Australia defeated South Africa in front of a large crowd at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday to win the Women’s T20 World Cup once more to become a T20 World Cup champion. Beth Mooney led all scorers with 74* as the top-ranked team in the world recording 156/6. South Africa’s chase was slowed by an outstanding bowling performance, as the Proteas fell 20 runs short of their goal.
Australia has now won six Women’s T20 World Cup championships thanks to their success, and they have also accomplished a “three-peat” under Meg Lanning’s leadership by winning in 2018, 2020, and now 2023. With a target of 157 to defend, Australia’s bowlers slowed down South Africa’s openers’ scoring rate at the outset of the reply, giving up just 22 runs in the Powerplay and sending the in-form Tazmin Brits back to the dugout by the lightning-quick Darcie Brown.
Australia, T20 World Cup champions
With 105 runs still needed at drinks and ten overs left, a Brown catch led to Marizanne Kapp’s dismissal for a run-a-ball 11 off Ash Gardner as South Africa failed to increase its scoring rate. After Laura Wolvaardt struck a huge stroke after a great shot to advance to 61 from 48 balls, South Africa’s brilliance threatened to re-enter the match.
Nevertheless, as the required rate of scoring proved to be too much for South Africa in the final overs, Megan Schutt removed Wolvaardt and Jess Jonassen cleaned up the dangerous Chloe Tryon (25 from 23). In the end, Australia won easily by 19 runs to add yet another trophy to their already-overflowing cabinet of honor. After those emotional scenes at the anthems, Australia’s openers did a terrific job to dampen down the atmosphere, making it through a tense opening few overs.
Australia has done it as they are now World Cup champions in 2023
But Alyssa Healy was the first wicket to fall for 18 when Nadine de Klerk held on to a chance off the bowling of Kapp. Australia opted to promote Ash Gardner ahead of Meg Lanning in the batting line-up, but a stunning maiden over from Shabnim Ismail ensured the score was just 36/1 at the end of the Powerplay. The decision to promote Gardner up the order did pay off, with the all-rounder smashing consecutive sixes as she upped the scoring rate.
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And the total had stretched to 73/1 by the time drinks were taken midway through the innings. It looked like Gardner was in a position to take the game away from South Africa, but spin-bowling all-rounder Chloe Tryon broke the stand, sending her packing for 29 from 21 balls thanks to an excellent catch from Sune Luus.
Cricket in South Africa had a difficult day against the T20 World Cup champion
At Newlands, there was a standing-room-only crowd and an intense atmosphere as the home audience embraced the chance to support their nation in a senior T20 World Cup champion for the first time. After the national anthems were performed, many people within the stadium were in tears, and excitement was strong as South Africa took the field after being requested to do so by Australian captain Meg Lanning.
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With their adaptable batting lineup, Australia once more chose to be proactive, moving the strong Grace Harris up the order. In her T20I career, Harris had a remarkable strike rate, but she struggled to get going and was defeated by Nonlululeko Mlaba for 10 off 9 balls. Meg Lanning, who entered at number five, could only add 10 from 11 before she was stopped by Kapp, putting Australia in jeopardy of recording a subpar total.
Ten runs off the first two balls of the final over gave Australia the momentum they needed for a dramatic finish. The goal was set at 157 to win, but Ismail responded strongly, dismissing Ellyse Perry (7) and Georgia Wareham (0) off consecutive balls.
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