Australia Women lift T20 World Cup for 6th time with 19-run win over South Africa

Australia Women batted first after winning the toss in Cape Town as both sides went in with unchanged squads. The Aussies put up 156/6 on the board as opener Beth Mooney top-scored with 74* off 53 balls, hitting nine fours and a six. All-rounder Ashleigh Gardner contributed 29 off 21, hitting two fours and as many sixes.

For the Proteas, Shabnim Ismail claimed 2/26 and Marizanne Kapp picked up 2/35. Ayabonga Khaka, however, went wicketless although she conceded only 27 runs in her four overs. In the chase, Laura Wolvaardt top-scored for South Africa with 61 off 48, hitting five fours and three sixes. Chloe Tryon chipped in with 25, but there was no other major contribution as the Proteas were held to 137/6. For Australia, Megan Schutt, Ashleigh Gardner, Darcie Brown and Jess Jonassen all picked up one wicket each.

Speaking after winning another T20 World Cup an elated Lanning commented, “It’s a pretty special effort from the group, all the teams came really hard and we knew that was going to happen, but to be able to perform so well throughout the tournament, super proud.”

On the performance in the final, the batter added, “We felt it was a good score but you have to bowl well with the wicket not as good as it was in the semi-final, so we were confident if we could hit the right lengths and target the stumps enough, we will be able to put South Africa under pressure, I thought our powerplay was excellent and that really set the tone. It is just about enjoying the opportunity and making sure that we are focused on what we are doing.”

Lanning described the atmosphere for the T20 World Cup final as amazing. On her overall experience in the tournament, she concluded, “It was a great event and we got some really good experience within the group. We wanted to really call on that and make sure when the pressure was on we are able to keep things simple and get things done and that’s what everybody did.”

–By A Cricket Correspondent