London (AFP) – England captain Nat-Sciver Brunt and Freya Kemp shared an unbroken stand of 80 as the hosts were held to 150-4 by Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's on Sunday.
Issued on: 05/07/2026 - 18:38
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England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt celebrates her fifty during the Women's T20 World Cup final against Australia at Lord's © JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
Sciver-Brunt finished on 58 not out, following her match-winning 75 in Thursday's 40-run semi-final win over South Africa, with Kemp unbeaten on 44.The pair came together with England faltering at 70-4, with Sciver-Brunt completing a 45-ball fifty and Kemp facing just 28 balls. England's total looked at least 20 runs shy of a truly challenging target given Australia had chased down 171 to knock India out in a group-stage game at Lord's last weekend.But England, bidding for a first major global trophy since winning the 2017 50-over World Cup final at Lord's, were still in the game, with six-time champions Australia having to chase on a sluggish pitch where strokeplay was difficult.The new-ball duo of Kim Garth (1-20 in four overs) and Lucy Hamilton (1-19 in three) were the pick of Australia's attack.Both sides were unchanged from the semi-finals, with Australia veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry passed fit after retiring hurt with a quad problem during an eight-wicket rout of the West Indies.Australia soon had a breakthrough after captain Sophie Molineux won the toss on a hot and sunny day in northwest London.Hamilton had Amy Jones edging to gully with just her second ball -- the left-arm quick's first wicket of the tournament.Moments later Sciver-Brunt, who had taken son Theo onto the outfield with her for the pre-match anthem, stylishly cover-drove her first ball, from Hamilton, for four.Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who during her innings became the first batter to score 300 runs at a Women's T20 World Cup, fell for just eight when she gloved Annabel Sutherland down the legside and was well caught at the second attempt by diving wicket-keeper Beth Mooney.Australia choked up the runs until a ninth over costing 16 which saw Alice Capsey hit spinner Ash Gardner for two fours and a six.
