Women's T20 World Cup final: Australia beat South Africa by 19 runs to lift record sixth title

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Australia women's cricket team scripted history on Sunday when they defeated hosts South Africa by 19 runs in the final in Cape Town to lift the Women's T20 World Cup for the sixth time.

They also won the Women's T20 World Cup for the third time in a row as they won the previous two editions in 2020 and 2018.

Beth Mooney starred in the win as the opener scored a 74 not out to take Australia to 156/6 in 20 overs at the Newlands Cricket Ground. In response, South Africa could only manage 137/6 in 20 overs.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Mooney and Alyssa Healy quickly scored runs to give a good start to the Australians. However, experienced Marizanne Kapp removed in-form Healy for 18 as the partnership folded for 36 runs inside the powerplay.

Ashleigh Gardner then played a quick 29 runs off 21 balls in a 46-run second wicket with Mooney, who was happy to let Gardner take the charge. The partnership was ended by Chloe Tryon in the 13th over.

Pinch-hitter Grace Harris was promoted up the order to score quickly but could score just 10 runs while Meg Lanning followed suit too with Australia suddenly down to 122/4.

Mooney upped her tempo to take Australia past 150 while pacer Shabnim Ismail dismissed Tahlia McGrath (7) and Georgia Wareham (0) to become the most successful bowler in the history of the Women's T20 World Cup.

Chasing the target, South Africa struggled against in-form Australian bowling as they were down to 54/3 by the 11th over with Tazmin Brits (10), Marizanne Kapp (11) and skipper Sune Luus (2) couldn't do much to help the team.

However, opener Laura Wolvaardt, who scored half-centuries in the last two games, kept the hosts in the final with her third half-century. She crucially added 55 runs for the fourth wicket with Tyron (25).

The fightback ended in the 17th over as pacer Megan Schutt dismissed Wolvaardt with 48 runs yet to be scored. Tyron fell in the next over to Jess Jonasson as Australia soon took the game to lift the title for the sixth time.

More to follow...