Women's World Cup: England beat India by nine runs in thrilling final at Lord's

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.

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New England climb to the top of the world

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.

Shrubsole's dream becomes reality

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.

England inch to winning score

England opted to make first use of a used wicket, with openers Winfield and Beaumont sharing nine fours in the first 15 overs. However, England managed only the same number in the next 35.

India took pace off the ball - leg-spinner Yadav managed to bowl as slowly as 33mph - but Sciver and Taylor manouvered the ball well in a fourth-wicket partnership of 83.

When the time came to accelerate, seamer Goswami returned to have Taylor caught down the leg side and both Wilson and Sciver lbw.

England were squeezed, but the late impetus of Katherine Brunt, Gunn and Laura Marsh ensured they just about had enough.

'I never thought it would come true'

England captain Heather Knight: "I can't stop smiling. I am so proud of this group of girls. We made it hard for ourselves but I couldn't care less.

"India were batting brilliantly and put good partnerships together. We knew if we hung in and kept the rate at five or six then we would always be in the game.

"We held our nerve. Anya Shrubsole - what a hero."

Anya Shrubsole, who took 6-46: "I am lost for words. It is a dream. I never thought it would come true. To be back here as a World Cup winner is amazing.

"It is a fitting final of what was a brilliant World Cup. There was a huge amount of pressure.

"One of the great things about this team is we never give up. One defeat was never going to put us out of the World Cup but we showed a huge amount of fight and that was epitomised by today."

India skipper Mithali Raj: "It wasn't easy for England but credit to them - they kept their nerve.

"There was a time when the match was in the balance. We panicked and they came out victorious."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan sent his congratulations to Heather Knight's side

India legend Sachin Tendulkar praised both teams after a dramatic final

The stats you may have missed

• Tammy Beaumont, who made 23, was named player of the tournament after finishing as the leading run-scorer with 410, one more than Mithali Raj

• England's total was the second highest in a Women's World Cup final, bettered only by Australia's 259-7 against West Indies in 2013

• Jhulan Goswami's 3-23 are the fourth best bowling figures in a World Cup final

• Anya Shrubsole is the first player to take more than four wickets in a World Cup final; England's Nicky Shaw's 4-34 against New Zealand in 2009 were the previous best figures

• Punam Raut's 86 was the fourth highest score in a World Cup final

• England's 167-6 against New Zealand in Sydney in 2009 remains the highest successful chase in a World Cup final

India have lost both World Cup finals they have reached, in 2005 and 2017