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Mooney’s 74* leads clinical Australia to sixth T20 World Cup title
In a high-pressure game which saw nerves from both sides, South Africa fell short by 19 runs.
Truth be told, this was a game of high-intensity cricket, fitting of a grand finale. The pressure was immense, and Australia, more skilled and adept at handling big-match temperament – this was their seventh straight final – came up triumphs to clinch their sixth T20 World Cup title and their third in a row.
If anyone needed more validation that this is the best women’s cricket team in the planet, it couldn’t have been delivered more convincingly. Australia made 156 seem like 180, before their bowlers stood tall on the face of a late assault from Laura Wolvaardt that threatened to take the game away.
South Africa needed 59 off 30 balls at one stage, with Woolvardt pumping a packed Newlands crowd with some of the most aesthetically-pleasing shots. Then, much to their agony, she swiped across the line to a full delivery from Megan Schutt and was trapped lbw. South African hearts sank, a teary Woolvardt trudged off slowly, and boisterous applause gave way to stunned silence.
Brief scores:
Australia 156 for 6 (Beth Mooney 74*, Shabnim Ismail 2-26, Marizzane Kapp 2-35) beat South Africa 137 for 6 (Laura Wolvaardt 61, Chloe Tryon 25, Ashleigh Gardner 1-20) by 19 runs
