Nelly Williams goes for a big hit against Australia

Indeed, coach Ann Browne-John says raising money to organise international matches will still be a massive challenge.

The Caribbean side came through World Cup qualifying to record victories over Sri Lanka and Ireland at the tournament in South Africa.

A one-run defeat by the hosts and an encouraging performance against favourites Australia also offered encouragment.

Finishing fifth means they will not have to go through the qualifying process again for the next World Cup.

All this is remarkable considering the fact that they only just scraped together enough cash to go to the tournament.

And in recent years they have been starved of competitive action against the leading nations.

"When we were coming here we were not sure what to expect. We played last year against India but we haven't played the other teams," Browne-John told BBC Sport.

"Although we have not been able to test ourselves on the international stage we have been making progress."

We have to make sure the ICC give us the same consideration as the men's teams Ann Browne-John

But while the West Indies women have made strides on the field, they remain poor cousins to their male counterparts off it.

"When we qualified for the World Cup, I thought we were over the major hurdle and would have had sponsors willing to come on board," Browne-John explained.

"But that did not happen. Sponsors are still not ready to put money into women's cricket.

"They see this clamour in men's cricket and that's what they go for but if we are to raise standards and the profile of women's cricket, we must have sponsorship."

Changes are afoot in the administration of the women's game.

The sport's world governing body - the International Cricket Council has taken over its running from the IWCC.

Juliana Nero was the star with the bat, averaging almost 50

An ICC advisory committee, on which Browne-John will sit, will oversee major developments from now on.

And the West Indies coach says it is an opportunity for her sport to sell itself better.

"A couple of years ago people weren't following women's football but now women's footballs are household names because they marketed the sport," she added.

"We have to do that too. Sponsorship would help to raise our profile but we need to do some work too.

"Cricket was one of the few sports which had separate bodies but we hope this will assist us in getting recognition and funding.

"We will do what we can to promote women's cricket and make sure the ICC doesn't see us as somebody just tagging along but a vibrant part of the ogranisation that they have to give the same consideration as they do to the men's teams."