New Delhi, July 5: Australia reaffirmed its status as the dominant force in women's cricket by defeating England by seven wickets in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's on Sunday, securing a record-extending seventh title.
Chasing a competitive target of 151, the Southern Stars made the task look effortless, reaching 151/3 in just 17.1 overs. Captain Sophie Molineux celebrated her first ICC trophy as skipper as Australia's experienced batting lineup once again delivered on the biggest stage.
The chase was built around a match-winning 100-run partnership between Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney. Litchfield continued her rise as one of the brightest young talents in the women's game with a fluent 48 off 35 deliveries, striking six fours
and two sixes. Mooney anchored the innings with a composed 64 from 49 balls, rotating the strike expertly while punishing loose deliveries to keep England's bowlers under relentless pressure.
Australia raced to 100 by the halfway stage of the innings, leaving England with little hope of defending what ultimately proved to be an under-par total. One of the standout moments came when Litchfield reverse-swept left-arm spinner Linsey Smith for a spectacular six over backward point. Mooney also maintained her remarkable record in ICC finals, bringing up another half-century before eventually being dismissed for the first time in a Women's T20 World Cup final.
Earlier, England posted 150/4 after being asked to bat first by Molineux. The hosts struggled to accelerate for much of their innings against a disciplined Australian bowling attack, which once again showcased its depth despite the absence of injured all-rounder Ellyse Perry.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt led England's resistance with an unbeaten 58 off 53 balls, while Freya Kemp contributed an aggressive 44 not out from 28 deliveries. The pair shared an unbroken 80-run stand for the fifth wicket to rescue England after a sluggish start and push the total to a respectable score.
However, Australia's bowlers maintained excellent control throughout the innings. Molineux claimed 1/32, Georgia Wareham conceded just nine runs in her two overs, while Kim Garth and Annabel Sutherland consistently varied their pace and lengths to deny England any sustained momentum.
England managed only two sixes across their 20 overs, highlighting Australia's disciplined execution with the ball. In the end, Australia's clinical display with both bat and ball once again underlined the gulf between them and the rest of the women's game, as they lifted the T20 World Cup trophy for a historic seventh time.
