England cricket heroes continue proud record of never losing Women's World Cup when they are hosts as Anya Shrubsole's six for 49 wins title

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England are world champions after a narrow victory over India at Lord's.

Defending 228, the host nation dismissed their guests for 219 in a thrilling climax to a fixture branded the biggest in women's cricketing history.

Here, LAWRENCE BOOTH picks out some memorable stats from the day's play... 

England captain Heather Knight with the World Cup trophy after they beat India by nine runs

England continued their record of never losing a World Cup they have hosted. 

The sequence began when they won the inaugural tournament in 1973 – two years before the men played their first World Cup – and continued when they won the next one in this country, 20 years later. Their victory in 2017 completes the hat-trick.

Anya Shrubsole's figures of six for 49 were comfortably the best in a women's World Cup final. In fact, only one other woman has taken more than three in a final England seamer Nicky Shaw during the win over New Zealand in Sydney in 2009. 

Shrubsole's haul included a decisive burst of five for 19 in 11 balls as India faded in sight of victory.

When England opener Tammy Beaumont nailed successive cover-driven boundaries off Shikha Pandey in the game's sixth over, she overtook Australia's Ellyse Perry (404) as the leading run-scorer in the tournament. 

Beaumont had to settle for a tally of 410 after skying a full toss from Poonam Yadav to deep midwicket.

But that equalled the England record for a World Cup, set by Jan Brittin in 1993.

England's Anya Shrubsole's figures of six for 49 were the best in a women's World Cup final

Hero Shrubsole celebrates with England team-mates Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight

Beaumont looked as if she was going to be overhauled herself by Mithali Raj, only for India's captain to finish on 409 after she was run out for 17 by Nat Sciver's throw and Sarah Taylor's smart work over the stumps. 

Raj had passed 50 in each of her previous three innings at Lord's, but looked distraught with herself after failing to stretch for the crease.

History suggested India were always up against it after England posted 228 for seven. Previously the highest score made by a team batting second to win a women's World Cup final was 167 for six, by England against New Zealand in Sydney in March 2009. 

Only Australia, who made 259 for seven batting first against West Indies in Mumbai four years ago, had scored more in a final full stop.

England's cricketing hero Shrubsole celebrates after taking the wicket of Jhulan Goswami

Jhulan Goswami had a quiet time of it in the group stage, taking only five wickets in seven games at 41 apiece. 

But in the semi-final and final she used all the experience gathered over 15 years of international cricket, taking a combined 18-3-55-5, and finding herself on a hat-trick when she removed Sarah Taylor, caught behind down the leg side, and Fran Wilson, lbw first ball. 

Her 195 ODI wickets are more than anyone in the history of the game.

Later Goswami topped another list. When she was yorked first ball by Anya Shrubsole, it was her 17th duck in one-day internationals – a new world record. 

Previously she had shared that dubious distinction with an unlikely figure: former England captain Charlotte Edwards, who was at Lord's commentating for Test Match Special.