Australia vs South Africa: Women’s T20 World Cup – as it happened
All the updates from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 final between Australia and South Africa on February 26 as they happened.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Australia vs South Africa Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 final in Cape Town, South Africa on Sunday, February 26.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Australia vs South Africa Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 final in Cape Town, South Africa on Sunday, February 26.
- Australia have beaten South Africa by 19 runs to achieve a three-peat of T20 World Cup titles.
- Coming into the match, Australia had a 6-0 record against South Africa in the T20, with Australia ranked first in T20 internationals while South Africa was ranked third.
- South Africa played in their first final since the tournament began in 2009.
- Australia has won the T20 World Cup five times out of seven editions of the tournament, including the last two.
- The final took place in Cape Town at 13:00 GMT.
It’s a wrap
Australia complete a famous three-peat of T20 titles, and look to be the team to beat for the near future.
The women in yellow went unvanquished through the tournament, and all their key players came to the fore at various stages of the campaign.
Beth Mooney once again stepped up when her country needed her the most, and Ashleigh Gardner provided vital breakthroughs with both bat and ball.
Despite putting up a middling total of sorts, the Australian bowlers did very well to restrict South Africa early on during the powerplay.
However, when Chloe Tryon joined Laura Wolvaardt in the middle, the locals dared to dream again as their 55-run partnership propelled South Africa back into the contest.
But once both batswomen departed, it was just a matter of time as Australia tightened the noose on South Africa to secure a decisive victory.
Spare a thought for the Proteas, though, as they made great progress to reach an ICC tournament final for the first time in their history.
The men will certainly have a lot to glean from their female counterparts.
Thank you for keeping us company today, and we do hope to see you again soon!
T20 World Cup champions for a SIXTH time!
Best team on the planet 🤟 pic.twitter.com/P2c3Y4YsrQ
— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 26, 2023
Australia lift the T20 Women’s World Cup 2023 trophy
Lanning: ‘It’s a pretty special effort from the group’
Australian skipper Meg Lanning had this to say after her team collected the winners’ medals: “It’s a pretty special effort from the group. To be able to perform so well throughout the tournament, we are super proud.”
“We thought it was a good score, but we had to bowl well. The wicket wasn’t as good as the semifinal, but our power play was excellent and really set the tone. We wanted to make sure we were focused on what we had to do.”
The first ever captain to win five ICC trophies, the name is megastar MEG LANNING 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/KamBNJdTPn
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) February 26, 2023
Luus: ‘We need to keep on growing the sport’
The South African players receive their runners-up medals, and their captain sums up her views on the tournament overall:
Sune Luus: “To play to this crowd with so many people watching and supporting, we never imagined it. [Regarding the chase] If you would have told me before the game that Australia would have scored 156, we would have taken it. We lost wickets at crucial times. They bowled well and we are proud of how we did.
“[Regarding Australia] You guys are very annoying! But congratulations to Meg and the team. You are setting the benchmark for other teams to live up to. [On women’s cricket in South Africa] We just need to keep on growing the sport. We have set the platform today and throughout the tournament. We can’t go backwards. We need to keep growing through the pipeline and keep challenging Australia.”
Thank you Mzansi 🇿🇦
Your support has been incredible 🫶#T20WorldCup #MyHero #AlwaysRising pic.twitter.com/gw0Wo9g60z
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) February 26, 2023
Gardner is named player of the tournament
After accumulating 110 runs and 10 wickets, Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner is rightfully named as the player of the tournament: “We have been longing for this moment since the last World Cup. We played fantastic cricket throughout this tournament,” she said.
“We scrapped and fought. My role within the team is to try and change the game with bat and ball. We should all be really proud of ourselves.”
Ashleigh Gardner wins Player Of The Tournament award.
She was the costliest foreigner in the WPL auction.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 26, 2023
Mooney is named player of the match
For her unbeaten 74 off 53 deliveries, Australia’s Beth Mooney is awarded player of the match. “I wasn’t calm or collected out there. It was a really tough wicket. I walked off thinking we didn’t have enough on the board, but everyone did a great job in the end,” she said.
“I was really disappointed with my output in the first couple of games. The belief from the support staff and team was incredible, and helped me pull through. It is a very special group.”
Beth Mooney in finals:
74*(53) in 2023 T20 WC final.
61(41) in 2022 CWG final.
62(47) in 2022 ODI WC final.
78*(54) in 2020 T20 WC final.A Player born to perform in finals for Australia. pic.twitter.com/8PTC9gXkGp
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 26, 2023
Australian player reactions
The Aussies are in good spirits and will look to celebrate deep into the night.
Jess Jonassen had this to say after the match: “You can’t go into a final thinking you will not win the trophy. To South Africa’s credit, they took it right to the end. It was an incredible atmosphere.”
Ellyse Perry echoed her teammate: “It was an amazing game. Huge thank you to the crowd. It was up and down at times with the bowling. Wolvaardt batted exceptionally well. That partnership with Chloe [Tryon] put them in the hunt. I am glad we finished the way we did.”
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/35aXOin93O
— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 26, 2023
20 overs. South Africa 137-6
Australia are the 2023 T20 Women’s World Cup champions as they complete a 19-run victory over South Africa.
Local fans stare in disbelief as the women in yellow celebrate what is ultimately a rather comprehensive win.
There was a moment there when South Africans believed they could come out on top, especially when Wolvaardt and Tryon looked to put them in an unlikely position to win.
However, once both batswomen were dismissed, the writing was on the wall.
With that result, Australia achieve three consecutive T20 titles on the trot.
THREE-PEAT BABYYYYYY!!!#T20WorldCup
— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 26, 2023
19 overs. South Africa 130-6
Schutt finishes her spell with figures of 1-23 as South Africa are only able to earn another eight runs off the penultimate over.
This now leaves 27 runs to score off the final over if South Africa are to romp home to a win.
Gardner is tasked by Lanning to see her side through to another title.
South Africa 122-6. Bosch out
Having no choice but to turn back for two with the required rate getting out of hand, Bosch is run out at the striker’s end.
She is well short of her ground after Perry sends in the perfect throw to the keeper from deep behind square leg.
The buzz has died down around the ground as the hosts still need 35 off 12.
Massive! pic.twitter.com/YFkNoJ1KB4
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 26, 2023
South Africa 121-5. Tryon out
Jonassen, who bowls the 18th over, picks up another huge scalp as Tryon, after scoring a run-a-ball 25, plays all around a straighter one from the spinner.
Australia can smell blood now as Bosch joins de Klerk in the middle with South Africa still needing 36 off 14.
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJ!!!!!!
The ice queen delivers in her 100th T20 for Australia! #T20WorldCup
— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 26, 2023
South Africa 109-4. Wolvaardt out
Australia may have just won the trophy as Wolvaardt is caught plumb in front as she got down on one knee to slog Schutt down the leg side.
The opener immediately calls for a review, probably more out of desperation than hope, and ball tracking confirms the original decision was spot on.
It’s a big moment in the context of the match as she departs after scoring a crucial 61 to give her side a chance.
With that wicket, de Klerk walks out with South Africa needing 43 off 18 to pull off an unlikely victory.
That’s out. That’s Wolvaardt. That’s massive.
Gone for 61, SA need 48 off 21 #T20WorldCup
— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 26, 2023
15 overs. South Africa 98-3
Wareham is brought on to try to steady the ship for Australia, but it is just more doom and gloom as the batters pick up 15 more runs.
Tryon is able to power one through the leg side that beats a despairing boundary rider at long-on.
Wolvaardt adds six more soon after as she skips down the track to mow down Wareham.
Brown is asked to tackle the 15th over, and Wolvaardt reaches her 50 with a sumptuous drive through the covers.
The opener then creams one down the ground through long-on for a boundary to finish the over.
South Africa are all of a sudden right back into this contest as we head into the business end of the innings.
The equation is now 59 off 30.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Laura Wolvaardt does the 3-peat as her seventh T20I half-century is also her third in a row#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA #MyHero #AlwaysRising pic.twitter.com/eNgKGJi8eH
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) February 26, 2023
13 overs. South Africa 73-3
McGrath is asked to bowl.
The Australian bowls a few no-balls, one of them resulting in a free hit six over mid-wicket by Wolvaardt.
In the end, South Africa pick up a very handy 14 from the over and may have just found their launching pad.
12 overs. South Africa 59-3
Jonassen continues from her end and delivers for her side, allowing just four from the over.
South Africa require 98 off the final eight overs and will need to target someone soon if they are to dig themselves out of this precarious situation.
If the Proteas Women are to win this, 2 batswomen needs to score at a strike rate of 170.
— Noko (@TruthOrPeace_) February 26, 2023
South Africa 54-3. Luus out
A terrible mix-up between the batswomen results in the South African skipper having to trudge back to the pavilion as she is run out at the non-striker’s end.
This is absolutely a symptom of the scoreboard pressure created by Australia.
They have been unerringly accurate with the ball while also being aided by a wicket that has proven to be a much tricker surface in these second innings.
Tryon is the new batter, and she will need to build a partnership with Wolvaardt if South Africa are to have a chance at chasing down this total.
⚪ RUN OUT
Sune Luus (2) sets off but confusion in the middle sees her sent back and not make it in time
🇿🇦 South Africa 54/3 after 10.4 overs
📺 SuperSport Grandstand 201 & SABC 3#T20WorldCup #AUSvSA #MyHero #AlwaysRising
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) February 26, 2023
10 overs. South Africa 52-2
Wareham is invited to bowl as the South African captain walks to the middle.
The spinner does well to restrict the batters to just six off the over.
With that, we reach the halfway mark of the innings, and Australia are very much in control as the hosts need 105 off the final 10 overs to claim an unlikely victory.
South Africa 46-2. Kapp out
Jonassen is invited to bowl the eighth over by the Australian captain.
Wolvaardt decides to target her straightaway as she comes down the track and slams a six over mid-on with South Africa earning nine from the over.
Gardner comes back on to bowl the next over and rewards her captain by claiming Kapp.
The batswoman looks to slog through the leg side but instead offers up a chance to Brown at short third, who takes it with ease.
South Africa’s innings were looking to gather momentum, so that blow will definitely hurt.
Wickets don’t get much bigger! Ash Gardner gets Marizanne Kapp for 11.
SA now 2-46 (9) needing 101 off 66 #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/k7ET1r3eV7
— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 26, 2023
7 overs. South Africa 31-1
Schutt continues from her end for the sixth over.
She allows just five runs as Australia have clamped down on the scoring rather successfully so far.
Brown is rewarded for her earlier effort with another chance to roll her arm.
Wolvaardt greets her by clearing her front leg to mow her down the ground before Kapp gets into the act with a rasping drive through the covers.
South Africa earn nine from the over and will need plenty more as the required rate continues to push past nine an over.
South Africa 17-1. Brits out
Perry is called on to bowl the fourth over and does well to limit the batters to five runs.
It could have been just two, but another misfield, this time at short fine leg, affords South Africa three extra runs.
Brown earns another over thereafter and gives up four runs but, more importantly, picks up Brits.
The opener looked to go down the ground but instead miscues to the long-on fielder.
This brings Kapp out to the middle, and she will hope to steady the ship with Wolvaardt.
Darcie Brown you little legend!
Some great bowling rewarded with the wicket of Brits (10), SA 1-17 after 5 #T20WorldCup
— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 26, 2023
3 overs. South Africa 8-0
Gardner, who had a good day with the bat, is invited to bowl from the other end.
She does well to keep the runs to a minimum, allowing just two off the over.
There is some commotion during the fifth ball as Wolvaardt misses a leg-side angling delivery with the ball hitting the top of her pads.
The initial call by the umpire is not out, and Australia elect to review it. Ball tracking confirms it is umpire’s call, so the batswoman survives.
Brown is brought on to replace Schutt and builds on the good work from Gardner as South Africa are only able to scrape two from the over.
Wicket appears to have become somewhat two-paced, and it is deadly quiet around the ground as the Proteas have failed to lift off here.
Slow start for South African ladies in this Women’s cricket world cup.
I remain behind Proteas#AUSvSA— wele (@wele50568636) February 26, 2023
1 over. South Africa 4-0
Schutt does well to bowl four dot balls on the trot before a straightforward drive towards mid-on by Wolvaardt results in a boundary.
McGrath, who was stationed there, fails to cut off the ball as it trickles behind to the rope.
We are ready for the second innings
The South African openers, Wolvaardt and Brits, walk out to rousing applause as we are ready to commence battle once again in Newlands.
It will be Wolvaardt on strike with Schutt to open the bowling for Australia.
Top of the pile
After finishing with splendid figures of 2-26 in her four overs, Ismail makes history of her own.
A huge moment for Shabnim Ismail ☝️
She becomes the leading wicket-taker in the history of the Women’s #T20WorldCup#AUSvSA | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/lerDAKReqW
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 26, 2023
20 overs. Australia 156-6
McGrath survives as she chops the length delivery towards the off side with the batswomen scampering a quick single to end the innings.
South Africa will be mighty pleased because at one stage Australia looked to threaten with a score in the 175-plus range, but the late wickets put a damper on that.
Mooney was once again the star of the show for the Aussies on the grand stage as she carries her bat with an unbeaten 74.
This was always going to be a battle between South Africa’s bowlers and Australia’s batswomen.
Now it is time for South Africa’s batting lineup to do their job as they endeavour to win their first global tournament.
GAME ON!
South Africa have held Australia to 156/6 👀
Follow LIVE 📝: https://t.co/LNNV34ysAN#AUSvSA | #T20WorldCup | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/qyunFSzhYl
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 26, 2023