On this day in 2023, the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 delivered an exciting contest at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. In a memorable clash, Australia women's national cricket team defeated the South Africa women's national cricket team by 19 runs to lift the trophy. The victory was historic as Australia secured their sixth Women’s T20 World Cup title, further strengthening their dominance in women’s cricket.
Australia Became Champions for the Third Consecutive Time
With this win, Australia achieved another milestone by winning the Women’s T20 World Cup for the third time in a row. Both teams gave their best in the high-pressure final, but Australia maintained control for most of the match. Their disciplined performance once again proved why they are considered one of the strongest teams in modern cricket.
Beth Mooney’s Brilliant 74-Run Knock
Australia’s opener Beth Mooney played a crucial role in the final. She scored an unbeaten 74 runs and anchored the innings with calm and smart batting. Her performance helped Australia reach a competitive total on the scoreboard. Notably, Mooney had also been the top scorer for Australia in the 2020 final, highlighting her consistency in big matches.
Australia Posted 156 Runs on the Board
Riding on Mooney’s outstanding innings, Australia posted a total of 156 runs while batting first. Considering the pressure of a World Cup final, the target proved challenging for South Africa. Other Australian batters also contributed valuable runs, helping the team reach a strong total.
Slow Start for South Africa
Chasing 156, South Africa did not get the start they were hoping for. Australia’s pace and spin bowlers applied early pressure. In the first six overs of the powerplay, South Africa managed to score only 22 runs and also lost an early wicket. Their slow scoring rate from the beginning increased the pressure on the team.
Laura Wolvaardt’s Fighting 61
After the early setbacks, opener Laura Wolvaardt steadied the innings for South Africa. She played a composed knock of 61 runs, keeping her team’s hopes alive and adding excitement to the contest.
Partnership with Chloe Tryon
Wolvaardt received good support from Chloe Tryon at the crease. The duo built a valuable half-century partnership and tried to take the team closer to the target. While both players were batting, the match seemed evenly balanced and could have gone either way.
Back-to-Back Wickets Turned the Game
Just when South Africa appeared to be gaining momentum, the match suddenly shifted. Both Wolvaardt and Tryon were dismissed in consecutive overs, slowing down the scoring rate and putting South Africa under pressure. From that point, Australia tightened their grip on the match.
Australia Won the Final by 19 Runs
After losing those key wickets, South Africa struggled to recover and eventually fell short by 19 runs. Australia’s disciplined bowling combined with Beth Mooney’s outstanding batting performance sealed the victory. With this win, Australia lifted their sixth Women’s T20 World Cup trophy, marking another golden chapter in their cricket history.
