Australia emerged champions of the Women’s T20 World Cup for the sixth time, prevailing over South Africa by 19 runs in the final at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.
This was also a hat-trick of T20 world titles for the Australians as they had also triumphed in the previous two editions of the tournament.
For the South Africans, this was their best chance to win a world title on home soil. The bowlers did do an impressive job, but their Australian counterparts simply out-performed them, crushing their hopes of a World Cup win.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Australia rode on opener Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 53-ball 74 to post 156/6. Almost all the South African bowlers stuck to their task, erring in line and length on very few occasions.
Barring Mooney and No.3 batter Ashleigh Gardner (29 off 21 balls), none of the others in the Australian line-up could put the South African bowlers under any kind of pressure. This goes on to show how crucial the duo’s contributions with the bat were.
To talk of the South African bowlers, Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp struck twice each. Ayabonga Khaka (0/27) was economical even though she went wicketless.
Having restricted Australia to below 160, South Africa certainly believed they could scale the summit. But in spite of the in-form Laura Wolvaardt (61 off 48 balls) firing at the top, Australia continued to hold the upper hand, thanks to their bowlers.
The likes of Megan Schutt, Gardner and Darcie Brown gave little away as South Africa were left with too much to do in the end. All that the hosts could manage was 137/6 as the Australian bowlers remained calm right through.
“It’s a pretty special effort from the group,” Australia captain Meg Lanning said at the post-match presentation.
“All the teams came hard at us, but I’m super proud of the way we kept fighting back. We felt like it (156/6) was a good score, but we had to put pressure on South Africa.
“It was about enjoying the process and doing what we had to. It was about keeping things simple when the pressure is on. And the girls did exactly so. Thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Mooney was adjudged Player of the Match, while Gardner won the Player-of-the-Tournament award.
