LONDON: Australia claimed a record-extending seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title after defeating England by seven wickets in a dominant final at Lord’s on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 151, Australia reached 153-3 in just 17.1 overs, securing victory with 17 balls to spare to complete an unbeaten run through the tournament.
The triumph marked Australia’s seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title from the 10 editions held and extended their remarkable record of winning all seven global finals they have contested against England across both One-Day International and T20 World Cups.
England post 150-4
After winning the toss, Australia elected to field and produced another disciplined bowling and fielding performance to restrict the hosts to 150-4 from their 20 overs.
England struggled early, slipping to 70-4 before captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Freya Kemp revived the innings with an unbroken 80-run partnership.
Sciver-Brunt remained unbeaten on 58, while Kemp made 44 not out.
Australia’s new-ball bowlers Kim Garth claimed 1-20 from four overs, while Lucy Hamilton returned figures of 1-19 from three overs.
Amy Jones fell for a single-figure score after edging Hamilton to gully, while Danni Wyatt-Hodge was dismissed for eight after gloving Annabel Sutherland down the leg side, with wicketkeeper Beth Mooney completing a fine catch.
Alice Capsey made 23 before Sophie Molineux bowled her after she missed a reverse sweep. Former captain Heather Knight was trapped leg before wicket by Garth for two.
Kemp struck several late boundaries, including a six off Molineux in the final over, but England’s total ultimately proved insufficient.
Mooney and Litchfield dominate chase
Australia suffered an early setback when opener Georgia Voll was dismissed for nine in the second over after charging down the pitch before playing on.
However, Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield took control of the contest with a match-winning second-wicket partnership of exactly 100 runs from just 67 deliveries.
Mooney top-scored with 64 from 38 balls, striking seven boundaries to register her third fifty in Australia’s last three Women’s T20 World Cup finals.
Litchfield contributed a fluent 48, including a six and several boundaries, before Charlie Dean ended the century partnership with Australia firmly in command at 117-2.
Mooney was later dismissed leg before wicket on review to Sophie Ecclestone for 64, but veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry remained unbeaten to oversee the successful chase.
Australia eventually sealed victory when five wides from Ecclestone raced to the boundary.
Australia finished the tournament unbeaten in all seven matches, underlining their dominance in women’s cricket.
England, also unbeaten before the final, were seeking their first major global title since winning the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup at Lord’s.
The defeat also ended England’s record of winning every major global women’s tournament staged on home soil, a run stretching back to the inaugural Women’s ODI World Cup in 1973.
