Beth Mooney punished anything loose and Phoebe Litchfield unfurled her full range of shots as they carried Australia Women to a comfortable seven-wicket win over England Women in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup final match at Lord's on Sunday.
This is Australia's seventh T20 World Cup title. They also lifted the trophy in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023.
Sophie Molineux, the Australia captain, called correctly at the toss and chose to bowl first. Her bowlers answered the call by bowling good lines and lengths as they restricted England to 150/4 in 20 overs. Australia raced to 153/3 in 17.1 overs.
Mooney put on a masterclass in chasing with her brilliant 64 from 49 deliveries (10×4s). This is her ninth half-century in T20 World Cups. She is tied with Nat Sciver-Brunt for the joint-most 50-plus scores in the tournament's history. Mooney faced 38 deliveries to reach the milestone. The experienced campaigner shared an outstanding 100-run second-wicket partnership from 67 balls with Litchfield, who scored 48 runs from 35 deliveries.
𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍-𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 🇦🇺🏆
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 5, 2026
Australia are back at the top of the #T20WorldCup 🏏🥇#SSCricket | #HereForHer pic.twitter.com/E5SZzH5SB1
Mooney and Litchfield took the game away from England in the first six overs. Unlike their England counterparts, who were rooted in the crease, the duo used their feet well and disrupted the England bowlers' lines and lengths. Australia raced to 62/1 at the close of the powerplay. In comparison, England were on 39/2 at the same stage.
𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙖'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧 ⭐️
— ICC (@ICC) July 5, 2026
Beth Mooney is the @aramco Player of the Tournament 🎖️ pic.twitter.com/JVdBGpca6K
Their partnership upstaged Nat Sciver-Brunt and Freya Kemp's 80-run fifth-wicket stand for England. Sciver-Brunt and Kemp, who got together in the 11th over, halted England's regular loss of wickets and ensured that the hosts put a respectable total on the board. Sciver-Brunt finished the match with an unbeaten 58 from 53 balls, while Kemp was not out on 44 from 28 deliveries.
Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt with a beautiful boundary as England push on 👊
— ICC (@ICC) July 5, 2026
Watch the #T20WorldCup Final LIVE, broadcast details 👉 https://t.co/niBjzedxPu pic.twitter.com/husUsjSzNQ
Sciver-Brunt, who top-scored for the hosts, played within herself for most of the innings. She scored at less than a run-a-ball until the last three overs when she injected a bit of impetus into her knock. In contrast, Kemp came out swinging. Unfortunately for England, she was the only batter who adopted an aggressive approach. The rest absorbed pressure and were dismissed before they got going.
Mooney and Litchfield took Australia to within 34 runs of victory. Their partnership collapsed when Litchfield fell to Charlie Dean's bowling. Mooney followed Litchfield back into the dressing room three overs later when she was trapped lbw by Sophie Ecclestone. Unfortunately, England's fightback came a little too late. Ellyse Perry (13*) and Ash Gardner (3*) saw Australia over the finishing line with 17 balls to spare.
All the emotions from the Women's #T20WorldCup 2026 champions 🇦🇺😍 pic.twitter.com/eSVNoO0fmo
— ICC (@ICC) July 5, 2026
Australia's bowlers laid the groundwork for the batters to shine. Kim Garth was the most successful of the lot with a single wicket for 20 runs in four overs. Lucy Hamilton, Sophie Molineux, and Annabel Sutherland also claimed a wicket each, but had higher run rates. Georgia Wareham was the most economical. She conceded a mere nine runs in two overs.
England's wait for a T20 World Cup title will have to stretch into the next edition. They last won it in 2009.
ENGLAND: Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
AUSTRALIA: Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (capt), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton.