England v Australia: Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup final – live
Key events
Australia have vanquished England in the World Cup finals of 2012, 2014 and 2018 bbbbut they have also failed to make the last two white ball World Cup finals in 2024 and 2025. They will be more than happy to spoil England’s party today. It will be interesting to see what the captains decide to do if they win the toss, the average first-innings score here is 158. Runs on the board and build some scoreboard pressure? That’d be my thinking. (You knurrr nuthin, Jim Wallace)
You feel both top order batting cards are crucial, Danni Wyatt-Hodge has been in sparkling form all tournament and Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight got some time in the middle and proved their big game credentials with a crucial partnership against South Africa in the semi-final, digging England out of a 25-3 shaped hole. Beth Mooney is a key wicket for Australia, she’s got them over the line many times in big games including world finals, her and Sciver-Brunt both have eight T20 World Cup fifties apiece.
“C’mon ICC!” Ora shouts from the stage. That is quite funny.
In February 2023, after Australia won their fourth consecutive world title, at Newlands, Beth Mooney was asked what advice she would give to a team who were trying to beat hers. She thought for a moment, then said: “Just don’t turn up. It’s too hard. Don’t bother going.” There can be no better summary of what England will be up against on Sunday when they face Australia in the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Lord’s.Of course, other teams continued to turn up: South Africa triumphed over Australia in 2024’s semi-final, while India replicated the feat in the 50-over World Cup last year. But for a team with no silverware in their possession, Australia are pretty relaxed about life right now. On Thursday the team were spotted in the crowd at Wimbledon, Phoebe Litchfield leading an “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” chant. They will know very well that they are massive favourites to spoil England’s party on Sunday, after a flawless run in the group stages and a hammering of West Indies in Tuesday’s semi-final.”
Raf Nicholson is at Lord’s for us and has written about the task England have on their hands in the coming hours.
It is hot and sunny at Lord’s, Rita Ora is currently doing her thing under pristine blue skies as the stands fill up.
It’s fair to say Nat Sciver-Brunt and her side don’t sound like the biggest Ora fans going:
Preamble
James Wallace
It’s coming home?
Hello and welcome to the BIG ONE. Can Charlotte Edwards’ England side follow in the recent footsteps of the Red Roses (rugby) and Lionesses (football) to achieve their own crowning and cut through moment?
Chloe Kelly and co won the Euro 2022 tournament on home turf and England’s women’s rugby team secured World Cup glory as the host nation last year. Can Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side do the same?
They’ll have to beat the juggernaut that is Australia in order to do so. The Green and Gold have won the T20 World Cup SIX times to England’s one – the inaugural tournament in 2009 when head coach Edwards was captain.
Both sides have been the standout teams in this tournament and deservedly take their place in the final at Lord’s this afternoon. Each is unbeaten and confidently swatted away their semi-final opponents at the Oval this past week.
We’ll have the teams, toss and a performance from erm Rita Ora in the next hour or so before play begins at 3.30pm. Do drop us a line and… let’s do this.
