Finance
Australia won the Women’s T20 World Cup for the second time on Sunday, defeating South Africa by 19 runs in front of a raucous crowd at Newlands.
Beth Mooney top-scored with 74* as the world’s top-ranked team posted 156/6, and South Africa’s chase was stifled by a brilliant bowling display, with the Proteas falling short of their target.
Australia has now won six Women’s T20 World Cup titles, and they have completed a ‘three-peat’ under Meg Lanning’s captaincy, winning in 2018, 2020, and now 2023, according to the ICC.
Tasked with defending a target of 157, Australia’s bowlers slowed South Africa’s openers’ scoring rate at the start of the reply, conceding only 22 runs in the Powerplay and with the score at 157 and with in-form Tazmin Brits sent back to the dugout by the electric Darcie Brown.
Marizanne Kapp was dismissed for a run-a-ball 11 off Ash Gardner thanks to a Brown catch, as South Africa struggled to increase the scoring rate, with 105 runs still needed at drinks with ten overs remaining.
Laura Wolvaardt’s brilliance threatened to bring South Africa back into the game as she hit big shot after big shot to reach 61 from 48 balls.
The required rate of scoring proved too much for South Africa in the death overs, as Megan Schutt removed Wolvaardt and Jess Jonassen cleaned up the dangerous Chloe Tryon (25 from 23).
And Australia won comfortably in the end, winning by 19 runs to add to the team’s burgeoning trophy cabinet.
Source:IANS
