On 24th November 2018, Australia and England met in the final of the T20 World Cup at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Heather Knight won the toss for England and chose to bat first. Never a bad idea, runs on the board in a final and Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt-Hodge set about doing just that. Sophie Molineux and Megan Schutt opened the bowling for the Aussies and it was the latter who removed Beaumont (4) in the 4th over, England 18/1. More trouble when Amy Jones (4) was runout by Georgia Wareham in the fifth over, England 30/2.
It was an innings that just couldn’t get going. Wyatt (43) was finding the boundary and even hit a six, but lost another partner in Nat Sciver-Brunt (1) and then she departed and England were 64/4 in the 11th over with two new batters. Heather Knight (25) battled bravely but the wickets kept falling and England limped over the hundred mark, finishing with 105 all out in the 20th over. Ash Gardner the chief destroyer with 3-22, while Georgia Wareham (2-11) and Megan Schutt (2-13) chipped in.
Alyssa Healy (20) and Beth Mooney (14) got things off to a steady start but then they were both removed it was left to Gardner (33*) and Meg Lanning (28*) to finish the job which they did in style. Gardner hit three sixes and was awarded Player of the Match for her allround effort, the Aussies knocking off the runs in 15.1 overs.
The Aussies collected their 4th T20 World Cup title on this day in 2018.
Scores
England 105 (Danni Wyatt-Hodge 43, Ash Gardner 3-22, Megan Schutt 2-13) lost to
Australia 106/2 (Ash Gardner 33*, Meg Lanning 28*, Sophie Ecclestone 1-12) by 8 wickets
POTM: Ash Gardner