachael Haynes, 52, as the Aussies piled up 259 for seven from their allotted 50 overs, after they opted to bat first.

Teenaged leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne was the leading bowler with three for 31 from her ten overs.

The heavy favourites were away to a solid start with Haynes and Meg Lanning, who scored 31, posting 52 off 60 balls for the first wicket.

Haynes, an attractive left-hander, faced 74 balls and struck six fours while Lanning spent 41 balls at the crease for a similar boundary count.

The Caribbean side started their run chase solidly but slowly as Kycia Knight (17) and Natasha McLean (13) consumed 60 balls in raising 32 for the first wicket.

Perry broke the stand when she trapped the left-handed Knight lbw with one that nipped back, sparking a slide that saw the Windies lose their next two wickets for the addition of just nine runs.