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Australia into final with ruthless win over Windies

cricket30 June 2026 16:57| © MWP
By:Antoinette Muller
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Australia booked their place in Sunday’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final with a ruthless eight‑wicket win over the West Indies at The Oval, knocking off the 126‑run target inside 13 overs to set up a showdown with either England or South Africa.

Beth Mooney was the heartbeat of the chase. Her half-century was delivered with the kind of calm authority Australia have come to rely on. Backed by a disciplined bowling performance earlier in the afternoon, the defending champions were never in danger.

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Asked to bat first, West Indies struggled from the outset. They crawled to 37 without loss after seven overs, a powerplay that never really got going. Hayley Matthews found five boundaries in her 30 off 28 balls, but the innings began to unravel once she was bowled by Georgia Wareham attempting a paddle sweep.

Qiana Joseph’s scratchy 16 off 22 ended with a slog‑sweep straight to Ashleigh Gardner, and two balls later, Stafanie Taylor was gone for a duck, her leading edge floating tamely to Kim Garth. Jahzara Claxton lasted only three deliveries before Gardner removed her as well, leaving West Indies on 59 for four after having been 37 without loss not long before.

Chinelle Henry tried to inject some urgency with a slapped boundary off Annabel Sutherland, but she too fell attempting a big shot, slicing to long‑on to make it 73 for five. Shemaine Campbelle offered the most stability through the middle, sweeping Wareham for boundaries and later lifting her over mid‑off, but her 22 off 25 ended with a chip to Ellyse Perry at mid‑off. At 83 for six in the 16th over, West Indies were running out of time and partners.

Jannillea Glasgow added 15 off 13 before edging Sutherland to Beth Mooney, but the most meaningful late contribution came from Deandra Dottin. Injured before play and batting lower than usual, she still managed 26 off 16 balls with four boundaries — an upper cut, a back‑foot slap, and a shovel over square leg among them — giving West Indies a much‑needed lift and dragging them to 125 for seven.

Australia’s bowlers had already done the damage. Gardner finished with 2 for 13, Wareham with 2 for 17, and Molineux with 2 for 30, while Sutherland chipped in with 1 for 26. Their control through the middle overs — where West Indies lost six wickets — defined the innings.

The chase, by contrast, was brisk and assured. Georgia Voll’s lively 16 off 11 set the tone before she fell to Chinelle Henry, and Phoebe Litchfield departed lbw to Matthews for four. But Mooney’s 61 off 36 held everything together, her crisp strokes through the off side and steady rotation of strike keeping Australia well ahead of the rate. Even Ellyse Perry retiring hurt on two did little to disrupt the rhythm.

Gardner joined Mooney and pushed the chase into overdrive, striking 35 off 20 with four boundaries and a six. Their unbroken stand sealed the result with seven overs to spare and underlined the gulf between the sides.

AUSTRALIA: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (capt), Lucy Hamilton, Kim Garth

WEST INDIES: Hayley Matthews (capt), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbell (wk), Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Jahzara Claxton, Chinelle Henry, Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack

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