ICC Chairman Jay Shah hailed women's cricket's "golden era" after Australia produced another dominant display to defeat England by seven wickets in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final at Lord's and claim a record-extending seventh title.
Australia chased down England's 150/4 with 17 balls to spare, completing an unbeaten campaign and reclaiming the T20 World Cup crown in front of a record crowd of more than 28,000 at the Home of Cricket.
Jay Shah says Women's T20 World Cup showcased the best of the game
Following Australia's victory, Shah congratulated both finalists and said the tournament had reinforced why women's cricket continues to attract growing global attention.
"Congratulations to Cricket Australia on winning their seventh ICC Women's T20 World Cup title with another incredible campaign. Huge credit
to England cricket too - fantastic runners-up but champions in spirit. "
He also praised the overall standard of the competition, describing it as another landmark moment for the women's game.
"This tournament reminded us why women's cricket is unmissable - power, passion, and pure class on display from start to finish. Thank you to both teams and everyone who made this World Cup so special. Women's cricket is in a golden era. "
The comments reflect the ICC's continued push to expand the profile of women's cricket, with record attendances and growing broadcast audiences becoming defining features of recent global tournaments.
Australia complete unbeaten campaign to reclaim Women's T20 World Cup
Australia underlined their status as the benchmark in women's cricket with another clinical performance in a World Cup final.
After captain Sophie Molineux elected to field, Australia's bowlers restricted England to 150/4 despite a fighting 58 from Nat Sciver-Brunt and an unbeaten 44 from Freya Kemp. Lucy Hamilton, Annabel Sutherland, Kim Garth and Molineux shared the wickets as England struggled to build sustained momentum for much of the innings.
Australia's reply was built around another composed innings from Beth Mooney, who struck 64 from 49 deliveries to register her third half-century in a Women's T20 World Cup final. Phoebe Litchfield's fluent 48 complemented Mooney perfectly as the pair added a match-defining 100-run partnership before Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner completed the chase with 17 balls remaining.
The successful pursuit of 151 also became the highest run chase in the history of a Women's T20 World Cup final.
Australia's latest triumph extends era of dominance
The victory secured Australia's seventh Women's T20 World Cup title and their 14th ICC women's world title across formats, further reinforcing their dominance on the global stage.
England had entered the final unbeaten after winning all six of their previous matches, but Australia's balanced attack and experienced batting line-up once again proved decisive on the biggest occasion.
For Australia, the title also marks a return to the top of women's T20 cricket three years after relinquishing the crown, while Shah's remarks underline the broader significance of a tournament that combined high-quality cricket with record-breaking interest in the women's game.
