T20 World Cup final, Lord’s
England 150-4 (20 overs): Sciver-Brunt 58* (53), Kemp 44 (28)
Australia 153-3 (17.1 overs): Mooney 64 (49), Litchfield 48* (35)
Australia won by seven wickets
England’s T20 World Cup hopes were crushed as Australia clinched their seventh title with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory at Lord’s.
Despite all of England’s improvements to this point, their Ashes rivals ensured there would be no first trophy for the hosts since their iconic win on this ground in 2017, as Australia instead delivered an emphatic display of their strength.
England struggled to cut loose in making 150-4 – captain Nat Sciver-Brunt needing 53 balls for 58 – before Australia brutally put that score into context.
After Georgia Voll was bowled by Lauren Bell in the second over, Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney put on a dismissive partnership of 100 in just 67 balls.
By the time Litchfield fell for 48, Australia needed only 34 runs from 42 balls.
Mooney took them within 11 of the finish line in a brilliant 64, before one more piece of England-Australia controversy.
With seven runs needed, Sophie Ecclestone appeared to have taken a clean catch to dismiss Ellyse Perry in the 17th over, but Perry was called back by the TV umpire.
The crowd booed and Ecclestone was incensed but it would have had no impact. The winning runs came when England’s spinner bowled five wides in the next over.
The victory margin denied the tournament a competitive finale fitting of the day, with Lord’s filled by a capacity crowd in another landmark moment for the women’s game.
The occasion is one positive for England, as are the signs of progress they have shown under coach Charlotte Edwards at this tournament, but Australia were ultimately a class above yet again.
