[2] England subsequently beat Ireland by 162 runs—during which Hodges and Helen Plimmer both scored centuries for England—and narrowly defeated India, who had only needed four runs to win when their last batter was dismissed.

[3] New Zealand opened their tournament against Ireland, achieving a seven-wicket win after restricting the Irish to 82 for six from their reduced allocation of 39 overs.

After beating England in their second match, New Zealand secured another large victory, defeating Denmark by nine wickets after bowling them out for 93 runs.

New Zealand's bowlers dominated again in the next match: Jennifer Turner took five wickets and conceded only five runs as the Netherlands were bowled out for 40,[5] at the time the third-lowest score in Women's One Day Internationals.

No such tie-breaker was needed; New Zealand bowled Australia out for 77 runs, which as of 2020 remains their lowest total in Women's One Day Internationals.

[11] The BBC made a late schedule change to broadcast the match live on Grandstand, where it attracted 2.5 million viewers.

[11] Brittin was dismissed 15 minutes before lunch, caught at mid-wicket by Karen Gunn off the bowling of McLauchlan for 48 runs, leaving England 96 for two.

[5] Chamberlain scored 38 runs from 33 deliveries before missing the ball while aiming a big shot at the Tavern Stand,[11] and being bowled by Julie Harris.

[15] New Zealand opened the batting with Penny Kinsella and Debbie Hockley; England started with the medium pace bowling of Clare Taylor at one end, and the off spin of Hodges at the other.

Writing for The Guardian, Mike Selvey said that the use of Hodges "at a stroke [rendered] Debbie Hockley both moribund and, with helmet, grill and armguard, faintly ridiculous.

It was her lively left-arm bowling that ended the most threatening stand in the New Zealand reply and her direct hit from cover, athletically precise, that terminated the innings of the prolific Debbie Hockley and, with it, the contest."

Chamberlain was selected as the player of the match: in The Times, Lee said that "she did all but everything", praising her batting, bowling and fielding performances alike.

"[2] Throughout the group stage, New Zealand had never had to chase more than 96 runs, so their middle and lower order batters had not had much match practice in English conditions.

"[11] England's victory gave women's cricket unprecedented coverage in the English press; it was featured in all the national newspapers, and was even on the front pages of some.

"[2] In amongst all the plaudits were a few notes of caution; Lee suggested that "This final illustrated the athleticism of the game and the status to which it can aspire; what is needed now is firmer and more enterprising administration.

"[14] Former England player Sarah Potter said "Progress has been held back by lack of hard cash and column inches, and buckets of male condescension.