England v Australia ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final: Australia Lift 7th Title at Lord's by 7 Wickets

The Story of the Match

AUSTRALIA convincingly lifted their 7th ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Lord's with an accomplished victory by 7 wickets with 17 balls to spare, thanks to some excellent batting from Beth Mooney 64 and Phoebe Litchfield 48, who added 100 runs for the 2nd wicket partnership to take the game away from England and guide Australia to victory in the final in front of a record attendance of 28,887 fans.

England were not bold enough having been put into bat, as they stuttered to 150 for 4 from 20 overs with only captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, 58 not out from 53 balls with five boundary 4's, and Freya Kemp, 44 not out from 28 balls with one boundary 6 and four boundary 4's, sharing an unfinished 5th wicket partnership of 80 runs that really troubled Australia.

Australia achieved the 151 runs to lift the ICC Women's T20 World Cup as their top order batters took Australia to a 7th Women's T20 World Cup victory thanks to Beth Mooney 64 not out and Phoebe Litchfield 48 runs, who guided Australia to a comfortable win.

The culmination of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final saw hosts England against Australia, the two arch enemies in cricket. Both teams came into the final unbeaten with six wins each. Australia won the toss and elected to bowl.

Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge opened the batting for England in bright July sunshine at Lord's, the home of cricket. England lost their first wicket at 7 for 1 after 1.2 overs when Amy Jones edged Lucy Hamilton and was caught at gully by Georgia Voll for 6 runs from 6 balls with one boundary 4.

Wyatt-Hodge was then joined by captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who led from the front in the semi final against South Africa at The Oval and looked good once she got in against Australia's bowlers. England reached 33 for 2 from 4.5 overs when Danni Wyatt-Hodge was caught behind off a glove by Beth Mooney for 8 runs from 9 balls with one boundary 4. At the end of the powerplay England were 39 for 2 from 6 overs.

Alice Capsey then joined Sciver-Brunt, who was 16 not out. England's 50 was achieved for the loss of 2 wickets from 8.1 overs as Alice Capsey started to threaten with two big boundary hits. Capsey hit 16 runs off Ash Gardner's first over as England reached 64 for 2 from 9 overs.

Alice Capsey was the third wicket to fall when England reached 67 for 3 from 9.5 overs, bowled by Sophie Molineux for 23 runs from 20 balls with one boundary 6 and two boundary 4's.

Sciver-Brunt, then 25 not out, was joined by Heather Knight. England lost Heather Knight lbw to Kim Garth for 2 runs from 6 balls when the total had reached 70 for 4 from 10.5 overs. Freya Kemp and Nat Sciver-Brunt brought up 100 for 4 wickets from 14.4 overs. Freya Kemp played some nice shots alongside her captain as the pair added 51 runs from 35 balls for the 5th wicket partnership, brought up by Sciver-Brunt with a paddle shot. At the time Sciver-Brunt was 49 from 44 balls and Freya Kemp was 26 from 19 balls.

Nat Sciver-Brunt pushed on and reached her 50 from 45 balls with five boundary 4's in the 17th over. Freya Kemp also continued to hit some lusty blows off Ash Gardner as England looked to reach a total of 150 to defend, which was 20 runs below the par score on a wicket that was never going to trouble the batters.

England did very well to finish on 150 for 4 from 20 overs, having been 68 for 3 after 10 overs and 105 for 4 after 15 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt finished 58 not out from 53 balls with five boundary 4's and Freya Kemp 44 not out from 28 balls with one boundary 6 and four boundary 4's, in an unfinished 5th wicket partnership of 80 runs. The pick of the Australian bowlers were Lucy Hamilton 1 for 19, Kim Garth 1 for 20, Sophie Molineux 1 for 32 and Annabel Sutherland 1 for 34. Australia needed 151 runs to win at 7.55 runs per over to lift the 7th Women's T20 World Cup.

Australia opened with Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney, with Charlie Dean opening the bowling for England with spin. Australia lost their first wicket at 17 for 1 from 1.5 overs when Georgia Voll was bowled by Lauren Bell for 13 runs from 6 balls with two boundary 4's.

Beth Mooney was then joined by Phoebe Litchfield, who hit a boundary 4 with her first delivery faced, and the pair raced to 45 for 1 from just 4 overs as they looked to outrun England in the powerplay. Australia's total of 50 was reached from 4.4 overs. Australia reached 62 for 1 from the powerplay with Beth Mooney unbeaten on 28 and Phoebe Litchfield on 17. Australia achieved their 100 for the loss of just 1 wicket from 10.2 overs. Sophie Ecclestone was the fifth bowler brought into the attack, which was too late in the innings.

Beth Mooney achieved her 50 from 38 balls with seven boundary 4's. The pair added 100 runs for the 2nd wicket partnership off 66 balls. Phoebe Litchfield was bowled by Charlie Dean for 48 runs from 35 balls with two boundary 6's and six boundary 4's when Australia's 2nd wicket fell at 117 for 2 from 13 overs.

Beth Mooney was lbw to Sophie Ecclestone for 64 runs from 49 balls with ten boundary 4's when the total reached 140 for 3 from 16 overs. Ellyse Perry was caught by Sophie Ecclestone off the bowling of Linsey Smith for 12 runs from 10 balls when the Australia total was 144 for 4 from 16.3 overs, but the wicket was not given after a DRS review and Perry was called back.

Ellyse Perry was 13 not out from 12 balls with two boundary 4's and Ash Gardner was 3 not out from 2 balls, hitting the winning runs as victory was achieved with 17 balls to spare to win by 7 wickets and lift their 7th ICC Women's T20 trophy.

It was a shame for England to lose, but the coverage for women's cricket in England and Wales was tremendous, with crowds flocking to all eight venues and generating more interest in the women and girls game to increase participation for the future wellbeing of the game in the country. Winning the trophy for England would have been the icing on the cake, but that was not to be. Australia is the blueprint to follow and after today England are still some way off that, but they are building the women and girls game in the right direction.

Author's Standout Players

• Beth Mooney (Australia) - Player of the Match, 64 not out
• Phoebe Litchfield (Australia) - 48 from 35 balls in a match-winning 100 run partnership
• Nat Sciver-Brunt (England) - Captain's innings of 58 not out to lift England to a defendable total
• Freya Kemp (England) - Unbeaten 44 to support Sciver-Brunt in an unfinished 5th wicket stand
• Sophie Ecclestone (England) - Took the key wicket of Beth Mooney

Match Scores

England 150 for 4 in 20 overs - Sciver-Brunt 58 not out, Kemp 44 not out, Capsey 23; Hamilton 1 for 19, Garth 1 for 20, Molineux 1 for 32, Sutherland 1 for 34.

Australia 153 for 3 in 17.1 overs - Mooney 64, Litchfield 48; Ecclestone 1 for 24, Dean 1 for 28, Bell 1 for 38.

Player of the Match: Beth Mooney

Australia won by 7 wickets.