T20 World Cup 2023: Mooney, Gardner star in final as Australia defeat South Africa to win record-extending sixth title
FirstpostBeth Mooney top-scored with an unbeaten 74 while Ashleigh Gardner produced an all-round effort as Australia staved off a spirited challenge from hosts South Africa to complete a second hat-trick of T20 world titles. Cape Town: The Australian women’s team extended its enviable dominance in world cricket further by winning an unprecedented sixth T20 World Cup trophy with a comfortable 19-run win over a fighting South Africa in the summit clash in Cape Town on Sunday. Then Ashleigh Gardner joined hands with Mooney and the pair’s 46 runs for the second wicket stabilised the innings before the former was brilliantly caught at long-off by South Africa skipper Luus off the bowling of left-arm spinner Chloe-Lesleigh Tryon. South Africa brilliantly pulled things back towards the end of the innings by picking up wickets at regular intervals with Mooney remaining stranded at the other end.