Australia dashed England’s hopes of a first Women’s T20 World Cup win in 17 years and second overall as they romped to a seven-wicket victory at Lord’s to secure 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 as the hosts, who lost the toss, posted 150-4 after being reduced to 70-4 in the 11th over when Heather Knight (2) was pinned lbw.
However, Australia reached their target with 17 balls to spare in front of nearly 29,000 spectators to increase their winning streak over their rivals to nine matches across the formats and deny England a first global title since the home 50-over World Cup success in 2017.
The class of Beth Mooney (64 off 49) and Phoebe Litchfield (48 off 35), who spanked precisely 100 off 76 balls for the second wicket in the evening sunshine, coupled with some wayward early England bowling, allowed Australia to reach 62-1 at the end of the powerplay.
The Southern Stars – for whom Litchfield struck an outrageous reverse-swept six – went on to complete the highest successful chase in a Women’s T20 World Cup final, eclipsing the 149 West Indies had scored against them in Kolkata back in 2016.
Neither Mooney nor Litchfield could guide Australia home, 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, off fellow spinner Linsey Smith – 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 won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2009, also on their own turf, but while she was unable to lead her side to victory as head coach this time around, there is no doubt the team have improved markedly since she took over last year in the wake of the 16-0 Ashes drubbing.
On that chastening tour, England lost all six white-ball games to Australia – three T20Is and as many ODIs – as well as the sole Test as fitness, fielding blunders and an inability to cope under pressure led to Edwards’ predecessor as coach Jon Lewis being sacked and Sciver-Brunt replacing Knight as captain.
You have to say those changes have paid off – the stirring semi-final win over South Africa earlier this week at The Oval proved that – but the fact they were emphatically beaten by Australia shows a gulf still exists between them and the women’s game’s benchmark side, who have now claimed 13 wins from 15 in all World Cup finals.
England have improved under head coach Charlotte Edwards – but not enough to beat Australia
This was a battle between the two unbeaten teams at this year’s World Cup – England and Australia had six wins from six coming in – and it was Edwards’ side’s impeccable record that went as they failed to win a home World Cup for the first time, with that 2009 T20 triumph joined by three 50-over trophies (1973, 1993, 2017).
England did well to get the score they did after losing openers Amy Jones (2) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (8) cheaply – the latter was out caught behind after in inspired review from Australia wicketkeeper Mooney – with Alice Capsey clubbing 23 off 20 deliveries, including a six, before she was bowled on the reverse sweep by Sophie Molineux.
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England lost the wickets of Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge early on in the final after being put in to bat
Kemp nailed the second maximum of the innings in a 13-run final over but England’s total, limited by some fine Australia fielding, always looked about 20 short and so it proved, despite Lauren Bell picking up the early wicket of Georgia Voll (9), bowled off an edge.
By the time Charlie Dean rearranged Litchfield’s stumps and Ecclestone trapped Mooney leg before, it was too little, too late, with Ecclestone’s five wides down the leg-side in the 18th over ending a contest that had long been settled.
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Lauren Bell dismissed Australia opener Georgia Voll in the second over of the run chase
Australia claim another trophy after barren few years
Australia had failed to win either of the previous two ICC events – they were knocked out in the semi-finals at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the UAE and last year’s 50-over edition in India – but are now back at the apex of the game.
The Southern Stars will aim to boost their trophy haul further at the first 20-over Women’s Champions Trophy, which will be held in Sri Lanka in February 2027.
They will then travel to England in the summer for an Ashes series that is hopefully way more competitive than the last.
But that is for next year.
While Australia celebrate more success, England must shrug off this disappointment and quicky switch focus to the first-ever women’s Test match at Lord’s – against India from Friday, live on Sky Sports from 10am (11am first ball). As ever, cricket never stops.
