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Final at Lord’s
Australia won the Women’s T20 World Cup with a seven-wicket victory over England at Lord’s on Sunday, clinching their seventh title in the final.
“Australia's cricket women are back on top of the world again, annexing the T20 World Cup in glorious fashion for a seventh time by outclassing hosts England in the final in front of a sell-out crowd at their Lord's home”
England were restricted to 150-4 in 20 overs, with Nat Sciver-Brunt making 58* off 53 balls and Freya Kemp scoring 44 off 28.
Australia chased down 151 with 17.1 overs gone, reaching 153-3, as Beth Mooney made 64 off 49 balls and Phoebe Litchfield finished 48* off 35.
In the chase, Litchfield and Mooney put on a 100 partnership in 67 balls, and Australia reached the finish line with 17 balls to spare.
The BBC described the decisive moment as a TV-umpire call that brought Ellyse Perry back after Sophie Ecclestone appeared to take a clean catch, before England’s spinner bowled five wides in the next over.
Mooney, Litchfield and controversy
Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield powered the chase after Australia reduced England to 39-2 in the first six overs, with Mooney and Litchfield then taking the target apart in a 100-run partnership.
Al Jazeera quoted Litchfield saying, “That’s the only way in T20 cricket – throw the first punch. We just tried to get the run rate down as fast as possible,” as she credited Mooney for easing pressure.
Al Jazeera also quoted Mooney on the tournament, saying, “I just tried to make sure we got ahead of the game as early as possible,” after she was named player of the tournament for her 64 from 49 balls.
The BBC noted that with seven runs needed, Ecclestone was “incensed” after the TV umpire ruled Perry should be called back, and the crowd booed during the stoppage.
The Guardian described the same turning point as the third umpire concluding that Ecclestone “had not taken the catch cleanly,” with the incident followed by Australia winning with 17 balls to spare.
Aftermath and what’s next
Australia’s win ended an eight-month period without a global trophy for the team, and the Guardian said the result followed a seven-wicket victory at Lord’s after an Ashes 16-0 whitewash.
“T20 World Cup final, Lord's England 150-4 (20 overs): Sciver-Brunt 58* (53), Kemp 44 (28) Australia 153-3 (17”
The BBC said the occasion was “one positive for England” and pointed to “the signs of progress they have shown under coach Charlotte Edwards at this tournament,” even as Australia proved “a class above yet again.”
The BBC also framed the next challenge for England as closing the gap on Australia before the Ashes at home next summer.
The Guardian added that England’s captain Nat Sciver-Brunt had walked out for the anthems holding son Theo, and it contrasted England’s 150 for four with Australia’s tournament dominance.
In the final, the BBC recorded that England’s hopes were crushed as Australia delivered an emphatic display of strength, with the match decided after the TV-umpire controversy and England’s five wides.
