ICC Women's T20 World Cup

Australia 153 for 3 (Mooney 64, Litchfield 48) beat England 150 for 4 (Sciver-Brunt 58*, Kemp 44*, Hamilton 1-19) by seven wickets

After consecutive ICC tournaments in which they went home empty-handed, Australia wound back the clock and waltzed off with a seventh T20 title to the disappointment of a packed house at Lord's. Beth Mooney was the clutch performer once again, her third consecutive half-century in T20 World Cup finals steering a comfortable chase of 151.

Cricket sets a lot of store in its history, but this World Cup final saw the statistical equivalent of the immovable object going up against the irresistible force. England had won all four of the Women's World Cups (50-over and T20) they had hosted; but Australia had won all six of the finals (50-over and T20) the two nations had contested.

In the end, the irresistible force won at a canter.

England, playing a first T20 World Cup final in eight years, were hoping to extend that strong home record and claim a second title. But they struggled for momentum after being put in, despite an anchoring half-century from captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. England only broke free from a suffocating Australian bowling performance towards the end, as Freya Kemp's unbeaten 44 provided the spark in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 80 from 55.

Australia came at them hard in response, pummeling England into submission and effectively ending the contest by halfway - if not the powerplay. Phoebe Litchfield belied the pressure of the occasion in her first final to crack an effervescent 48 from 35 during a century stand with Mooney that did the bulk of the work. Both fell before the end but Australia still wrapped up victory - and a perfect record of seven wins from seven T20 final appearances - with 17 balls to spare.

More to follow…

Click here to read article