Mooney Guides Australia to Glory

Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield’s 100-run partnership fired Australia to their seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup crown with a six-wicket win in Sunday’s final at a sold-out Lord’s.

Mooney made 64 and Litchfield 48, as Australia comfortably completed the highest successful chase in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final history to win their first global event since the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

It was their seventh win in seven ICC World Cup finals against England, as the hosts failed to win a World Cup held on home shores for the first time in their history, despite Nat Sciver-Brunt’s second consecutive half-century in front of 28,887 supporters, the highest attended women’s match at Lord’s.

SCIVER-BRUNT HALF-CENTURY STEADIES ENGLAND

Nat Sciver-Brunt led her side out with son Theo in hand, after popstar Rita Ora had warmed up the crowd, and the skipper was soon into the action as England lost early wickets having lost the toss and been asked to bat.

Amy Jones (6) edged Lucy Hamilton (1/19) to third man for the seamer’s first wicket of the tournament, before Sciver-Brunt drove her first delivery for four.

She then hit Annabel Sutherland for a pair of boundaries, but the Australian claimed the prized scalp of Danni Wyatt-Hodge later that over, the tournament’s leading run-scorer strangling down the leg-side to a diving Beth Mooney for eight.

Alice Capsey took Ashleigh Gardner’s ninth over for 16, including a six over deep midwicket, but was soon bowled by Sophie Molineux (1/32) for 23 attempting a reverse sweep.

There was no repeat of Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight’s match-winning partnership against South Africa, the latter trapped LBW by Kim Garth (1/20) for two as England fell to 70 for four.

Sciver-Brunt and Freya Kemp put on an unbroken 80, England’s highest partnership in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final, although boundaries remained hard to come by on a seemingly slow pitch.

The former reached a 45-ball half-century in the 18th over, giving her the most fifties in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history with nine.

Kemp smashed Molineux down the ground for six in the final over, finishing 44 not out off 28 balls as England posted 150 for four.

MOONEY AND LITCHFIELD FIRE AUSTRALIA TO RECORD TARGET IN FINAL

Australia’s chase started in dominant fashion, despite the early loss of ICC number-one ranked batter Georgia Voll.

She dragged Lauren Bell onto her own stumps for nine, but it didn’t faze Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield.

The pair found the boundary with regularity as the Aussies pummelled 62 off the powerplay.

The explosive batting continued, as Mooney reached a 38-ball half-century, her third of the tournament following an unbeaten fifty in Tuesday’s semi-final against the West Indies, to match Sciver-Brunt’s all-time tournament record.

The 100-run partnership came up in the 13th over, the third-highest in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup finals, before Litchfield was bowled by Charlie Dean (1/28) for 48, the score 117 for two.

Mooney eventually departed on 64, LBW off Sophie Ecclestone (1/24) after review, and Ellyse Perry survived a run-out chance and a catch that was deemed to have hit the ground.

It was only a matter of time for the tournament’s most successful side, wides confirming the result with nearly three overs to spare.

It continues their perfect final record against England, their seventh victory across both formats.

England’s wait for a first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup win since the inaugural edition of 2009 goes on.

After coming into the tournament not holding either white-ball trophy, Australia are back on top once again.

England vs Australia – Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

England: 150/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 58 not out, Freya Kemp 44 not out; Lucy Hamilton 1/19, Kim Garth 1/20)

Australia: 153/3 in 17.1 overs (Beth Mooney 64, Phoebe Litchfield 48; Sophie Ecclestone 1/24, Charlie Dean 1/28)

Result: Australia win by seven wickets