Women's T20 World Cup: Australia seal the title with emphatic win over England at Lord's

0:01Yeah, gone! Gone, he gets his fairytale ending! An epic way to go to a Test Match 100. The London Spirit of First Time win is the most remarkable thing you'll probably ever see in cricket. 604 and final Test wicket for Stuart Ball. It's ended when the T20 won't happen. Can you believe it? Moments after Stokes' international career is coming to an end. Another wicket for this incredible cricketer. And it's going to be brought up in not the greatest of ways for England, but Australia will take it. And in the backyard of their oldest foe, at the home of cricket, Australia have not just claimed their seventh World T20 title, they have evolved and raised the bar yet again.

0:54Well, Charlie Dean has joined myself, Tash and Nasser. Charlie, obviously not the result you wanted today, but when you reflect on the last few weeks, how do you look back on this tournament as a team? Yeah, I guess, obviously, today wasn't the day that we dreamed on, but the Aussies played some really brilliant cricket. I think as a group, to get to the final, it was huge. That's what we set out to do. Obviously, you want to win, but it's who plays the better cricket on the day. But I think the confidence in this team has grown massively over the last month, and it really feels like we're building something.

1:29And, you know, a seven or so wicket win, but we're not far off, it feels. And Australia have historically been the greatest team, really, in women's cricket. And to see if you're going to lose to anyone, I suppose, going to them, there is an element of, well, they are Australia. They're very good at this. Yeah, I mean, you know, their group stage standings and their performances, you know, they dominated. So we knew that we had to play our best cricket today. and they're a formidable side and they have been for years so we had to play our best cricket and we weren't quite up to it today You know this surface well, you've played a lot of cricket here what was that pitch like, what was the thoughts at the halfway stage at 150 for 4?

2:10I think obviously we lost a few wickets early it actually didn't look the easiest to bat on and that was our assessment we did well to get up to 150 from where we were but in a final we would ideally have loved a few more runs in there to defend. And then they played really well in the power play and it didn't look as hard for them. They used their options well, they moved around in the crease laterally, they made it hard for us to really nail on a line in length. So yeah, I feel like they played the surface better at the end of the day and that's what they needed to do to chase those runs down.

2:47And you've had some experience in captaincy, not just before this World Cup but during this World Cup, is that something you see yourself doing going forward in this England side? I think I've learned a lot in this past month. I guess the series before the World Cup and then stepping in when Nat wasn't available and it's been a huge experience for me. I certainly feel like I've grown in confidence as a captain but also as a vice-captain and as a player. Yeah, I guess whether or not that's in my future I don't know but I'll take up every opportunity that I can get. And just tactically, today you bowled the first over in that power play.

3:22What was the thinking behind that? Yeah, I think I matched up quite well to Beth Mooney. Try and get her on strike and bowl a little bit of her. Yeah, sneak a couple of overs in sooner. Use me in the power play a little bit. I mean, Lindsay and Belly have been phenomenal for us, but it almost felt like maybe something different. Give them something to think about. I did pay off today but I enjoyed taking that first ball. Charlie, you've got a bit of a well-earned rest. You won't be playing in the test on Friday but just how exciting a prospect is that for England? To be playing a test match here at Lord's in just a few days time.

3:58Yeah, I'm incredibly jealous, I can't lie. I was ruled out through a bit of back stress. I'm fine but just the workload, it didn't quite work out for me to be available as a spinner. You know, you need to be able to bowl 20 overs in a spell and that's something that I wasn't able to provide. But yeah, it's a great opportunity for the girls and I'm sure they'll be buzzing to don the wights at Lord's. You know, it's pretty special to play here at Lord's in front of a packed house today was immense and to be able to rock up for four days, hopefully. Yeah, it will be really special. Well, look, if you're free, we might be able to find room for you in the commentary box.

4:33I'm really busy. Oh, you've changed your tune very quickly. But Charlie, look, well played, not just today, but the whole tournament and we'll let you go join the team as well. But thank you very much for coming over and joining us. I mean, I think Charlie kind of said it all there, didn't she, that England, they needed to put more runs up in their innings today and Australia were just the better team. Yeah, I think that sort of sums up where world cricket is at the moment. It's not just this English cricket team. You can improve, you can get to a certain standard, but you feel that that standard's not going to be good enough to beat this Australian side.

5:04So like today, you asked me earlier before the game, what do they need to get? you can get a certain score 150 will probably be every other side in this tournament on that surface But it was nowhere near enough against Australia So when they do debrief when they do sit down and think about it How did we end up at 150 for four? Why not 150 for seven and we've gone a bit harder We have to go a little bit harder against Australia because if we get below par We'll be gone with two overs to spare. So I think their batting was a little bit timid They didn't move around the crease. They didn't come down the pitch.

5:39Australia were very smart. The keeper came up. Their planning was meticulous. And then the execution from their bowlers was meticulous. And England had nowhere to go. So that's the problem with this England side. You can play really well and get through to Australia, but you're going to have to improve to beat Australia. Well, it is time for the trophy presentation in Australia to have their moment. Nat, you've run into another tough Australian side that love playing in finals. How difficult is this one to take? Yeah, I'm still hugely disappointed. We've had such a great competition up to this point and I suppose to end like that feels a bit sour in the mouth at the moment.

6:24But yeah, we were outplayed today by a class Australian side that used all of their experience in a huge final. You've had a little bit of time to reflect. Having done that, what would you have done differently? I actually went for a drug test because I was desperate for a wee. So I guess initially, yeah, I mean, ideally I'd won the toss and we'd be bowling first. I don't know, we were short of a pass score on that wicket. Yeah, it felt tricky to gain momentum throughout the innings with the bat. You know, he's scratching around a little bit, trying to find the middle of the bat. But, yeah, I guess when the pressure's on, their bowlers hit their areas and made it very difficult for us.

7:20And, yeah, I suppose we left it a bit too late in our bowling innings. We're trying to start off the innings with great intent, with the ball, sorry, and try and pick up as many wickets in the power play as we could. But, yeah, I mean, Beth Mooney obviously played a brilliant innings today as well. Were you expecting them to come out as hard as they did? Yeah, absolutely. They've got a powerful line-up with the bat, and you know that you need to keep taking wickets to really send the flow, because if you won't do it, you've got the likes of Elise Perry coming in if you take two wickets. So, yeah, they've obviously got great depth in their batting line-up, so it makes it difficult for bowling attacks.

8:06Aside from this disappointment, what can you be proud of of this side throughout this tournament? I think we've got so much to be proud of. Yeah, I suppose coming in and having done so much work pre-tournament and the energy around the group throughout the competition. We've played some brilliant matches. Different people have had their moments and we've celebrated everyone's success so well. It's a proper group of players that we've got here that really care about each other and really care about playing for England and wearing the shirt with pride. So, yeah, it's a tough one to take, but we'll be back.

8:51And the crowd, you just heard them there. They've been with you all tournament. What do you say to them?

8:59Yeah. It's such a privilege to play for our country and in front of some amazing people who support us who thick and thin. So I'm just hugely grateful. We'll let you go, Nat. Thanks very much for all the entertainment that you brought throughout this tournament, to the team as well, for the performance you put in, and the semi-finals to get to the final as well. There is so much you can be proud of, so all the best in what comes next here. Thank you.

9:40So you had a dream with your father when you were younger to come and watch a test match here at You're here as a captain of a World Cup winning side, the fourth to lead a side for T20 World Cup in women's T20s. Seven T20 World Cups for Australia now. How does that sound? Too good to be true, to be honest. Dad's here as well, so it's a special day. What did it take? What did it take? a lot of thought a lot of effort a lot of hard work and just a group of people that wanted to do anything for each other and that's been the real theme over this last three or four months playing for each other and caring for each other I know there are a few youngsters in that squad now but a lot of experience as well how much does that count in a World Cup final?

10:36It's invaluable I think But, you know, having the likes of Pez out there to calm the team down after that first innings, you know, Ash has been around for a long time and, yeah, that's not even hitting the surface. And to see someone like Lucy Hamilton just, you know, take it to water, she was so calm and had so much clarity out there. It's a true testament to her nature and the group around her. And it felt like different people stepped up at different moments throughout this World Cup as well. but when you needed it, it was having that calmness out in the middle. In that first innings as well, you still had Nats of a brunt at the end there.

11:15Freya Kemp was coming in and banging the ball everywhere but it just felt like there was a calmness around the group. How do you achieve something like that in a final? Look, I think it's just being able to trust each other, trust our processes. We've done a lot of work on that and we probably looked at the last couple of World Cups and the moments like that where we've been on the back foot. We haven't known what to do. And I think the answer for us was to stay calm and use our brains and think our way through it with our skills. So, yeah, we did a lot of work leading up to it. And it's just nice to be able to see it come to fruition.

11:49And beaten right the way throughout this World Cup. Was that a target for you coming into it, that you didn't want to falter in any way, that you could win from anywhere? Yeah, I think so. In tournament play, you have to have the same mentality. and no matter what situation we're in. So, yeah, really pleased with how the last few weeks have gone. A word for Elise Perry playing in her ninth World Cup final. You've now won eight, I think it is. She's a lucky charm for you. Oh, she's incredible, Pez. Look, what she brings to this team isn't just on the field. I think her nature and the way she is, she's the heartbeat to the group, really.

12:33and yeah, she's an absolute legend of her game and yeah, she deserves so much and for her to have another World Cup in her bag is pretty special.

12:50And just lastly, so for 2020 World Cup in Australia you ended up on the stage with Katy Perry. We didn't see you dancing there to Queen Bandit. Massive disappointment. Grown up. I'm sure you'll be leading the charge tonight congratulations once again and all the best to your team have a great night, enjoy it, celebrate hard and all the best for what comes next thanks Aish

13:18congratulations to the winners of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Australia

13:41Well, the champagne sprays, the fireworks go off, and Australia have once again got their hands on the Women's T20 World Cup trophy. And we heard from Sophie Molyneux there and the emotions and just how many people have played a part in getting them here. And there are a fair amount of Australian fans who have stuck around, Tash, to see this moment and a moment of history. Yeah, there are. And, you know, they haven't won the last couple of World Cup finals. They haven't even got to the World Cup finals in the last couple. So I'm really happy for Sophie Molyneux, actually. Australia did make a big call in the lead-up to this tournament.

14:22They could have quite easily gone for someone who was a bit more set in the side, actually. Gardner Talia McGrath. but they realised Sophie Molyneux is an excellent captain and they realised they needed someone who was able to cope with all of those amazing players in their side. So I'm very happy for her. What a win. She'd be so emotional. She said that she wanted to come here when she was a youngster just to watch a test match but now she's captained Australia for the T20 World Cup win. So incredible moments for her. And as Mel Jones actually comes and joins us as well. I mean Mel, huge grin on your face.

14:58Congratulations. I mean, what a performance from Australia, not just today, but this whole World Cup. They've been superb. Yeah, they have. I was just having a chat to a few people about the lead up to this tournament. And I think a lot of people were talking about Sophie Molyneux, captain. They don't have a ICC trophy in the cabinet. Have they lost their aura? And for me, knowing Shelley Nitschke and Sophie Molyneux and the way in which they would have just sort of blocked a lot of that out, but maybe use it for a little bit of, you know, pep up at different stages. but I think they've planned superbly well coming into the tournament.

15:30They were meticulous in every single game. And I actually thought today was going to go quite down to the wire because I thought England had been phenomenal as well. But I think it just goes again to show where Australia is probably just that 5%, 7 % better than the other teams on that preparation side. What do you believe is that difference maker? Is it just down to the preparation or is it down to the sporting culture and the fact that the professional game has been professional for much longer in Australia? Is that pathway? Yeah, I think it's a lot of reasons. I think our club cricket system all the way through means that every player coming through, it's not a huge jump.

16:06It's a slightly smaller jump than in other countries. I think the support and strategy from Cricket Australia and all the state associations have been on song as well. And we produce athletes. I think that's what Australia does. Most of these women have played multiple sports, you know, hockey and football and the like. and there is just a want to be always getting better and that's just a huge driver. And as a neutral, you would have seen the last Ashes series. Where do you think this England side are? Do you see an improvement in them? Yeah, I definitely do. And in a couple of different areas, I think one is a belief and whether that's Charlotte Edwards just coming into this group and instilling that in players and knowing that she has their back to fail to become better, I think is one big piece.

16:54I think the fitness piece is going to be an ongoing task for them, but you can also see that has improved them. Their fielding has sort of been up and down, but on a rollercoaster ride where you're getting pushed all the time, it's not just going to automatically click. So I see that. The other part is the leadership. For Charlie Dean to come in when that wasn't always there, they've now got a depth and leaders to step up as well, which they probably didn't have before. I remember watching you and Butch speak about the tournament before at the Test match, and you said that you thought that this was going to be the closest contest that we'd had in a World Cup for however long.

17:29Have you been impressed with the tournament and we got those close contests? Yeah, we had, I think over the history of the game, we've only had nine successful run chases of 150 plus. We've had seven in this tournament. So all of a sudden teams are putting more runs on the board. I've loved Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland. I know Scotland was in the last one, but they just bring a whole different element to the game. and the bet to later as captain of Netherlands, part-time cricketer, amateur, hits 250s, one against Australia and just shakes things up as well. So I just only hope, like Hayley Matthews said, is that they're only going to provide a couple of little wins here and there.

18:07They're not going to really push unless there's some serious investment behind these players as well. So that's the next step from a board level as well. OK, well, we're going to swap out Nasser Hussain for World Cup winner. Phoebe Litchfield. Nasa's going to stand there quietly, which might be a challenge for him. Phoebe, huge congratulations. I mean, what a way to win it as well. Just how thrilled you must be as a group after that performance today. Yeah, it's pretty satisfying, to tell you truthfully. I think, yeah, six weeks ago in Arundel, setting everything up to think we've been here today, performed the way we did.

18:41And to be fair, we performed the way we wanted to throughout the whole tournament. So it's a really satisfying win, coupled with against England at Lords. It's just, yeah, stuff's a dream, so pretty happy. What was said at the interval, and what did you see from England's innings that made you adapt and approach your innings particularly? Yeah, it was an interesting one. I actually thought it could be quite tricky, and I know that Lauren Bell on that surface with their spinners could be really tricky, but I think the way we put them under pressure early and just brought them off their line and lengths, put them off their line and lengths was really pleasing, and I think we just took the momentum from there.

19:20You said that you had FOMO not being a World Cup final. Has that feeling lived up to expectation? 100%. Yeah, I think to get into it first and foremost was a dream come true and then to be out there and contribute and win the title is awesome. There's a victory lap. Been going on behind and Phoebe's just been soaked by a bottle of champagne. Watch my green suit, please. Watch the microphone. and our sound guys thinking. I mean, look, a few people have talked about there's going to be some big celebrations tonight, but what's next for you as a group and how good does it feel to sort of reclaim that dominance title that Australia have been seeking for a couple of years?

19:57Yeah, it's funny. I think the dominance title comes and goes based on performance, but I know that deep down we're a good side and it's been nice to remind ourselves of that. And yeah, we probably haven't performed the way we want to in the last two World Cups, but we've been playing some really cool cricket throughout and in between those tournaments. So it's, yeah, I guess very satisfying to come out and play the way we want to play and have some silverware back in the cabinet. But yeah, I guess our next steps is to enjoy this moment, regroup, recuperate and attack the ground running in the next, I guess, Aussie summer.

20:32I know you're not going to be thinking about it right now, but there's an Ashes over here, English summer next year. How much have you enjoyed the crowds? Because you did silence the crowd today. Well, the crowds have been amazing, and I think it's a credit to the ECBA and the ICC of the tournament they've put on. It's been an awesome experience, and each time I come over to England, I just love it. The 100 and the way they get around the cricket and the girls is so great. So, yeah, it's been awesome, and I'm looking forward to the Ashes come next year. Well, Phoebe, look, we'll let you go and join that victory lap.

21:05Very well, and huge congratulations once again. Well played. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thanks. Cheers. I mean, it has been, to pick up what Phoebe was saying there about the crowds, it has been a phenomenally successful tournament by any measure. We've had record crowds at the Oval last weekend, then that was backed up here by Lords. Record crowd for a women's game here today. And this ultimately is what the bigger picture is all about. It is. The standard of cricket has been outstanding. The pitches have been really good, exactly what you need for the women's game. I know this one was a little bit slow and low, but in general, a bit of grass on, a bit of pace and bounce.

21:39The sides of the boundaries have been absolutely brilliant to bring in fielding and fitness and running between the wickets. The two best sides got to the final. They were unbeaten. But I do think Australia are just that bit ahead of everyone else. And it takes me back to the two last World Cups, actually. England actually will regret they didn't show up for those World Cups because when Australia went missing, so did England. And that was an opportunity there. And now they've got to sit and think everyone in world cricket has to try and sit and think, How do they get closer to Australia? Because it is an unlevel playing field.

22:12There is a difference emerging between the haves and the have-nots. Who has a women's franchise tournament? Who has the money? Who has the media rights, et cetera? But you can only do what you can do to close the gap. And looking ahead, just five days' time, we've got that women's test here, I know. I can't think about it yet. But I really need to catch a breath and get some rest in the next few days. But it is a historic moment. It's the first time that Lords has hosted a women's test. England versus India. It's going to be quite the occasion. Yeah, and one person who I know would love to be here, and she's got Gates named after as Rachel Hayhoe Flinch, a portrait in the long room, and she fought so hard to break down so many barriers for the women's game.

22:50She would be just beaming from above, thinking that finally, finally we have a test match here at the home of cricket. And they are two teams, particularly India. I think they love test match cricket. It's going to be tough for England to be able to sort of put away this heartbreak pretty quickly turn their heads towards coming out and walking out in a really historical match. But again, if anyone can get their heads into the right sort of shape of mind, I think that's over to Charlotte Edwards. Yeah, it's a quick turnaround, isn't it? Mel, thank you very much for coming over and joining us. Appreciate it.

23:20And we've told you about this before, but just to make sure you don't miss a second, the first ever women's test match here at Laws starts Friday between England and India, 10 a.m. on Sky Sports Cricket. Well, all that's left to say is huge thank you once again to Mel Jones, Tashfarin and Nasser Hussain. Not to be for England today, but what a tournament, what a World Cup. And for Australia, it is very much seventh heaven. Huge congratulations to the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup champions.