ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - Columns

Isa Guha on being a world champion

Sunday, March 22, 2009 3:41:45 AM

Winning a World Cup Final is a truly incredible feeling and the scale of our achievement hasn’t yet sunk in properly.

The win is reward for four years of hard work, most of it away from the cricket field, and makes all the training sessions that we have been through seem all worthwhile.

It got a bit closer than we would have liked in the end and all the scenarios that we have practiced in chasing down targets could never ever recreate the pressure of playing in a World Cup Final.

Even though I didn’t bowl that well, it was an amazing feeling to take a wicket in the final.

I am so proud of everybody in the squad, but Nicky Shaw in particular was an absolute legend today. To come in at the last minute and bowl as well as she did was an incredible effort, especially as she was so unlucky to miss out on selection in the first place.

When our run chase began to falter, I have to confess that I did put my batting pads on and I was ready to go out there and get the runs if required, but it was a relief when Holly hit the winning runs through mid-wicket for four.

I just grabbed Lydia Greenway when the ball went for four and the celebrations began – I don’t think they will be stopping for a while!

We will enjoy this moment but our next focus will be on making sure we maintain our winning run and translate our form in 50-over cricket to the ICC World Twenty20. It should be an exciting tournament and I can’t wait to perform in front of the large English crowds.