Australia clinch their sixth Women’s T20 World Cup title with Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 74-run knock against South Africa.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat, knowing South Africa prefer to set a total, and posted a par score of 156/6. The home side struggled to keep up with the rate from the start and were restricted to 137/6 in reply.

Laura Wolvaardt made a superb 61 for South Africa but there was too little support around her, and Australia’s clever use of pace and length strangled the scoring rate for large parts of the innings.

Australia were pre-match favourites against a South African side playing in their first final and that experience with bat and ball showed on a slow wicket as they retained the title they won on home soil in 2020.

“We felt we had a good score and that the wicket probably wasn’t as good as it was in the semifinals, so if we could hit the right lengths and target the stumps, we could put South Africa under pressure,” Australia captain Meg Lanning said. “We knew it would be an amazing atmosphere, which it was, and we have some really good experience in the group. We were able to call on that when the pressure was on,” she added.

Australia’s innings was anchored by opener Mooney, whose score came from 53 balls as she struck nine fours and a six, and accelerated well in the final overs.

Ash Gardner (29 from 21 balls) also contributed but South Africa were able to pick up wickets along the way and it was only the measured Mooney who was able to master the pitch. Fast bowler Shabnim Ismail (2/26) and wily all-rounder Marizanne Kapp (2/35) were the pick of the home attack.

Having seen how to bowl on the wicket, Australia executed superbly and Wolvaardt played a near lone hand as only Chloe Tryon (25 from 23 balls) offered her meaningful support as the pair put on 55 for the fourth wicket in 5.5 overs.

Brief scores: Australia 156/6 (Mooney 74*, Gardner 29; Ismail 2/26, Kapp 2/35); South Africa 137/6 (Wolvaardt 61, Tryon 25; Gardner 1/20, Schutt 1/23).