Australia dashed England’s hopes of a primary Girls’s T20 World Cup win in 17 years and second general as they romped to a seven-wicket victory at a packed-out Lord’s to safe a record-extending seventh title.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (58 not out off 53 balls) and Freya Kemp (44no off 28) shared an unbroken stand of 80 from 55 balls because the hosts, who misplaced the toss, posted 150-4 after being lowered to 70-4 within the eleventh over when Heather Knight (2) was pinned lbw.
Nevertheless, Australia reached their goal with 17 balls to spare in entrance of almost 29,000 spectators to extend their profitable streak over their rivals to 9 matches throughout the codecs and deny England a primary international title because the house 50-over World Cup success in 2017.
The category of Beth Mooney (64 off 49) and Phoebe Litchfield (48 off 35), who spanked exactly 100 off 76 balls for the second wicket within the night sunshine, coupled with some wayward early England bowling, allowed Australia to succeed in 62-1 on the finish of the powerplay.
The Southern Stars – for whom Litchfield struck an outrageous reverse-swept six – went on to finish the best profitable chase in a Girls’s T20 World Cup last, eclipsing the 149 West Indies had scored towards them in Kolkata again in 2016.
Neither Mooney nor Litchfield might information Australia house, with that honour left to Ellyse Perry (13no) – who survived when an irate Sophie Ecclestone was adjudged to have grounded a catch at mid-off late on – and Ash Gardner (3no).
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England spinner Sophie Ecclestone was left irate after she was adjudged to have grounded a catch at mid-off late in Australia’s run chase
No 2009 repeat for head coach Edwards
Charlotte Edwards was captain when England received the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2009, additionally on their very own turf, however whereas she was unable to steer her aspect to victory as head coach this time round, there is no such thing as a doubt the workforce have improved markedly since she took over final yr within the wake of the 16-0 Ashes drubbing.
On that chastening tour, England misplaced all six white-ball video games to Australia – three T20Is and as many ODIs – in addition to the only real Take a look at as health, fielding blunders and an incapacity to manage below stress led to Edwards’ predecessor as coach Jon Lewis being sacked and Sciver-Brunt changing Knight as captain.
It’s important to say these adjustments have paid off – the stirring semi-final win over South Africa earlier this week at The Oval proved that – however the reality they had been emphatically crushed by Australia exhibits a gulf nonetheless exists between them and the ladies’s sport’s benchmark aspect, who’ve now claimed 13 wins from 15 in all World Cup finals.
England have improved below head coach Charlotte Edwards – however not sufficient to beat Australia
This was a battle between the 2 unbeaten groups at this yr’s World Cup – England and Australia had six wins from six coming in – and it was Edwards’ aspect’s impeccable document that went up in smoke as they didn’t win a house World Cup for the primary time, with that 2009 T20 triumph joined by three 50-over trophies (1973, 1993, 2017).
England did effectively to get the rating they did after shedding openers Amy Jones (2) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (8) cheaply – the latter was out caught behind after in impressed evaluate from Australia wicketkeeper Mooney – with Alice Capsey clubbing 23 off 20 deliveries, together with a six, earlier than she was bowled on the reverse sweep by Sophie Molineux.
Kemp nailed the second most of the innings in a 13-run last over however England’s complete, restricted by some nice Australia fielding at factors, at all times seemed about 20 brief and so it proved, regardless of Lauren Bell choosing up the early wicket of Georgia Voll (9), cleaned up off an inside edge.
By the point Charlie Dean rearranged Litchfield’s stumps and Ecclestone trapped Mooney leg earlier than, it was too little, too late, with Ecclestone’s 5 wides down the leg-side within the 18th over ending a contest that had lengthy been settled.
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England misplaced the wickets of Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge early on within the last after being put in to bat
Australia declare one other trophy after barren few years
Australia had didn’t win both of the earlier two ICC occasions – they had been knocked out within the semi-finals on the 2024 T20 World Cup within the UAE and final yr’s 50-over version in India – however are actually again on the apex of the sport.
The Southern Stars will purpose to spice up their trophy haul additional on the first 20-over Girls’s Champions Trophy, which might be held in Sri Lanka in February 2027.
They may then journey to England in the summertime for an Ashes collection that’s hopefully far more aggressive than the final.
However that’s for subsequent yr.
Whereas Australia have a good time extra success, England should shrug off this disappointment and quicky change focus to the first-ever Girls’s Take a look at match at Lord’s – towards India from Friday, stay on Sky Sports activities from 10am (11am first ball).
