Australia’s domination continued as they broke South African hearts with 19-run win over the hosts at Newlands, Cape Town in women’s T20 World Cup 2023 final. The Meg Lanning-led side outclassed South Africa in all departments of the game to win their sixth T20 World Cup title and leave South Africa players in tears.
Quiet powerplay overs
South Africa's run chase of 157 started off poorly. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits did not use powerplay overs well. Only two boundaries came in the fifth over. As a result, Tazmin lost her wicket to Darcie Brown in an attempt to clear the inner field. She scored just 10 runs from 17 deliveries. After powerplay overs, South Africa had 22/1 on the board.
Wolvaardt special
After the powerplay overs, Laura tried to accelerate. The first six of the innings came in the eighth over. But Marizanne could not do carry on and became Gardner's victim for a run-a-ball 11. At halfway stage, South Africa had 52/2, needing 105 more runs to win. In the 11th over, skipper Sune Luus (2) became victim to a terrible mix-up with Laura and got run out.
In the 13th over, Tahlia faltered and bowled two no balls. She gave Laura a chance to break free as she hit the second six of the innings. In the 14th over, Chloe Tryon joined the attack as well. Laura struck the third six of the innings. She reached her half-century from 43 deliveries in the 15th over. Gardner bowled well to put pressure back on South Africa as they needed 53 off the last four overs.
South Africa choke again
Megan Schutt got the much-needed breakthrough as she trapped Laura in front of the wickets. The opener scored 61 runs from 48 deliveries including five fours and three sixes. In the 18th over, Tryon hit a six but Jess Jonassen managed to beat her and found the stumps. Tryon scored 25 runs from 23 deliveries.
Only one boundary came off the penultimate bowler bowled by Schutt. South Africa needed 27 runs off the final over against Gardner which was too tough a task to pull off for Sinalo Jafta and Nadine de Klerk. They managed to score just six runs as Australia won the match by 19 runs.
No fireworks in powerplay
Earlier, South Africa skipper won the toss and opted to field first. Australia got off to a decent start. Marizanne got the breakthrough in the fifth over with the wicket of Alyssa Healy who scored 18 runs from 20 deliveries. Shabnim Ismail closed off powerplay overs with a maiden as Australia had 36 runs on the board.
Another Gardner cameo
Once again, Gardner played a brilliant cameo as she was promoted up the order. She hit two sixes and two fours in her 21-ball 29 before Tryon got her wicket. After Gardner's wicket, Mooney accelerated. Nonkululeko Mlaba provided a breakthrough in the form of Grace Harris (10) in the fifth over.
Mooney's brilliant knock
After 17 overs, Australia were 122/3 despite Mooney and Lanning in the middle. Marizanne came back into the attack and removed Lanning to put more pressure on Australia. Despite Lanning's wicket, 12 runs were scored off the over.
Mooney reached her half-century from 44 deliveries. She became the first player to score two fifties in T20 World Cup finals. Ayabonga Khaka did not let Mooney and Perry score boundaries but still conceded 10 runs. In the final over, Mooney hit Ismail for a six and a four. Ismail came back well and got the wickets of Perry (7) and Georgian Wareham (0). Mooney remained unbeaten for 74 and helped Australia post 156/6.
