Enid Bakewell: A hundred in the final

England's only defeat came in a rain-affected match at Exmouth when they lost by 11 runs to New Zealand after being given a revised target of 46 to win in 15 overs.

They bounced back from that by beating Young England by 49 runs at Ilford after skipper Rachel Heyhoe-Flint scored 114.

1978

Only four teams were involved in the second World Cup in India as Australia gained their revenge over England to lift the trophy.

Both sides won their first two games against India and New Zealand prior to meeting at Hyderabad in the final game of the competition.

England were restricted to 96 for eight in their 50 overs as Sharon Tredrea took four for 25.

Australia lost two wickets at the start of their reply but Margaret Jennings made 57 not out in an unbroken stand of 94 with Janette Tredrea as they reached 100 for two with 18.3 overs to spare.

1982

The third World Cup saw a change of format with five teams playing each other three times on a league basis, with the top two going through to the final in Christchurch.

Australia played magnificent cricket to achieve 11 wins in 12 games, while seven victories was enough to see England through.

There were three ties in the group phase, two of them involving England, who made sure of their place in the final with a 113-run win over the International XI.

The final was a keenly contested affair as England made Australia fight all the way to reach a target of 152 for victory. Avril Starling took two for 21, but Australia got home of the final ball of their 59th and penultimate over.

1988

Australia completed a World Cup hat-trick on home soil as they defeated England by 8 wickets in the final at Melbourne.

Jan Brittin: 1,299 runs in 36 World Cup matches

Once again, five teams took part, with Ireland and the Netherlands making their debuts in the competition.

England, who recorded six wins in their eight games in tyhe group phase, could only muster 127 for seven in their 60 overs in the final with Jan Brittin's 48 not out out the top score.

In a repeat of the final a decade earlier, Australia lost two early wickets before Lindsay Reeler (59) and Denise Annetts (48) saw them to 129 for two in the 45th over.

1993

Australia were toppled after 15 years on top of the women's game as England beat New Zealand by 67 runs to regain the World Cup.

West Indies and Denmark were among eight sides who took part in an expanded competition, in which New Zealand cruised into the final with seven wins out of seven.

They beat England by 25 runs at Beckenham, but the hosts scored a vital 43-run victory over Australia at Guildford after Carole Hodges made 105 not out, one of five centuries by England batsmen during the tournament.

Jan Brittin (48) and Hodges (45) were the key figures as England totalled 195 for five in the final and they then bowled out the Kiwis for 128.

1997

A new look format saw 11 teams divided into two groups, with Australia, England, New Zealand and hosts India claiming places in the semi-finals.

Charlotte Edwards: Skill and endurance

The first phase saw some astonishing batting with captain Belinda Clark making 229 not out for Australia in a 363-run win over Denmark and Charlotte Edwards scoring an unbeaten 173 for England against Ireland on the same day.

Australia appeared in danger of bowing out after managing only 123 for seven in their semi-final, but Cathryn Fitzpatrick took three for 18 as India were restricted to 104 for nine in 30 overs.

The second semi saw New Zealand make 175 for six in 50 overs against England, who squandered their opportunity with four run outs as they were bowled out for 155.

Debbie Hockley launched New Zealand's innings with 79 in the final at Calcutta, but tight bowling by Australia saw them all out for 164 in 49.3 overs. Belinda Clark then scored 52 as they made 165 for five to win by 5 wickets with 3.2 overs to spare.