London: Australia continued their dominance in women’s cricket as Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner delivered stellar performances to guide the team into their eighth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final with a comprehensive win over West Indies.
The six-time champions defeated West Indies by eight wickets with 42 balls to spare in the first semi-final at The Oval on Tuesday. Chasing a modest target of 126, Australia completed the task with ease, registering the biggest victory by balls remaining in a knockout match of the Women’s T20 World Cup for targets above 100.
Mooney leads from the front in chase
Beth Mooney once again proved her class in high-pressure matches, remaining unbeaten on 61 off just 36 balls. Her innings anchored Australia’s chase and ensured there were no hiccups after early wickets.
The left-hander reached her half-century in just 29 deliveries, maintaining control with precise strokeplay and smart rotation of strike. This knock marked one of the top performances by an Australian in a Women’s T20 World Cup knockout match.
Mooney’s record in ICC finals and semi-finals continues to stand out, reinforcing her reputation as one of the most dependable batters in global tournaments.
Gardner shines with all-round brilliance
Ashleigh Gardner complemented Mooney’s effort with an outstanding all-round performance. After making a significant impact with the ball earlier in the match, she contributed an unbeaten 35 runs during the chase.
Gardner and Mooney stitched together an unbroken 84-run partnership for the third wicket, effectively sealing the game for Australia. Her ability to contribute in both departments highlighted her importance to the team’s balance.
Australia’s bowlers restrict West Indies
After winning the toss and opting to field, Australia’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to restrict West Indies to 125/7 in 20 overs.
West Indies started cautiously, with captain Hayley Matthews scoring 30 off 28 balls. However, Georgia Wareham provided the breakthrough with her very first delivery, triggering a collapse.
From 47/1, West Indies slipped to 83/6 as Australia’s bowlers tightened their grip. Shemaine Campbelle tried to stabilise the innings with 22 runs, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
A late partnership of 42 runs between Jannillea Glasgow (15) and Deandra Dottin, who returned after a minor medical issue to score an unbeaten 26 off 16 balls, helped West Indies post a competitive total.
Among the bowlers, Gardner stood out with figures of 2/13, while Sophie Molineux (2/30), Georgia Wareham (2/17), and Annabel Sutherland (1/26) made valuable contributions.
Early setbacks but smooth chase
Australia’s chase began aggressively, although they lost Georgia Voll (16 off 11) and Phoebe Litchfield (4) early. However, any concerns were quickly addressed by Mooney’s composure and Gardner’s support.
There was a brief injury scare when Ellyse Perry left the field with a quad concern during the seventh over. The team management will be hopeful of her recovery ahead of the final.
Despite these minor setbacks, Australia maintained complete control of the match and finished the chase comfortably with seven overs to spare.
Record-breaking win and dominance
The victory marked another milestone for Australia, setting a new record for the largest win by balls remaining in a knockout match of the Women’s T20 World Cup for targets exceeding 100. The previous record of 29 balls was also held by Australia.
Their consistent performances across departments once again underline why they remain the most successful team in the history of the tournament.
Conclusion
With this commanding win, Australia have reaffirmed their status as the team to beat in women’s cricket. As they prepare for their eighth final appearance, their blend of experience, depth and match-winning players makes them strong favourites to lift the title once again.