Australia won their sixth Women’s T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa by 19 runs. Player of the Match, Beth Mooney, scored an unbeaten half-century, which secured the coveted three-peat for the defending champions. South Africa fell short of the 157-run target despite a brilliant batting performance by opener Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 61. Australia’s all-rounder Ash Gardner was declared Player of the Tournament, while Meg Lanning became the first captain to win five ICC trophies.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Marizanne Kapp snared an early breakthrough for South Africa in the fifth over when Alyssa Healy carved a short delivery towards cover, caught for 18. Gardner, who was elevated to No. 3 for the final, hit two consecutive deliveries over the boundary rope after slapping a straight drive into Mooney’s thigh at the non-striker’s end in the ninth over. Grace Harris was promoted to No. 4 but was bowled by spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba for 10. Kapp returned in the 18th over and immediately removed Lanning with a short ball, which was pulled powerfully towards deep square leg, where Chloe Tryon held onto a superb low catch. Mooney brought up her fifty in the 18th over, becoming the third cricketer to score multiple half-centuries in T20 World Cup finals.
South Africa’s run chase got off to a slow start, but a couple of sloppy Australian misfields kept the scoreboard ticking during the Powerplay. Darcie Brown struck in the fifth over when opener Tazmin Brits attempted to loft her down the ground, but Tahlia McGrath settled under the regulation catch at mid-on. Kapp’s stay at the crease was brief, miscuing a slog sweep against Gardner, which was top-edged and caught at short third man for 11. A disastrous run out saw the end of Sune Luus in the 11th over, with both batters stranded in the middle of the pitch after the South African skipper drove firmly towards mid-off. Wolvaardt began to pick up the tempo after the drinks break, but South Africa’s required run rate continued to climb with every over that passed. The 23-year-old brought up her half-century in the 15th over with a cracking cover drive, muscling another boundary down the ground to send some nerves through the Australian camp. But the ever-reliable Megan Schutt ended Wolvaardt’s counterattack in the 17th over, trapping the right-hander on the front pad. Tryon fell victim to Jess Jonassen for 25 to swing momentum firmly in Australia’s favour. Anneke Bosch was run out for 1, after which South Africa never looked like coming close to the target.
The hosts praised the Australian team for their inspiring cricket and class on the field. Despite being in challenging positions throughout the game, Australia fought back and secured their well-deserved victory.
