The 1988 Shell Bicentennial Women's World Cup was an international cricket tournament played in Australia from 29 November to 18 December 1988.

New Zealand defeated Ireland in the third-place playoff, while the Netherlands, the only other team at the tournament, placed fifth and last after failing to win a single match.

India had been invited to compete, as they had at the previous two tournaments, but were forced to withdraw after failing to secure enough money from sponsors.

[13] The final, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was broadcast live on radio and on ABC Television.

[21] Janette Brittin, who played for England in the match, later described the venue as having "wall-to-wall seating with no one sitting in them", making it "a very large and a very lonely place".