Published July 5, 2026
Australia defeated England by seven wickets in a one-sided final to qualify for their seventh Women’s T20 World Cup at a packed Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
A brilliant second-wicket century partnership between Beth Mooney (64 runs) and Phoebe Litchfield (48 runs) enabled Australia to chase the winning target of 151 with 17 balls remaining on Sunday.
Australia, who defeated England 16-0 in the multi-format Ashes 18 months ago, once again outperformed their rivals overall to win the trophy.
“That’s the only way to play T20 cricket – to throw the first punch. We just tried to get the run rate down as quickly as possible,” said Litchfield, who scored 48 runs off just 35 balls.
She credits Mooney with taking the pressure off the run chase.
“‘Moodos made it look effortless out there and took the pressure off me. And we were able to form a great partnership,” she said.
“It feels great to contribute and winning the World Cup is incredible.”
Mooney scored 64 off 49 balls for Australia and was named the tournament’s player of the match as he went through the tournament unbeaten.
“I just tried to get the game going as quickly as possible,” she said.
“This is a great icing on what has been a really great tournament for the group.”
England’s record of 150-4 under par was built around an unbroken partnership of 80 between captain Nat Silver-Brant and Freya Kemp.
Siver-Brandt scored 58 off 53 balls and Kemp scored 44 off 28 balls, including six in a row from Sophie Molyneux in the final over, but a slow start forced her to start from the back.
Australia made England 39-2 in the first six overs. Lucy Hamilton took her first wicket at the World Cup, playing a diagonal pass past Amy Jones and giving England the lead for six when Georgia Voll caught her low in the gully.
Wicketkeeper Mooney took a superb tumbling catch from glove to foot side to take out the tournament’s top scorer Danny Wyatt Hodge with eight runs and give Annabelle Sutherland her 50th wicket in T20 internationals.
Alice Capsey hit Ash Gardner for a six deep midwicket as England tried to break the stranglehold, but she was reverse-swept by Molineux for 23 and Heather Knight was trapped for two at lbw by the stingy Kim Garth, taking 1-20 from four overs.
Shiver Brunt and Kemp upped the ante, but the modest goals were not enough to test Australia.
The Vols showed Australia’s intent by hitting the first ball from Charlie Dean to the boundary line, and although the opening batsman then deflected to leave Lauren Bell trailing for nine, Mooney and Lichfield repelled England’s attack.
They took most of their targets in the first 10 overs, reaching 98-1 and keeping their feet on the floor.
Lichfield, who hit two sixes, was bowled by Dean and Mooney followed LBW to Sophie Ecclestone, but Ecclestone’s catch was controversially ruled out by the TV referee, allowing Ellyse Perry to save and see Australia home.
Victory was secured with four wides from Ecclestone’s wayward shot. It was a great summation of England’s day.
“They (Australia) have been at the forefront for many years,” England manager Charlotte Edwards said.
“You have to be at your best to beat them and we weren’t, that’s why they’re lifting the trophy now.
“Despite the loss today, I don’t think we need to be disappointed. This is a very good Australian team that has taken women’s cricket by storm and we are not far behind.”
