The Indian women's dreams of winning their first World Cup came down crashing after they suffered a comprehensive 98-run defeat against Australia in the final at Centurion on Sunday.

After Australia posted a challenging 215 for four in 50 overs after electing to bat, the Indians were never in the hunt, losing wickets at regular intervals, and were skittled out for 117 in 46 overs at the SuperSport Park.

They suffered similar fate as their male compatriots, who had lost to Australia in the men's World Cup final in almost same fashion in South Africa two years back.

This was Australia's fifth World Cup title, having missed the previous one in 2000, losing narrowly to  New Zealand [Images] in the final.

India's run chase was marred by as many as four run-outs, even though the Australians, particularly their strike bowlers, reined in the batswomen with some tight bowling.

Anju Jain top-scored with a 52-ball 29 and the next best score came from tail-ender Amita Sharma, who scored 22.

Earlier, Karen Rolton, declared 'Player of the Series' as well as the match, cracked an unbeaten century as Australia posted a challenging total.

Rolton hit a rousing 107 not out off 128 balls, with 11 fours, to pull the Australian eves out of early trouble after they were reduced to 31 for two after electing to bat.

Rolton, who was dropped on 62, was well supported by India-born New South Wales batswoman Lisa Sthalekar, who hit a 75-ball 55 with two fours.

Rolton became only the second woman ever to score a century in a World Cup final. England's [Images] Enid Bakewell achieved the feat in the inaugural edition in 1973.

Medium pacer Amita Sharma gave Mithali Raj's India the first breakthrough when she dismissed the 35-year old Aussie captain Belinda Clark, caught behind for 19 in the eighth over.

Clark was in dangerous mood as she struck three fours in her 33-ball knock before she fell to Sharma.

Bengal bowler Jhulan Goswami then had Lisa Keightley two overs later after the latter had made a subdued five off 19 balls.

But Rolton was defiant as she first added 40 runs for the third wicket with Melanie Jones (17) to steer the ship out of danger before making her assault on the Indians towards the final overs.

India had a terrible start to their run chase, losing opener Jaya Sharma in the eighth over with 14 runs on the board.

Then, after a brief period of calm, came the four run-outs that sealed their fate.

Jaya Sharma, Anjum Chopra, Rumeli Dhar and Hemlata Kala fell victim to injudicious running and some fine ground fielding by the Australians as the Indians slumped from 54 for two to 66 for six in no time.

Shelley Nitschke dealt a double-blow that hastened the end.

Scoreboard:

Australia:
B Clark c Jain b Sharma 19
L Keightley c Dhar b Goswami 5
K Rolton not out 107
M Jones lbw b David 17
L Sthalekar c and b Dhar 55
A Blackwell not out 4

Extras: (lb-2, w-2, nb-4) 8

Total: (for 4 wickets in 50 overs) 215

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-31, 3-71, 4-210

Bowling: Jhulan Goswami 9-2-45-1, Amita Sharma 10-2-39-1, Rumeli Dhar 6-0-34-1; Nooshin Al Khader 10-1-35-0, Neetu David 10-1-39-1, Deepa Marathe 5-0-21-0.

India:
A Jain c Sthalekar b Smith 29
J Sharma run out (Sthalekar/Price) 5
A Chopra run out (Hayes) 10
M Raj lbw Nitschke 6
R Dhar run out (Clark) 6
H Kala run out (Sthalekar/Rolton) 3
A Sharma lbw b Sthalekar 22
J Goswami c sub (Blackwell) b Fitzpatrick 18
D Marathe not out 7
N David b Fitzpatrick 0
N Al Khader b Nitschke 0

Extras: (b-2, lb-3, w-5, nb-1) 11

Total: (all out in 46 overs)                    117

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-39, 3-54, 4-59, 5-63, 6-64, 7-93, 8-115, 9-116.

Bowling: Fitzpatrick 8-1-23-2, Smith 10-4-20-1, Hayes 10-1-28-0, Nitschke 9-2-14-2, Rolton 5-1-9-0, Sthalekar 4-1-18-1.

Result: Australia win by 98 runs.