London [UK], July 5 (ANI): A composed half-century from Beth Mooney and a fluent knock from Phoebe Litchfield guided Australia to a comfortable victory over England, securing the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 title at Lord’s on Sunday.
Australia claimed a record-extending seventh Women’s T20 World Cup crown with a disciplined run chase, reaching the 151-run target with 17 balls to spare.
After losing opener Georgia Voll to Lauren Bell in the second over, Australia quickly regained control through the experienced Beth Mooney and the aggressive Phoebe Litchfield.
Mooney anchored the innings by rotating the strike efficiently while capitalizing on loose deliveries. Litchfield played the attacking role, taking on England’s bowlers with confident strokeplay through the off side and over midwicket. The pair powered Australia to 62/1 at the end of the powerplay, the second-highest powerplay score in a Women’s T20 World Cup knockout match, behind Australia’s own 63/2 against the West Indies earlier in the tournament.
The partnership carried Australia past the 100-run mark in the 11th over before Charlie Dean dismissed Litchfield for a well-made 48 in the 13th over.
Ellyse Perry then joined Mooney at the crease as the latter brought up her half-century in 38 balls. It was Mooney’s ninth T20 World Cup fifty, drawing her level with Nat Sciver-Brunt for the most half-centuries in the tournament’s history.
Mooney continued to dominate, scoring 12 runs in an over from Freya Kemp before Sophie Ecclestone dismissed her for 64 in the 16th over.
Ashleigh Gardner then joined Perry, and the pair completed the chase in the 18th over to seal Australia’s seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title.
Earlier, Australia’s disciplined bowling attack restricted England to 150/4 after skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt produced another resilient half-century.
Asked to bat first, England endured a shaky start. Wicketkeeper Amy Jones was dismissed for 7, while opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge managed just 8 during the powerplay.
Alice Capsey attempted to counterattack with a brisk 23 before her dismissal left England at 67/3. Heather Knight followed soon after for 2, reducing the hosts to 70/4.
Sciver-Brunt once again anchored the innings with a composed unbeaten 58 off 53 balls, absorbing the pressure before accelerating late in the innings.
At the other end, Freya Kemp provided valuable support with an aggressive 44 off 28 deliveries. Their 80-run partnership from 55 balls stabilized England’s innings after the early collapse and lifted the total to a competitive 150/4.
England added 13 runs in the final over to provide a late boost.
Australia’s bowling effort was led by Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Lucy Hamilton, and Kim Garth, who each claimed one wicket to keep England’s batting in check. (ANI)
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