AUSTRALIA WIN WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP

November 25, 2018

Australia has defeated England by eight wickets in the final of the women’s T20 World Cup to capture the title for the fourth time.  Australia won five of their six matches to win the tournament, held in the West Indies.

Captained by Meg Lanning, the Australian squad featured familiar names, such as Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Nicole Bolton, Rachael Haynes, Beth Mooney, and Ashleigh Gardner.

Australia were in Group B alongside India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Ireland.  They opened their campaign with a 52 run win over Pakistan.  Alyssa Healy top scored with 48 from 29 balls, and was named the player of the match.  In their second clash, Australia held Ireland to just 93 runs, and reached the target in the tenth over for the loss of just one wicket.  Alyssa Healy again top scored with a blistering 56 not out from 31 deliveries, to collect her second Player of the Match award.

Australia made it three from three with a 33 run victory over New Zealand.  Alyssa Healy was again at her best, scoring53 from 38 balls.  Megan Schutt was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/12.  The Australians suffered a setback when they were beaten by 48 runs by India.  Ellyse Perry became the first Australian to play in 100 T20 international matches, and took 3/16.  Perry also top scored with an unbeaten 39 from 28 balls, but Australia were all out for 119 with two balls to spare.

After finishing second to India in their group, Australia faced host nation West Indies in the semi-final.  Australia made 5/142, with Alyssa Healy again top scoring with 46.  The home side was skittled for 71 in the eighteenth over.

India suffered a surprising loss to England in the second semi-final.  England won the toss and elected to bat first in the final.  They were all out for 105 in the final over.  Ashleigh Gardner was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking 3/22.  In reply, Australia reached the target in the sixteenth over for the loss of just two wickets.  Ashleigh Gardner completed a Player of the Match performance by top scoring with 33 from 26 deliveries.

Alyssa Healy was the tournament’s leading run scorer with 225.  Ashleigh Gardner and Megan Schutt were the equal leading wicket takers alongside Deandra Dottin of the West Indies.  All three players took ten wickets.  Elysse Perry took nine wickets, and became the first Australian to take 100 wickets in T20 international matches.  Alyssa Healy was named the Player of the Tournament.