Australia has won the Women's T20 World Cup for the sixth time by defeating South Africa by 19 runs in the final at Newlands on Sunday. The match was an enthralling affair that kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout.
Opening batter Beth Mooney anchored the Australian innings, scoring an unbeaten 74 in a total of 156-6. The left-handed Mooney played a measured innings, scoring her 74 runs off 53 balls while a succession of partners batted aggressively.
South Africa was never up with the required run rate and were restricted to 137-6 despite opener Laura Wolvaardt hitting 61 off 48 balls. Wolvaardt and semi-final heroine Tazmin Brits struggled to find gaps in the field and scored only 17 runs before Brits was caught at mid-on off Darcie Brown off the last ball of the fifth over.
Marizanne Kapp hit two boundaries but was out for 11 and Proteas captain Suné Luus was run out for two. At that stage, the home side needed another 103 runs off 56 balls.
Wolvaardt and the hard-hitting Chloe Tryon gave a near-capacity crowd of about 15,000 hope with an attacking fourth-wicket partnership of 55 off 37 balls, but the match was effectively over when Wolvaardt was lbw to Megan Schutt in the 17th over.
The match was a fitting end to a tournament that saw some of the best cricket played by women from around the world. Australia will now look to continue their domination in the women's game, while South Africa can be proud of their performance and look to build on it for the future.