Australia women become T20 World Cup champions for sixth time

• Australia defeated South Africa by 19 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup final.
• Beth Mooney scored an unbeaten 74 in a total of 156 for six.
• South Africa were unable to match required run rate and were restricted to 137 for six.

Australia defeated South Africa by 19 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup final on Sunday at Newlands to win the tournament for the sixth time.

Beth Mooney batted first for Australia, scoring an unbeaten 74 in a total of 156 for six.

Despite opener Laura Wolvaardt hitting 61 off 48 balls, South Africa were unable to match the required run rate and were restricted to 137 for six.

Wolvaardt and semifinalist Tazmin Brits struggled to find gaps in the field, scoring only 17 runs before being caught at mid-on by Darcie Brown on the final ball of the fifth over.

Sune Luus, the captain of South Africa, was run out for two, and Marizanne Kapp hit two boundaries but was out for 11 as well. At that point, the home team still needed 103 runs from 56 balls.

When Wolvaardt was caught leg before wicket by Megan Schutt in the 17th over, the match was essentially over despite the hard-hitting Chloe Tryon and Wolvaardt’s attacking fourth wicket partnership of 55 off 37 balls giving a nearly capacity crowd of about 15,000 hope.

While a series of partners batted aggressively, the left-handed Mooney played a measured innings, scoring her 74 runs off 53 balls.

Both Ash Gardner and Grace Harris batted before the captain, Meg Lanning, and they both seemed to be given the go-ahead to take their shots.

The bowlers for South Africa displayed consistency, and their fielding was also enthusiastic. Veteran bowlers Shabnim Ismail and Kapp each claimed two wickets.

It’s a sixth Women’s #T20WorldCup title for Australia ✨

They successfully defended 156 to break South Africa’s hearts in Cape Town.#AUSvSA | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/3uCbCn2Hjl

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— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2023

However, Australia distinguished themselves by tenaciously and athletically defending their total, putting the South African batters under constant pressure.

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