Australia vs South Africa Women's T20 World Cup final: Beth Mooney's 74 takes AUS-W to 156/6

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Australia set a 157-run target to chase for hosts South Africa in the Women's T20 World Cup final on Sunday as Beth Mooney scored 74 not out with the rest of the batting order struggling around her in Cape Town.

South African pacer Shabnim Ismail delivered a spell of 2/26 to become the most successful wicket-taker in the Women's T20 World Cup. Senior spinner Marizanne Kapp also bowled a 2/35 spell as the five-time champions couldn't play their familiar dominant cricket at the Newlands Cricket Ground.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Alyssa Healy and Mooney quickly added 36 runs for the first wicket before Marizanne Kapp removed the former for 18 runs.

Newly-in Ashleigh Gardner kept the scoreboard ticking with Mooney as the all-rounder added a 21-ball 29 runs off the 46-run second-wicket stand with Mooney. The stand was ended by Chloe Tyron before it could shift the gear.

Sensing the urgency to score quickly, skipper Meg Lanning sent pinch-hitter Grace Harris ahead of her but the experiment didn't work as the batter was gone after scoring just 10 runs off nine balls.

Lanning too had a bad final with the bat as she was gone after scoring 10 as well with the Australian scoreboard reading 122/4 in the 18th over.

Mooney then changed to a more aggressive stance as she brought up her half century and went on to hit further boundaries to take Australia past 150. The opener smashed nine fours and a six during her 53-ball stay at the crease.

Ismail brought up her milestone late in the innings by dismissing Tahlia McGrath (7) and Georgia Wareham (0) as South Africa kept themselves in the game with an achievable target to chase.

More to follow...