Mithali lauds World Cup showing

The Indian women's cricket team, which finished runners-up in the World Cup in South Africa, received a rousing reception from the media in Mumbai on Wednesday.

"We are really very proud of the team. India is the first Asian country to reach the final of the women's World Cup and it is a big achievement," said Shubhangi Kulkarni, honorary secretary of the Women's Cricket Association of India.

Also see: Images from the final

"The team was very confident in the final against Australia, but somehow we could not manage to emerge victorious. But, I feel, if we had a 100 per cent fit side for the final, we would have done much better.

"Mithali Raj was not fully fit for the last two matches, but she performed very well, especially in the semi-finals against New Zealand," she added.

Mithali, who led the team, said it was a "dream come true" to play in the final.

She thanked the team management and her teammates for the support she received throughout the tournament.

"It was because of them that I managed to play the final in spite of being injured," Mithali said.

Mithali and the rest of the team members, however, said it was discouraging that the matches were not telecast in India.

Australia, she said, made special arrangements for the final to be telecast back home, but no such effort was made in India.

She also applauded the role of the bowlers, who she felt played a key role in the team's success.

"The spinners have done really well in the tournament. In fact, the top three wicket-takers in the tournament were all Indian bowlers."

Neetu David was the top wicket-taker with 20 wickets, at an astonishing average of 8.35, while Amita Sharma and Jhulan Goswami, with 14 and 13 wickets respectively, were the next best bowlers.

Mithali felt that a better bowling performance in the final overs against Australia in the summit clash could have tilted the match India's way.

India conceded 82 runs in the last ten overs, as Karen Rolton, who scored an unbeaten 107, and Lisa Sthalekar, 55, hammered the bowlers.

"We started well in the final and had restricted them for the first 30 overs. But they stuck it out well and scored lot of runs in the final few overs. Chasing a target in excess of 200 is always difficult," she added.

Asked whether the government or any sponsors have came forward with cash prizes for producing the country's best-ever finish at the World Cup, Mitali replied: "We have not received money as much as compared to the men's team.

"Money doesn't matter. We play for the country and that is a big motivation."

The men's team, which produced a similar result in the World Cup in South Africa in 2003, were showered with prizes and gifts.