The final of the quadrangular series saw Spain take on Brazil.
The South American side automatically progressed to the final after topping the mini-league, following three dominant wins from three during the group stage.
Spain earned their place in the final after defeating Switzerland in the morning’s qualification play-off.
In the play-off, the Spanish posted an impressive 232/2, with Alexis Hartley (73) and Kat Frost (88) leading the way. Switzerland put up a good fight in a match with few wickets, posting 156/2, finishing 76 runs short of Spain’s total. Laila Pickard (73) and Amrita Sasdiharan (65) were the standout batters for Switzerland, but Spain’s mammoth total ultimately proved too much for the hosts.
The two finalists had already met during the group stage, where Brazil secured a six-wicket victory. Chasing 142, the Brazilians reached their target in just 10.1 overs, thanks largely to an unbeaten 55 from Monnike Rufino.
After resting herself in Brazil’s final group-stage match, captain Carolina Nascimento was back in the side, replacing Marianne Artur. She won the toss and opted to bat first, the first time Brazil had done so since their opening match against Jersey, where they posted 254/7.
After two dots to begin proceedings, Lindsay Vilas Boas wasted no time getting off the mark, crushing the third ball for six, before following it with three fours, helping Brazil to 18 from the opening over. Her partner Laura Agatha followed suit by hitting the first ball she faced for four. Brazil’s intent was set early on.
As Agatha and Vilas Boas had put on 31 from the opening two overs, the third over brought a much-needed early wicket for Spain as Agatha picked out Rabia Mushtaq, with Uswa Syed claiming a wicket with her first ball of the game.
Vilas Boas ploughed on once again before gifting her wicket to Syed, a simple caught and bowled, departing for 34 from just 13 balls.
After two quick wickets, Maria Garcia and Linda Cardoso steadied the ship, but some tight bowling from Maria Zamorano and Syed kept the run rate down, as Brazil found themselves 66/2 at the end of the Powerplay.
To combat the heat, Spain opted to rotate their bowlers often, with six bowlers used by the halfway stage. After steadying the ship, Cardoso (33*) and Maria Garcia (29*) moved more aggressively in their assault, taking Brazil to 115/2 after 10 overs.
Deepa Chukkapalli bowled Cardoso for 41 shortly after the drinks break to pick up her first wicket of the day, bringing Rufino to the crease.
Maria Garcia brought up her 51 from just 27 balls in the 13.4 over with a lovely straight drive, another solid innings. However, two balls later she was dismissed, stumped by Amelia Jones off the bowling of Zamorano.
Rufino was not able to match her unbeaten 54 from the previous day, but she did put together a crafty 22 from 16 balls before being caught in the deep by Olivia Gwilliam Lopez. Then, in the same over, Syed had another caught and bowled as Evelyn Muller departed for a duck, leaving Brazil 179/6.
At one stage, it looked like Brazil would hit 250, but the timing of Spain’s wickets and disciplined bowling was perfect.
Captain Nascimento was at the crease for the first time in the series, but before she could face a ball, Ana Clara Sabino was caught in the deep by Payal Chilongia for nine. Another caught and bowled followed, this time as Nicola Monteiro departed for six, leaving Brazil 189/8.
Brazil’s skipper finally got on strike and put together six runs, including a lovely four. Nascimento’s decision to come back for a second run cost her, as she was run out. In truth, she never had a chance of making her ground after attempting a second run that was never on. Due to the heat in Zurich, she can be forgiven for a slight brain fade.
It meant Brazil’s two opening bowlers, Laura Bittencourt and Maria McGahey Ribeiro (Duda), were left to finish off the innings. The pair put on a partnership of 14 before Bittencourt was caught with two balls to spare, as Brazil’s innings ended on 210.
The pick of the bowlers for Spain were Syed (4/24) and Chukkapalli (4/49).
It took just seven balls for Brazil to take their first wicket as Frost hit a ball from Bittencourt to Cardoso, who did some impressive juggling work before claiming the ball.
After the fielding restrictions, some solid batting from Hartley and Syed found Spain 41/1, at seven runs per over. At this stage, they required 12 runs per over, whilst behind the rate, they were still well within a chance of causing an upset.
Cardoso had a chance from a caught and bowled to dismiss Syed, but it was put down, before she was eventually dismissed bang on the halfway stage, being run out after some good work by Nascimento.
Spain were 58/2, and the required run rate had crept up to 15.
Hartley thought she had her 50, but a scoreboard error saw her celebrate early; thankfully, embarrassment was saved a short while later, as she did reach her half-century from 29 balls.
She wouldn’t progress much further on, as she had to depart for 55 after Bittencourt had her out stumped, leaving Spain 78/3 after 12.2 overs.
It was always going to be a tough ask for Spain from this stage, especially after losing Hartley.
A wicket from Cardoso and two run outs, first thanks to a bullet throw again from Nascimento and the other thanks to some impressive work by Vilas Boas, were the only other wickets to fall in the remainder of the game. The game ended without the bails due to strong winds.
It was a highly successful tournament for Brazil, who dominated all four matches they played. Nascimento’s side were worthy champions, with impressive performances throughout the squad.
Vilas Boas finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 202 runs and also struck the most sixes, finishing with nine.
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