Australia’s women have reclaimed the T20 World Cup, with Sophie Molineux’s side hailed among the greatest ever after outclassing England at Lord’s to win a record seventh title.
In front of a sell-out crowd of almost 29,000 at Lord’s, Australia cruised to a dominant seven-wicket victory over England.
The chase was built on a superb century partnership between Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield.
Mooney again delivered on the biggest stage, hitting 64 from 49 balls as Australia chased England’s 4-150 with ease.
They finished on 3-153 with 17 balls remaining, turning the World Cup final into a cakewalk.
Mooney was named player of the match and player of the tournament after another brilliant knock.
Australia celebrated a dominant seven-wicket victory over England to secure a record seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title at Lord’s
Beth Mooney produced another match-winning innings, earning player of the match and tournament honours after scoring 64 from 49 balls
Captain Sophie Molineux, pictured, guided Australia through an unbeaten tournament, winning all seven matches
She put on exactly 100 with Phoebe Litchfield, whose 48 from 35 balls included a stunning switch-hit six.
Australia dominated every facet of the final, strangling England with the ball before finishing the job with aggressive batting.
Asked if Australia was one of the greatest T20 teams ever, Nat Sciver replied: ‘I think so. The amount of depth they have is something every team would dream of.’
Molineux silenced doubts over her appointment as captain after replacing Alyssa Healy despite concerns about her injury history.
She led Australia to seven straight wins, with no team coming close to ending their unbeaten World Cup campaign.
‘It’s been an incredibly special day,’ she said, having been left in tears after a hug with her dad who’d watched with pride in the stands.
‘I’m just so, so proud of the group. We haven’t won one of these for a while, I hope it becomes one of the great sides.’
The only controversy came with Australia needing seven runs to win, when Sophie Ecclestone appeared to dismiss Ellyse Perry with a catch.
Australia’s latest triumph extended England’s winless record against their rivals in Women’s World Cup Ashes finals to seven straight defeats
England’s Alice Capsey reacts as she is bowled by Australia’s Sophie Molineux in the final
After a lengthy review, the third umpire ruled there was not enough evidence the catch had been taken cleanly, allowing Perry to continue.
It looked a good catch. Ecclestone was furious, remonstrating on-field, and so were the crowd, who broke into now-familiar Lord’s booing of the old enemy.
Yet Perry, playing in her seventh triumph in nine finals, was still at the crease at the end, 13no, when Ecclestone sent a wide spinning to the boundary for the winning runs.
‘It has been a joy to be a part of this team with Sophie leading in her first World Cup. This has been a privilege of a lifetime,’ said 35-year-old Perry.
It ends a rare spell without a global trophy in either the 50-over or 20-over game for Australia, who last lifted the T20 crown in 2023. Once more, they were in a different league to the hosts, whose record in seven white-ball World Cup ‘Ashes’ finals now reads England 0 Australia 7.
‘This legacy of Australian cricket will go on for decades,’ said the brilliant Litchfield.
‘Internally, we knew we were a bloody good side, and Sophie has done an incredible job, setting us up physically and mentally.’
