END OF OVER:
20 | 12 Runs 2 Wkts | AUS-W: 156/6 | RR: 7.80

  • Tahlia McGrath1 (1b)
  • Beth Mooney74 (53b)
  • Shabnim Ismail4-1-26-2
  • Ayabonga Khaka4-0-27-0

Two wickets each from Ismail and Kapp, though the latter was on the expensive side. South Africa would believe they have a score they can hunt down. But this Australian bowling attack is relentless. You'd think you are in control only for them to snatch the game away with a laugh. What is in store today? Do they extend their T20 World Cup trophy count or will we see a new world champion? Srinidhi will be back soon with the reply.

Mooney is consistent not just in terms of runs but also the balls faced. Look at the list below, from Sampath Bandarupalli, and you'd know why: Beth Mooney in T20 finals since 2019: 65 (46) vs Sixers, Jan 2019 (WBBL) 56* (45) vs Strikers, Dec 2019 (WBBL) 71* (54) vs India, Feb 2020 (Tri-series) 78* (54) vs India, Mar 2020 (T20 WC) 19 (25) vs Strikers, Nov 2021 (WBBL) 61 (41) vs India, AUG 2022 (CWG) 74* (53) vs South Africa, Today (T20 WC)

4:30pm Australia managed 46 for 3 in their last five overs and they managed to nudge the score over 150. Psychological advantage? Definitely. South Africa were superb with the ball but they couldn't displace a run-machine going around by the name of Mooney. Yet again she was slow but she was the difference between a below-150 and an above-150 total for Australia.

Chloe Tryon: "Pretty good. I think we were happy with the bowling. We'll take that score. Just catch the ball. Love the crowd, they have got us going. Loving it. Looks like a tricky wicket to bowl on. Back of a length is keeping low. Anything overpitched is looking easier. Just stitch partnerships."

19.6
1
Ismail to McGrath, 1 run, Length ball around off, McGrath backs away and chops it towards covers for a quick run. Australia end on 156 for 6.

McGrath on strike as Ismail runs in for the hat-trick ball.

Kapil Baldawa: "Ridiculous captaincy n bowling. First 2 balls. No long on? That was a simple chance otherwise. Those 2 boundaries can be the difference between winning and losing" They were allowed only three fielders outside.

19.5
W
Ismail to Wareham, OUT, Knocked her over! 122 kph rocket flattens the off stump. Spears it straight and full, Wareham misses her heave and has to go back for a first-ball duck.

G Wareham b Ismail 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Wareham is in now. No TMac, which is a bit strange.

19.4
W
Ismail to Perry, OUT, Change of pace does Perry in. Offcutter outside off, Perry looks to hack it over the on side but skies it. Brits stays calm at midwicket and pouches it safely. Importantly for South Africa, Mooney will stay off strike.

EA Perry c Brits b Ismail 7 (13m 5b 1x4 0x6) SR: 140.00

19.3
1
Ismail to Mooney, 1 run, Dropped but boundary saved and Mooney is off strike. Shortish outside off, Mooney goes back and slices it, where Wolvaardt dives forward but fails to latch on.
19.2
4
Ismail to Mooney, FOUR, Mooney is finding the boundary, Australia soaring. Slower full ball on leg, she backs away and lofts it straight. Mid-off was inside the circle, long-on couldn't get around.

Around the wicket.

19.1
6
Ismail to Mooney, SIX, Hammered high and long! The camera there takes the brunt of it. Full on middle and leg, she clears her front leg and middles her wallop over long-on.

And South Africa have been penalised! Only three fielders allowed outside the circle.

Superb bowling this. Australia haven't yet gotten to 150. Ismail will bowl the final over. How many will they get?

Sheela Kamath: "Good bowling and rotation of bowlers. "

END OF OVER:
19 | 10 Runs | AUS-W: 144/4 | RR: 7.57

  • Beth Mooney63 (50b)
  • Ellyse Perry7 (4b)
  • Ayabonga Khaka4-0-27-0
  • Marizanne Kapp4-0-35-2
18.6
1
Khaka to Mooney, 1 run, Very full on off, manages to hit it through cover.
18.5
2
Khaka to Mooney, 2 runs, Full on off, hit straight to cover. De Klerk nails the direct hit at the striker's end and it deflects towards fine leg, allowing them a second. It has been referred upstairs now. Perry was well in.
18.4
1
Khaka to Perry, 1 run, Makes room to go over the off side, Khaka follows her and bowls it full outside leg. Perry can only hit it down to long-on.
18.3
1
Khaka to Mooney, 1 run, Slower full ball on off, moves across and flicks it through the on side.
18.3
1w
Khaka to Mooney, 1 wide, Four fielders deep on the on side, Khaka errs by bowling down leg. Mooney backs away and still misses her flick.
18.2
1
Khaka to Perry, 1 run, Full on off and middle, charges down and drives it to long-off.
18.1
3
Khaka to Mooney, 3 runs, Low full toss outside off, once again squeezes it through the gap between short third and backward point and gets three.

Khaka for the penultimate over.

Sheraz: "What's the penalty for being behind the over rate?" They will be allowed to have just three - as opposed to four - fielders out of the circle then.

END OF OVER:
18 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS-W: 134/4 | RR: 7.44

  • Beth Mooney56 (46b)
  • Ellyse Perry5 (2b)
  • Marizanne Kapp4-0-35-2
  • Ayabonga Khaka3-0-17-0
17.6
3
Kapp to Mooney, 3 runs, Charges down and squeezes it through extra cover. Bosch does extremely well to hare to her right and dive at the extra cover boundary and save a run.
17.5
0
Kapp to Mooney, no run, Full on middle, clipped to square leg.
17.4
4
Kapp to Mooney, FOUR, Yet another half-century in a T20 World Cup final in style for Bethany Louise Mooney! First batter to score two fifties in T20 World Cup finals. Gets a slower length ball outside off, she walks down and helps it over extra cover. What a player!
17.3
1
Kapp to Perry, 1 run, Full on the pads, clips it to deep midwicket.
17.2
4
Kapp to Perry, FOUR, Who said Perry takes time to get going? We saw this version last year in India and here she is, gets going with a first-ball four. Short and wide, she camps back and slaps it over cover-point.

Ellyse Perry

17.1
W
Kapp to Lanning, OUT, Tryon pulls off a stunner at deep square leg! Roars as she turns towards the crowd and jogs backward to the middle. Shortish ball, Lanning almost nails the pull. Tryon quickly gets to her left from deep backward square leg, gets down low and controls the catch. It was dying down on her.

MM Lanning c Tryon b Kapp 10 (13m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 90.90

Kapp to bowl out

If you're in the US, you can watch this final live on ESPN+.

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs | AUS-W: 122/3 | RR: 7.17

  • Beth Mooney49 (43b)
  • Meg Lanning10 (10b)
  • Ayabonga Khaka3-0-17-0
  • Shabnim Ismail3-1-14-0
16.6
0
Khaka to Mooney, no run, Slower one, full and angling away. Mooney shapes to scoop but misses.
16.5
1
Khaka to Lanning, 1 run, Full on the pads, clipped through square leg.
16.4
0
Khaka to Lanning, no run, Full on middle and leg, she makes room and drills it to cover.

South Africa are one over behind with their over-rate.

16.3
1
Khaka to Mooney, 1 run, Full on the pads, whipped to deep backward square leg.
16.2
1lb
Khaka to Lanning, 1 leg bye, Full on middle and leg, she misses her flick and it goes off her back leg to the off side.

SA Women 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st17T BritsL Wolvaardt
2nd29M KappL Wolvaardt
3rd8S LuusL Wolvaardt
4th55CL TryonL Wolvaardt
5th12CL TryonN de Klerk
6th1A BoschN de Klerk
7th15S JaftaN de Klerk