Women's T20 World Cup 2023: Full list of award winners, Player of the Match in final, Player of the Tournament

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Cape Town, Feb 26: Australia women's cricket team became the first side to win Women's T20 World Cup for the sixth time as they defeated hosts South Africa by 19 runs in the final played at Newlands Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Australia played their fourth final on the trot in the competition while winning the title for the third consecutive time after winning it in 2018 and 2020 respectively.

Australian opener Beth Mooney starred in the win as she scored 74 not out to take Australia to 156/6 in the 20 overs after Meg Lanning won the toss and opted to bat first. In reply, South Africa were stuck at 137/6 despite a fighting half-century from Laura Wolvaardt, who fell at a crucial juncture after scoring her third back-to-back fifty this tournament.

Among other players to make a big contribution in the match was Ashleigh Gardner, who scored a crucial 21-ball 29 and then bowled a 1/20 in four overs. Pacer Megan Schutt (1/23), Darcie Brown (1/25), and Jess Jonasson (1/21) put in good shifts with the ball as well for the winning side.

Among South African bowlers, Shabnim Ismail (2/35) scripted history by becoming the most successful bowler in the history of the competition. Marizanne Kapp delivered a 2/29 spell as well to restrict Australia to a par total.

Full list of award winners at Women's T20 World Cup

Player of the match (final) Beth Mooney (AUS): 74* runs
Player of the tournament Ash Gardner (AUS): 110 runs and 10 wickets
Most runs Laura Wolvaardt (SA): 230 runs
Most wickets Sophie Ecclestone (ENG): 11 wickets
Highest score Muneeba Ali (PAK): 102 runs
Highest batting strike rate Ayesha Naseem (PAK): 181.48
Most sixes Laura Wolvaardt: 5
Most fours Nat Sciver-Brunt (ENG): 28
Most 50s Laura Woolvaardt and Beth Mooney: 3
Best bowling spell Ash Gardner: 5/12
Best bowling economy rate Grace Harris (AUS): 2.33
Most maidens Shabnim Ismail (SA): 3
Most dot balls Darcie Brown (AUS): 78

Women's T20 World Cup: Post-match presentation ceremony comments

Meg Lanning (Australia captain): "It's a pretty special effort from the group, all the teams came really hard and we knew that was gonna happen, but to be able to perform so well throughout the tournament, super proud.

"We felt it was a good score but you have to bowl well with the wicket not as good as it was in the semi-final, so we were confident if we could hit the right lengths and target the stumps enough, we will be able to put South Africa under pressure, I thought our powerplay was excellent and that really set the tone.

"It is just about enjoying the opportunity and making sure that we are focused on what we are doing. We knew it was gonna be an amazing atmosphere which it was.

"It was a great event and we got some really good experience within the group and we wanted to really call on that and make sure when the pressure was on we are able to keep things simple and get things done and that's what everybody did.

"The people (of South Africa) have been super-friendly and the tournament has been amazing, so we thoroughly enjoyed it and certainly nice to finish off with the win here with this group.

"It's a special group, not just the players but the support staff who put a lot of work behind the scenes, so just want thank all that back group over there who certainly allowed us to go out there and play some cricket and really enjoy ourselves and also my family and friends are here. All the support from back home and here, it's been amazing."

Sune Luus (South Africa captain): "It's been amazing. To play at our home ground, with so many people supporting is amazing. Thank you Newlands for all the support, we love you guys a lot. If you told me before the game Australia were getting 156 I would have taken it.

"We lost wickets at crucial times, we knew they had a quality bowling line up. We lost the game but we can still be proud of the way we played in the tournament. I don't think women's cricket is going backwards at the moment. Some exciting moments are waiting in the coming months. I hope there is a lot of development in this front in the country.

"So many girls want to pick up a bat and ball, so the schools had to get girls cricket. They got to be starting club cricket as well with more girls knocking on the door.

"Firstly, you guys (Australia) are very annoying (smiles). But, congratulations to Meg and her team. You have been inspirational in world cricket for a long time and lot of the players look up to you guys and you showed your class again. I think my wish is just to keep on growing.

"We have set the platform today. Pressure is womens sports in his country, on the Minister of Sports, CSA and everyone to keep growing womens sport in this country... whether it is financially or the pipeline, just need to keep growing and pushing."

Ashleigh Gardner (Player of the tournament): "We have been longing for this moment since the last World Cup. We weren't in winning positions in certain phases, but we scrapped and got through. Probably the semifinal performance with the bat against India was the best of this tournament for me. We have won this tournament.

"We spoke about wanting to do this, so really proud. Confidence in my bowling. I have bowled quite a bit even in the Big Bash. Thankfully it (form) has come into international cricket as well.

"Proud is probably as understatement for the impact we have had globally as a team. Very fortunate to be part of this team and it something later in life I am going to be super proud of."

Beth Mooney (Player of the match): "Very special win. Incredible to be here in South Africa and play in a ground as special as this. I wasn't really calm in the middle. The girls will tell you later.

"The crowd were very impressive. It was a really tough wicket and I was a little too hard on myself in the middle. Really disappointed with my outings in the first couple of games. But the team always believed in me to turn it around. The whole squad, support staff have been amazing.

Grace Harris: "You definitely won't be able to wipe the smile off my face tonight, I'm just so happy about how we played throughout the tournament. I thought 156 it could be bit challenging, considering the other 2 games were 170-plus score plus and they were close semi-finals.

"To get the win against South Africa in front of the packed Newlands, who weren't cheering for us (which is fair enough), this is outstanding and I love my experience here.

"She (Lanning) just said to back my skills as we needed to up the rate, walking out to bat it's something I look forward to in a game, I just loved it."