Australia’s relentless dominance in women’s cricket reached another historic milestone as they won their seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title. On Sunday Australia women defeated arch-rivals England by seven wickets in front of a massive crowd at Lord’s.
Nat Sciver-Brunt rescues hosts from collapse
Winning the toss, Australian captain Sophie Molineux trusted her bowling unit and decided to bowl first. The decision paid off immediately. England’s highly rated top order faltered under intense powerplay pressure. Opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge was dismissed for just 8, caught off Annabel Sutherland, while her opening partner Amy Jones fell for 6 to young pace sensation Lucy Hamilton. Alice Capsey threatened a counterattack with a brisk 23, but her dismissal by Molineux left the hosts reeling. After England women captain Heather Knight was trapped leg-before by Kim Garth the hosts collapsed to 70 for 4.
Then the skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt stepped up with a resilient, unbeaten 58 off 53 balls. Alongside 21-year-old Freya Kemp injected late momentum with a blazing 44 off 28 deliveries. The duo dragged England women back into the contest. Their vital 80-run partnership for the fifth wicket guided England to a fighting score of 150/4, something for their bowlers to defend and offered the home fans a glimmer of hope.
Also read: Nat Sciver-Brunt rescues England women, sets 151-run target for Australia women
Australia women complete a comfortable chase
However, a target of 151 proved well within the reach of an elite Australian batting lineup. Despite losing opener Georgia Voll early to Lauren Bell for 9, Australia women never looked bothered. Beth Mooney came up with a Player of the Match performance and entered her signature “big-match” mode. She systematically dismantled the English attack with a brilliant 64 off 49. She steered the run chase alongside the explosive Phoebe Litchfield who played with breathtaking audacity, reverse-sweeping Linsey Smith for a massive six and slamming 48 off just 32 balls. When Litchfield was eventually dismissed by Charlie Dean, the match was already in Australia’s grasp by then.
By the time Mooney was finally dismissed leg-before by Sophie Ecclestone with just 11 runs required, the damage was completely irreversible. Ellyse Perry (13*) and Ashleigh Gardner walked through the final stages with calm precision. The crowning moment arrived in a dramatic fashion as a wide delivery from Ecclestone raced away to the boundary, sealing the seventh title for Australia women at the historic Lord’s.
While the victory further consolidates Australia’s status as an unstoppable force in world cricket, it also shatters England’s unbeaten record in home World Cup finals.
Brief scores: England 150/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 58*, Freya Kemp 44*; Kim Garth 1-20, Lucy Hamilton 1-19) lost to Australia 153/3 in 17.1 overs (Beth Mooney 64, Phoebe Litchfield 48; Charlie Dean 1-28) by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Beth Mooney
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