Womens T20 World Cup 2026

FIVE WIDES! Normal service has resumed as Australia reclaim the T20 World Cup crown. 7th T20 title for the Aussies as they beat their old rivals pretty comprehensively. Sprayed down leg, on a length. Ashleigh Gardner gets down on a knee for the sweep but fails to lay any bat on it. Amy Jones is beaten to her left, and it goes away into the fence. Hugs, smiles and celebrations erupt in the Australian camp, and they are sure to continue long into the night. In contrast, there are emotional scenes among the England players as the disappointment of falling short on home soil begins to sink in.

Good piece of fielding. Pushed fuller, and around leg. Gardner comes down the track to loft this one over mid on. The fielder in that position gives it a good chase and manages to dive and flick it back into play, before diving over the ropes, with the batters scampering through for a couple. Just 3 needed now.

This could well be the last over of the World Cup. Australia Women need 5 runs from 18 balls. Sophie Ecclestone (3-0-17-1) will bowl out.

Drops it short, on off. Perry rocks back and jabs it to mid-wicket.

Short and darted in at the pads. Gardner clips it behind square leg for a single.

Offers flight, full and on off, Perry drives it to deep cover for a single.

Perry survives! This is flatter and quicker as well, full and off. Perry steps out again, but this time, she tries to take the aerial route and go over mid off. The bat turns in her hand, and she fails to get any sort of elevation. Hits it flat to mid off, where the ball dips on Sophie Ecclestone, but she does well to dive forward and just about gets her hands under the ball. Ecclestone is claiming the catch, and she bangs the ball onto the ground in frustration. Perry had almost crossed the boundary cushions but was asked to wait by the umpires. Ecclestone's hands were slightly apart, and that may have given the third umpire the impression that the ball had bounced.

Is that a clean catch by Sophie Ecclestone? The on-field umpires want to be doubly sure about the legality of the catch. Her fingers seem to be cleanly underneath the ball. Another angle shows that it is not that straightforward, though. But after several checks, it is deemed that the ball was grassed. NOT OUT loads on the giant screen. Sophie Ecclestone cannot believe it. England cannot believe it. Nat Sciver-Brunt walks to the umpire to have a chat. Ecclestone is fuming, but Dean intervenes to calm things down.

FOUR! Excellent use of the feet. Flighted delivery, fuller and on off. Perry shimmies down the track and gets to the pitch of the ball. She puts her head down and cracks the drive to the left of mid off for a boundary.

Angled in, on middle, on a length. Perry punches it to mid on.

With just 11 needed off the last 24 balls, Ashleigh Gardner is in at number 5.

OUT! LBW! England get the review right. Beth Mooney would have loved to be out there when the winning runs are hit, but not to be for her. Speared in very full, on middle and leg. Mooney is beaten on the flick on the inside edge and wears it low on the front pad. A loud shout for LBW but turned down. Sophie Ecclestone is pretty confident, and Nat Sciver-Brunt sends it upstairs. Is it sneaking down leg with the angle? UltraEdge comes up first. There is a murmur when the ball is next to the bat, but there is a bit of a gap. A definite spike appears only after the ball has gone past the bat, and it is from the bat hitting the turf. It is three reds on Ball Tracking with the ball crashing into the leg stump. The on-field decision has been overturned.

Has Ecclestone got Mooney? She convinces her skipper to take the review for LBW, challenging the on-field decision. Flat line on UltraEdge. Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. OUT!

Low full toss, on middle. Ellyse Perry advances and firms the drive down the ground. Nat Sciver-Brunt gets low to her left and makes a half-stop at mid on. Just a single.

Fuller and on middle. Beth turns it in front of square on the leg side and turns the strike over.

Flat and short, outside off. Mooney is made to reach out. She cuts but can't get it past short third.

Pushed through, fuller and attacking the front pad. Perry clips it through square leg and takes a single.

Darted in at the pads, on a good length. Perry misses out on the tickle and wears it on the pads.

Sophie Ecclestone comes back on.

Full ball, around off. Perry comfortably knocks it down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Easily done! Perry gets into the act. A slot ball from Charlie, on off. Ellyse Perry advances down a bit, gets under the ball, and pumps it over the mid off fielder for a boundary.

Short on off, Beth Mooney rocks back and cuts it late to backward point for a single.

WIDE! Flat and on a lower trajectory, beyond the tramline on the off side. Beth tries to run it through point, only to miss.

Excellent piece of fielding by Smith. Perry was gone if the throw was accurate and powerful enough. Touch short, around leg. Mooney hangs deep in the crease, makes room and drives this crisply to the left of Linsey Smith at extra cover. Smith dives full length and does brilliantly to stop it, but can't get a clean throw away to Dean with her right hand. Perry, already halfway down the track, turns back in time to scramble home.

Serves it full and on off Ellyse Perry gets on the front foot and pushes it wide of the cover fielder for a quick single. 21 needed off 34 balls.

Goes straight on with the arm, on a length, around off. Ellyse Perry hangs back and tries to punch it back to the bowler, but gets beaten.

DRINKS BREAK! Australia are just 22 runs away from reclaiming the T20 World Cup crown and lifting a record-extending 7th title in the format. It has been pretty much one-way traffic, with the England bowlers finding no answers to the dominant batting display. England needed early wickets in the Powerplay but could not produce the discipline their counterparts showed with the ball, and the Aussie top order cashed in to break the back of the chase. 28,887 is the official attendance for the final, and they have witnessed what has largely been a one-sided contest.

Short in length, on leg, Beth helps it behind to short fine leg, but there is protection there.

FOUR! Runs away! Bowls it full and on middle and leg. Mooney picks the slower one, and effortlessly lofts it over the fielder at mid off for a boundary.

No hand on it! Short of a length around leg. Mooney creates room again, this time chipping it straight back down the pitch. Kemp flings herself to her left in an attempt to complete the catch, but the ball slips under her fingers and crashes into the stumps at her end, catching Perry short of her ground at the non-striker's end. The third umpire is now taking a look, checking for any faint contact off Kemp's hand before the ball hit the stumps. UltraEdge is summoned after several replays, which prove inconclusive and the technology detects nothing.

Did Kemp get a hand on the ball? It is incredibly close to the fingertips of her left hand. UltraEdge has been used to help reach the decision, and it shows a flat line, so there is no contact.

FOUR! Off the edge, but Mooney will take it. Too full and around leg, another slower one. Mooney backs away to make room, looking to loft it over mid off. She gets a thick inside edge instead, and the ball squirts away down to the deep fine leg fence for four. Australia are inching closer to their seventh title now.

FOUR! Into the gap! Short of a length around middle and leg, slower through the air, and Mooney gets inside the line to work it away past the right of short fine leg. Smith comes across from deep backward square leg, dives full length to her left, but can't get there in time to stop the boundary.

Full ball, drifting down the leg side. Mooney looks to flick it away on the leg side, but ends up getting a bottom edge which rolls to short fine leg.

The new batter is Ellyse Perry. A change in bowling as Freya Kemp is back.

OUT! BOWLED! Dean breaks through for England, but it is too little too late at the moment. Bowls a quicker one on a shorter length, on middle. Phoebe Litchfield rocks back in the crease and tries to play it across, but she is tucked up for space, plays all around it and the ball crashes into the stumps behind. Australia Women are 117/2, needing just 34 runs.

Full and around off. Phoebe Litchfield drives it inside out through extra cover for a couple of runs. The 100-run partnership comes up between this pair.

Flatter delivery, fired in at the stumps. Litchfield backs away and punches it to cover.

A stifled appeal for LBW, but nothing doing. Spins away from middle with a bit of a bounce. Phoebe Litchfield misses the sweep shot and is struck on the back thigh.

WIDE! Miles outside off, on a length. Phoebe Litchfield lets it through.

Full and flat, on off, Phoebe Litchfield advances and blocks it back to the bowler.

FIFTY FOR BETH MOONEY! A masterful knock from the Aussie opener and she gets to her 9th T20 World Cup half century. Length ball, just outside off. Mooney waits back and punches it towards widish point for a quick single.

Tossed up delivery around off stump. It lands, grips and turns back. Litchfield misses the reverse sweep to the keeper and the ball almost shaves the leg stump.

Sophie Ecclestone is only into her second over, and one wonders whether Nat Sciver-Brunt left her introduction too late. England needed wickets in the Powerplay, and with that in mind, one feels Ecclestone could have been given at least one over inside the first six.

WIDE! Pushed far down leg, full in length. Phoebe Litchfield misses her sweep.

Cannot connect this time! Quicker and fuller, outside off. Phoebe Litchfield again tries the reverse, but this time, she misses as the ball bounces over her angled bat.

Tight single! Full around middle and leg, into the block hole. Mooney moves leg side for room and digs it towards cover for a quick single.

Full in length, Beth Mooney clips it gently to short mid-wicket.

BEATEN! Goes straight with the arm, full outside off. Beth Mooney is sucked on the front foot and tries to block, but the ball zips past the outside edge.

FOUR! Played with ease and at will! Full from Ecclestone, on the stumps. Beth Mooney creates room by shuffling outside leg and plays the inside-out shot over the cover region for a cracking boundary. Didn't try to hit it too hard at all. Just pure timing.

Sophie Ecclestone has been brought back into the attack.

Flighted up, around off. Litchfield gets down on one knee and misses the sweep shot. The ball pops off the pads and drops to the right of the keeper.

SIX! A Phoebe Litchfield special! Linsey bowls full and on off. Phoebe Litchfield gets a bit across and nails the reverse sweep. Hits it flat and clears the deep backward point fence for a six. Just 44 needed from 55 balls.

Full and quick, on the stumps. Mooney works it to wide long on for a single.

Dropped short again, on off. Mooney cuts it again, but finds the fielder at cover-point this time around.

100 up for Australia Women! In just 10.2 overs. Short and wide outside off. Phoebe Litchfield backs away and cuts it hard to deep point for a single.

Pushed through, full on middle, Mooney walks out of the crease and drills it down to long on for a single.

Halfway through the run chase. A clear gulf between the two teams. Australia Women are cruising at 98/1, whereas England Women were crawling at 68/3 at the same stage. Linsey Smith (2-0-15-0) is back.

Takes pace off, fuller and wider on off. Mooney reaches out and drives it to deep point for one.

Full and at the sticks, this is hit down to long on for a single.

Angled in, on middle, on a back of a length. Phoebe tucks it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Put away with ease. Bell sticks to the slower one, but it does not come out right for her. It ends up being a full toss, on off. Litchfield holds her shape before clubbing it over mid-wicket for four more.

FOUR! Smashed! A loopy slower one, on a length, on middle. Phoebe Litchfield steps out, converts it into a half-volley and drills it to the left of mid off for a four.

Slower one, on a nagging length. Beth pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a run.

Lauren Bell (2-0-27-1) is back on, replacing Sophie Ecclestone. She was all over the place in her first spell and will look to make amends this time around.

Damage averted! Another back-of-the-hand slower one by Gibson, on a short of a length, on off. Mooney waits on it before pulling it wide of deep mid-wicket. Phoebe Litchfield is keen for the second run and is nearly halfway through before being sent back. Charlie Dean charges across to her left at deep mid-wicket and fires the throw on the bounce at the batting end. Amy Jones gathers the ball in front of the stumps before whipping the bails off. The third umpire is summoned for a check. Litchfield dives with the back of the bat facing the ground, and she manages to get in before the stumps are broken.

Umpire's review for a run out at the batting end. But it looks like Litchfield is safe. She dives to slide her bat in, and the replay confirms that she does so before Jones whips the bails off. NOT OUT!

Takes pace off and goes into the surface, on off. Mooney makes room to force it through the off side. Chops it down to point.

Across off, on a length. Litchfield strokes it past cover and gets to the other end.

FOUR! Hit with absolute authority. Gibson ends up being a bit too full, on off. Litchfield gets her hands through the ball in a flash and powers it to the left of the diving long off fielder for a four.

Fuller and on the off stump. Litchfield pushes out in front but ekes out an inside edge. It rolls on the leg side.

Hurls it on a back of a length, on middle. Mooney pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket and picks up a single.

Australia Women need 71 runs from 72 balls. The game is drifting away. Or dare we say, has drifted away from their reach. Danielle Gibson is into the attack, replacing Freya Kemp. Jones is up the wickets.

Nice and full, on middle, knocked down to long off for another single.

Keeps the stumps in play, does Sophie Ecclestone. Litchfield makes room and slams it to deep point for one.

FOUR! Gets it away! Speared in full and on middle and leg. The ball is a bit too full for the sweep and it nearly sneaks under the blade. Litchfield gets down for the sweep and it comes off the bottom edge before going past short fine leg.

Fired in at the sticks. Litchfield makes room to force it through the off side. Squeezes out the full toss to point.

Floated up, drifting in at the pads. Mooney drives it to long on and rotates the strike.

Pushed through, on middle and leg, on a length. Litchfield stays back and clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

After 7 overs, Australia Women are 72/1, going over 10 runs per over. Where is England's trump card, Ecclestone? Well, right on cue. Sophie Ecclestone is brought into the attack. She replaces Linsey Smith.

At 92.2 kph, on middle. Litchfield steps out and wrists it through mid-wicket for one more run.

Slanting into the left-hander, on a back of a length. Mooney nurdles it wide of short fine leg and gets to the other end.

FOUR! Off the edge. Fuller and wider on off, near the tramline on off. A bit of an away shape. Not short enough for the cut, but Mooney goes for it. It goes off the bottom edge and races past short third. The 50-run stand comes up with this boundary.

Into the wicket, on off. Litchfield stands tall on top of the bounce and jabs it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Pace off, on a good length, on middle. Beth nudges it square on the leg side and turns the strike over.

Not in control but safe. Angled into the pads, on a good length. Mooney tries to work it away with the angle but gets a top edge while attempting the flick. It lands safely behind square leg. Two runs taken.

DRINKS BREAK! Without a doubt, Australia have bossed up the Powerplay with a sizzling counterattack from Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney. England got an early opening with the wicket of Voll, but the door has been slammed shut on them and frankly to say, the bowlers have been all over the shop, especially Lauren Bell. You expect your best bowlers to have a good day, but so far, it hasn't been the case with her. Australia need 89 runs from 84 balls and with 9 wickets in hand, they look more than comfortable to hunt it down. It's a serious test for Nat Sciver-Brunt and Co. to get their side back in the game and for that, they need wickets, and they need them in heaps as this Australian side bats very deep. Freya Kemp is brought into the attack. She was instrumental with the bat, can she provide a breakthrough with the ball? Let's see.

A bit of air given, fuller and on middle. Beth eases it to long on for a single. After 6 overs, Australia are 62/1, needing 89 runs in 84 balls.

FOUR! Hammered away! Fractionally short, on off and middle. Mooney presses on the back foot in a flash and pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket. Danielle Gibson stands no chance in the deep.

Fuller now, on leg. Phoebe Litchfield steps out and flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

On off, on a length, Phoebe blocks it out.

A loud shout for LBW! Not given. That seemed to have pitched outside leg. On a good length, on middle. Litchfield attempts the reverse but misses to get hit on the front pad.

Across off, on the shorter side. Mooney drags it to wide long on for a single.

It is almost as if Australia are batting on a completely different surface. England managed just 68 runs in their first 10 overs. Australia have already raced to 55 in 5 overs. Linsey Smith is back.

Pushed fuller, on middle, drifting in. Phoebe Litchfield shimmies down the track and eases it back to Dean with soft hands.

Zips it on a length, on middle, Phoebe Litchfield tries to pull, but gets a thick bottom edge and the ball rolls back to the bowler.

SIX! Top shot! This is a solid counterattack from Australia after losing an early wicket. Half-volley, outside off. Phoebe Litchfield advances down the track, keeps her head down and clobbers it over the long off fence for half a dozen runs.

Short, around off. Phoebe Litchfield cuts it on the bounce to Lauren Bell at short third.

FOUR! Beats the fielder. A good effort by Gibson in the deep, but in vain. Full in length, on middle. Phoebe Litchfield sits down on her knee and sweeps it hard into the deep square leg gap. Danielle Gibson runs across to her left from deep mid-wicket, dives, but the ball seeps through to the fence.

Full and on off, Phoebe advances and pushes it to mid off.

FOUR! Threads it through! Length ball, outside off. Beth Mooney nails the square cut by bisecting the backward point and short third fielders perfectly for a boundary.

12 runs off the over with a ball to go.

TWO WIDES! Down the leg stump line, on a tad fuller length. Phoebe misses out on the flick shot, and the ball clips the keeper's right pad. Deflects to the short fine leg fielder, who dives and makes a half-stop, parrying the ball to the deep. It is hauled back by Alice Capsey, who sprints from short third. They cross.

Back of a length, on middle, Mooney stays leg side of the ball and cuts it to deep point for a single.

FOUR! Up and over! Full in length, in the slot, in front of the sticks. Mooney exposes the stumps by backing away. Easily lofts it over the mid on fielder and picks up another boundary.

With the keeper up to the stumps, Bell bowls a length ball, on the leg stump. Beth Mooney inside edges while attempting it to flick it off the back foot. The ball rolls off the thigh pad as the keeper collects to her left.

A chat between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Lauren Bell. Sophie Ecclestone joins the discussion as well. A helmet has been brought on for Amy Jones to stand up to the stumps.

FOUR! Expertly played! Full and pitched outside leg. Beth Mooney shuffles to create room and drives it crisply to beat the mid off fielder to her left, and the ball races down the slope for a boundary. Australia are on the charge now. They need 117 runs from 100 balls.

On a length, on the pads. Phoebe Litchfield presses back and tucks it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Flat and full, on off, Phoebe lofts it down to long off for a single.

Short in length and Mooney pulls it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A tad short on the stumps, Beth Mooney knocks it to the left of the bowler. Linsey dives to her left and stops it.

FOUR! Wonderful shot! Tossed up on off, Mooney gets down low to nail the slog sweep in front of square. Gibson comes across from deep mid-wicket and puts in a slide to her left, but the ball has too much on it and beats her to the fence.

Tossed up, on the pads, this is clipped to square leg by Mooney.

A touch shorter, across off and Beth Mooney drags it wide of long on for a couple of runs.

Just the one over for Charlie Dean in her opening spell. Linsey Smith replaces her.

FOUR! That's a seriously good shot to open the account. Swings in a touch, full on middle and leg. Phoebe Litchfield walks forward and drives it straight down the ground, back past the bowler for a cracking boundary.

First wicket down for Australia. Phoebe Litchfield is in at number 3.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Bell has the last laugh and breaks the opening stand. Good length ball in the channel outside off, 114.5 kph. Voll rocks back, looking for the square cut, but it's too close to free her arms. She is cramped for room, and she can only chop it back onto the stumps. The English fans roar back to life with this wicket. Australia Women are 17/1, chasing 151 runs.

WIDE! Good length ball, but way down leg. Voll misses her flick.

FOUR! Voll makes the bowler pay for her error! Short of a length, angling in. Voll picks the length early and nails the pull shot to deep square leg for a boundary.

NO BALL! That has gone all wrong for Bell. Slips it miles outside off and it lands beyond the cutstrip. Georgia Voll leaves. The keeper, Amy Jones, dives to her right and gets some glove on it and parries it wide of the first slip fielder and the ball races to the fence behind. Free Hit to follow.

Did that pitch outside the cutstrip? Yep, it did, confirmed by the replays. No Ball given. Free Hit coming up.

Short of a good length, outside off, shapes back in a touch. Mooney works it in front of cover-point for a single.

Run out chance, missed! Full and swinging in on the pads. Mooney misses the flick and is hit on the front pad. The ball rolls towards the left of the bowler. Now, Voll is on the charge for a leg bye, but is sent back. Bell runs forward, picks the ball, turns around, has three stumps to aim at the bowling end, but misses, and Voll dives to get back home. Massive scare averted.

BEATEN! Full and angled outside off. Mooney backs away, exposes her stumps to go up and over covers, but misses to lay her bat on the ball.

It will be pace from the other end. Here's Lauren Bell.

Good stop! Short and outside off. Mooney goes deep in the crease and plays the late cut, but Linsey Smith dives to her right at backward point and makes a half stop, parrying the ball to the short third fielder. Single taken.

Full on off, Beth Mooney taps it to backward point.

Short and turning away outside off, this is chopped in front of backward point.

Full on leg, pushed down to long on for a single.

Review retained! A big sigh of relief for Voll and Australia. It is a length ball that drifts across the batter from around the stumps. On a length, pitching outside leg. Georgia Voll is pinned in the crease and plays across the line, only to get beaten and is hit on the back thigh. A massive appeal for LBW and up goes the finger. Georgia Voll has a chat with Mooney and sends it upstairs for a review. There is no bat involved, as there is a clear gap. But the Ball Tracking saves Voll as it is pitching outside leg.

FOUR! No sighters needed! Dean bowls from around the stump. Drops a half-volley on leg. Georgia Voll clears the front leg and belts it over mid on for a boundary. Australia and Voll are underway in the chase.

England Women finish on 150/4. On a flatter trajectory, full in length, around off. Kemp clears the front leg away and slogs it hard on the bounce to Perry at long on for a single. 13 runs off the final over. Is that total enough against the six-time champs? Only time will tell.

Good running! Short and around off, Freya Kemp hangs back and heaves it across to deep mid-wicket, and the call is for the second run. Nat Sciver-Brunt puts on the afterburners to complete the second run. Sophie Molineux fails to collect the throw from the deep, which allows the England captain to rush back in.

SIX! Straight as an arrow! Precious runs for England, these. Angled across the stumps by Sophie, full and outside off. Freya Kemp plants her back knee into the pitch after shuffling a bit, gets her bat under the ball and hammers it down the ground for a cracking six.

Bowling to her field! Full on middle, angled in. Nat Sciver-Brunt walks out of the crease and whips off the pads to deep mid-wicket for just one.

Drops it full and around middle and leg. Nat Sciver-Brunt backs away and lofts it inside-out over wide mid off. Ashleigh Gardner runs across to her left and cuts it off. Two taken.

Quicker from around the stump. Full outside off. Kemp shuffles outside off and hammers it down to long on for a single.

Sophie Molineux has taken it upon herself to close out the innings. 3-0-19-1 so far for the Aussie skipper.

Top-drawer execution by Annabel. Just 6 runs from the penultimate over! Nails the yorker in, and gets it to tail on the pads. Nat Sciver-Brunt's head falls over as she shovels it out off the outer half of the bat.

Shin high full toss, on the pads. Freya Kemp flicks it to deep square leg. Phoebe Litchfield fields it. One taken.

Full toss, around off. Nat heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Low full toss, on middle. Sciver-Brunt swats it away to the left of deep square leg for a brace.

Pushes the length up, on off. Kemp hangs deep to launch it down the ground. She can't get under it and hits it along the ground to long on. They cross.

Into the wicket, on middle. Sciver-Brunt pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

A touch short, on off, this is pulled away towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Full and lands outside leg, Kemp backs away and plays the lofted drive wide of long off for a single.

FOUR! In the gap! Short of a length, outside off, from around the wicket. Kemp hangs back and pulls it away powerfully past the left of long on for a boundary.

Kemp was gone had the throw hit. Tucking the batter up for room, on the fuller side. Sciver-Brunt steps out to flick it away but misses and wears it on the pads. The ball drops at her feet and the batters decide to sneak in a leg bye. Beth Mooney gets to the ball quickly, turns around and fires a throw at the batting end but misses.

Full and on the pads. Kemp clips it behind square leg for a single.

FIFTY FOR NAT SCIVER-BRUNT! That's her 9th T20 World Cup half century and she goes past Beth Mooney and Suzie Bates to notch the most fifties in T20 World Cup history. Overall, this is her 20th T20I fifty. The captain has led from the front. Looped up delivery on leg, Sciver-Brunt shuffles across to the off side and pulls it to deep square leg for a single to get to her milestone.

Ashleigh Gardner is back. She has gone for 24 runs in her two overs so far.

Play and a miss! Outside off, full in length. Freya Kemp is drawn forward for the cover drive, but plays inside the line and gets beaten by a whisker.

Full and angled on the pads, Nat steers it to deep square leg for a single. Moves to 49, does Nat.

FOUR! Edgy! Not at all where Nat intended to hit, but she will take it. The 50-run partnership is up between this pair. Low full toss, sliding down leg. Nat shapes up to play the scoop shot, but gets a massive top edge and it flies over the short third fielder for a boundary.

Full on the stumps, Kemp drives it down the ground to long on for a single.

Nails a wide yorker, outside off. Kemp fails to squeeze it out and is beaten on the outside edge.

Slower ball, on middle and leg, full in length. Nat gets a bit crouched and awkwardly clips it to the square leg region for a single.

WIDE! Down leg, full in length. Nat Sciver-Brunt tries to sweep it behind, but misses.

21 runs off the last 2 overs for England. Kim Garth (3-0-12-1) returns for her final over.

Serves it full on the stumps. Nat Sciver-Brunt lets it dip and clips it along the ground to deep square leg. Easy single and the skipper moves to 43 (41).

Pitched fuller, on middle, Freya Kemp shimmies forward and belts it down to long on for a single.

A little bit of drift this time, outside off, on a good length. Kemp tries to force the issue by playing the cut shot. Gets a thick outside edge and it rolls to deep third for a couple of runs.

Drifts it across the batter from around the stump. On a length, around off. Kemp punches it hard but hits it straight to the fielder at cover.

The length is dragged back and it slides in on middle. Nat hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Smashed away! Full and flat, outside off. Nat Sciver-Brunt waits on it and bludgeons it through the cover gap for a cracking boundary.

Sophie Molineux is back into the attack. 2-0-10-1 so far.

Nails the yorker, on middle. Sciver-Brunt digs it out to wide long on for a single.

Floated up there, on middle. Freya lofts it back over the bowler's head and it is mopped up by the long on fielder. They cross.

FOUR! Georgia Wareham's effort goes in vain. Sutherland takes pace off and pitches it up, on middle. Kemp reaches out in front and clubs it through mid-wicket. Wareham dives to her right in the deep to prevent the boundary. Ends up parrying the ball onto the fence with her hands.

Into the wicket, outside off. Sciver-Brunt shuffles across and pulls it firmly to deep backward square leg. Single taken.

Tucking the batter up for room, on a short of a length. Kemp swats it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! A little too straight by Sutherland, on the pads, on a back of a length. Kemp crouches and shovels it aerially behind square leg for a boundary.

DRINKS BREAK! It has been a perfect game for Australia so far. From bowling execution to sharp fielding. Yes, there have been a couple of fumbles, but apart from those, the Aussies have just not let England breathe freely. But with Nat Sciver-Brunt still battling out there, England would still fancy a total in thereabouts of 140-150, which, who knows, might be a defendable score on this sluggish pitch. FYI, the highest successful run chase in a Women's T20 World Cup final is 149. Australia will look to dismiss the English captain as quickly as possible and finish off well here. Annabel Sutherland to continue after the hydration break.

Speared in at the pads, Kemp helps it away with the angle. It comes off the pads and goes away to short fine leg but there was a bit of bat involved.

Slows it down, across off, on a length. Sciver-Brunt drags the sweep to deep backward square leg for a single.

Fired in, full and on middle, Kemp powers the drive to the left of the bowler and turns the strike over.

Angled in from around the wicket, on a nagging length. Kemp tucks it through square leg. They take the first run hard and a fumble while picking the ball up by Nicola Carey allows the batters to come back for the second with ease.

Shorter and on middle. Nat flat bats it to long on. They cross.

A top edge but safe. Flighted delivery, on middle. Sciver-Brunt reaches out in front for the sweep but the ball takes a top edge and goes over the keeper's head for a couple of runs.

Ashleigh Gardner returns into the attack. She went for 16 off her first over. She replaces Georgia Wareham.

What did that come off? Very full, on middle, Sciver-Brunt walks across the stumps to access the area behind square on the leg side. She gets low for the sweep. Ekes out an inside edge onto the boot. It balloons behind with Beth Mooney being up to the stumps. Mooney stretches her hands out to her left but the ball drops out of her reach. Single taken.

Pushes the length up now, on middle. Nat drills it down the ground. Annabel Sutherland slides to her left there and makes a fine stop.

On a back of a length, on off, Kemp dabs it wide of point for one.

FOUR! Smashed! First boundary in 20 balls for England. Slower one, fuller and on off. Kemp is allowed to free her arms and she swings through the line. Thumps it back past the bowler and to the left of the mid off fielder.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere. Angled in, on a good length, on middle. Kemp tries to turn it across the line with a closed bat face. The ball straightens off the deck to catch the leading edge but it drops safely away from the reach of the backward point fielder. It goes to the deep and the batter collects a couple.

Tap and run! Starts with an off-pace delivery, on a good length, on off. The ball leaps up a bit to catch the splice of the bat as Sciver-Brunt tries to defend. The batters sneak in a quick single as the ball drops beside the strip on the off side.

England are going nowhere right now with just 7 fours and a six so far in their innings. They at least need to get to 150 to challenge a team of Australia's calibre. Lucy Hamilton (2-0-10-1) replaces Kim Garth.

Offers flight, very full, on middle. Freya jams it out.

Very full, on the pads. Sciver-Brunt sweeps and plays it fine but cannot get it past the short fine leg fielder.

Wide! Down leg, fuller in length. Nat fails to lay any bat on the sweep.

Turning back in at the pads, on a good length. Freya sweeps it behind square leg for a run.

At the pads, on a length. Nat misses out on the sweep. The ball goes behind off the pads for a leg bye.

Floated up, on off, that is defended solidly off the front foot.

Nearly a run out! Loopy ball, on middle. Sciver-Brunt shimmies down the track and firms the drive back past the bowler. Kemp was out of her crease at the bowling end and Wareham got a hand on it but luckily for Freya, the ball went past the stumps. Annabel Sutherland sprints to her left from long on and dives to prevent the boundary. Two runs taken.

Georgia Wareham (1-0-4-0) is back on. She replaces Sophie Molineux.

Beaten! Full and at 114.1 kph, going away. Kemp presses half-forward and tries to force the drive but is beaten as the ball leaves her.

Heather Knight was walking off even before the end of the first replay. England are in a real trouble now with Sciver-Brunt watching it fall apart from the other end.  Freya Kemp is in at number 6.

OUT! LBW! That looks pretty straight, and Heather Knight knows it, but she reluctantly takes the review after having a word with Nat Sciver-Brunt. It is the leg-cutter by Garth, fuller and on middle. Knight tries to clip it across the line but plays all around it. She is beaten on the inside edge and gets hit low on the front pad. Daylight between the bat and the ball. It is three reds on Ball Tracking with the ball crashing into the leg stump. Heather takes a review with her. Garth has provided Australia with a big scalp.

Pulls the length back, over off. Knight gives the bowler the charge despite the keeper being up to the stumps. She swings across for the pull but misses and wears it on the body.

At 113 kph, bowled on a good length, at the sticks. Knight defends with the bat close to the front pad.

Garth spots Nat backing away and she follows her with a full ball. Sciver-Brunt smears it through square leg for a single.

Angled in at the hips. Knight stays back and glances it to the left of deep fine leg for a single.

Will Ashleigh Gardner continue? The answer is no. Pace back on through Kim Garth.

Serves it full in front of the sticks, Heather Knight shimmies down the track and clips it through mid on for a single. Gets off the mark, does Knight. At halfway, England Women are 68/3.

Skids on a length, on off. Heather Knight hangs back and stabs it to cover.

Heather Knight makes her way out to bat.

OUT! BOWLED! Captain Molineux strikes and strikes big. Breaks the 35-run partnership. She bowls from around the stumps and smartly fires in a quicker one, full on the off stump line. Alice Capsey tries to be adventurous again and attempts the reverse sweep, but plays all over the line and the ball beats the bat to rattle the timber behind. Capsey was just starting to look dangerous, but her stay is cut short. England Women are 67/3 in 9.4 overs.

Fuller on the leg stump. Alice Capsey sits across the stumps and laps it over the keeper for a couple of runs.

Review lost! This is floated up, full and sliding into the batter, Alice Capsey sits down and goes for the reverse, but misses and the ball hits her back thigh. A massive appeal for LBW, but not given. Sophie Molineux has a word with Mooney and goes up for a review. Well, there's a clear deflection onto the pads off Capsey's glove.

Tight line, length ball on the stumps. Nat hangs back and steers it through square leg for a single.

A momentum-injecting over England so desperately needed. Can they build on it now? Sophie Molineux brings herself back on.

FOUR! Gloriously played! Tossed up by Gardner, outside off. Alice Capsey once again advances down the track and smashes it to the right of cover. Beats the long off fielder to her left for a boundary. 16 runs off the over.

Flat and full on the leg stump. Alice Capsey sits down and sweeps it straight to short fine leg.

SIX! The first six of the finale. Dropped fuller, on off. Alice Capsey skips down the track, gets under the ball and launches it over cow corner for a massive six. That was six the moment it left the bat.

Slows it up, full and around off. Nat Sciver-Brunt watchfully taps it with soft hands, in front of cover-point for a quick single.

Spins in from off, on a length. Alice hangs back and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! PUNISHED! That's a loosener to start with from Gardner. A juicy full toss, on off. Nat Sciver-Brunt jumps out of the crease and whips it to the left of Georgia Wareham at deep mid-wicket for a boundary. The 50 is up for England.

Ashleigh Gardner to bowl her off-breaks now. Australia's 6th bowling option.

Pulls the length back, outside off. Capsey presses back and square cuts it to sweeper cover for a single. England crawling at run-a-ball at the moment.

Nice and full, on off, Capsey drives it inside out to cover.

WIDE! Way too short and it jumps over the head. Alice lets it be. Mooney leaps a bit to grab the ball behind. Wide for height.

Could have easily been two, but Gardner does really well to cut that off. Full angling in, Nat Sciver-Brunt flicks it into the vacant mid-wicket region. Ashleigh Gardner runs across to her right and mops it up. Keeps it down to a single.

Fires one on the leg stump, full in length. Capsey misses the flick as she plays all around it and the ball rolls behind to short fine leg for a leg bye.

Short of a length, on top of middle. Nat Sciver-Brunt backs away and powers the pull shot to deep square leg for a single.

Keeps the stumps in play, on a good length, angling in. Nat Sciver-Brunt stays put and tries to clip it to the leg side but misses and the ball hits her thigh pad.

Annabel Sutherland (1-0-12-1) returns to the attack. Beth Mooney is standing up to the stumps.

Oh, that goes underground! Wareham drags the length back, short on the leg stump, but it just refuses to rise and stays low on the bounce. Alice Capsey shapes for a pull shot off the back foot, but the ball sneaks below her bat and hits her boot. She is fairly disappointed, as that was one to be put away.

A little bit of drift on the stumps, on a fuller length. Capsey takes a giant stride forward and blocks it back to Georgia.

Full again, on the stumps, sliding in. Nat Sciver-Brunt clears the front leg and flicks it along the turf to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Floated up, full, on off. Nat carves it straight to cover.

Straighter and fuller, around off. Nat sits across and laps it off the inner half of the bat. The ball rolls to the deep fine leg region and they cross twice.

Starts with a loopy leg break, full on off. Alice Capsey flicks it to the left of the diving mid-wicket fielder. They get a single as the long on fielder runs forward to pick it up.

DRINKS BREAK! Australia will be pleased with how the Powerplay unfolded. They have been disciplined with the ball, backed it up with sharp work in the field, and have kept England firmly in check. England have been in this position before. They were 23/3 in the semi-final against South Africa before Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt absorbed the early pressure and engineered a superb recovery. The hosts would dearly love their captain to produce another rescue act today. This doesn't appear to be the kind of surface where batters can simply hit through the line. England will need to rebuild patiently, and just as importantly, keep reassessing what a good total looks like as the innings progresses. Georgia Wareham to bowl after the break.

A lot fuller, outside off, Alice Capsey steers it through cover-point for an easy single. England Women are 39/2 after the Powerplay.

Length ball, outside off. Nat Sciver-Brunt stands tall and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Almost a run out on the Free Hit! It's all happening out there! Hamilton comes from around the stumps and slants it into the batter on a good length. Alice hangs back and pulls it towards Ashleigh Gardner at mid-wicket, and they decide to cross over for a tight single. Alice is slow to get off the blocks, but Gardner's throw to the bowler is a bit wayward. Lucy Hamilton fails to collect the ball as it rolls to the off side. Capsey was gone for all money had the throw hit or the bowler collected it. She survives a scare. A rare blip in the field by the Aussies today.

Pushes it wide outside off, on a fractionally fuller length. Capsey dangles her bat away from her body but the ball leaves her and beats the outside edge. Uh, oh! Lucy Hamilton has overstepped this time. No Ball given. Free Hit coming up...

Around off, on a fullish length. Nat Sciver-Brunt heaves it across. Plays off the inner half through mid-wicket for a single.

Angled across, on a length, Alice Capsey presses back and cuts it to the point fielder. A fumble there allows them to pinch in a single.

Beaten! Going away with the angle, on a good length. Capsey pushes away from her body and is beaten past the outside edge.

It was turning out to be a productive over for England, but Danni's wicket has put the hosts under pressure. Lucy Hamilton is brought back on. 1-0-4-1 so far.

Outside off, on a short of a length. Capsey plays the late dab down to deep third for a single to open her account.

Brilliant review from Australia. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the lead run scorer of the tournament, falls cheaply in the finale. Alice Capsey is the new batter in with England in a spot of bother.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Incredible take by Beth Mooney. Annabel Sutherland has struck in her first over despite an indifferent start. 50th T20I wicket for Sutherland. Angled in at the hips, on a back of a length. Wyatt-Hodge gets inside the line to help it away. Beth Mooney is standing up to the stumps, and she moves well to her left. She gets her gloves in line with the ball. Although it pops out of her grasp on the first attempt, Beth is aware of where the ball is, and she dives to her left whilst stretching her hands out to snaffle it. A polite enquiry for caught behind, but it has been given as a wide. There was a noise. Sophie Molineux has a word with Mooney before taking the review. The UltraEdge comes up with a spike when the ball is next to the glove, and the on-field decision is overturned.

Tailing back in at the pads, Nat misses out on the tickle. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the thigh pad on the leg side.

FOUR! Nat Sciver-Brunt makes the Free Hit count. Sutherland takes pace off and bowls it at 90.7 kph, on a length, outside off. Sciver-Brunt waits for the ball to arrive and crouches to drag it away to the left of deep mid-wicket for a four.

Good running. Attacking the stumps, full in length. Wyatt-Hodge taps it down in front of cover and hurries to the other end. A check upstairs for No Ball and Annabel Sutherland has indeed overstepped. Free Hit coming up.

Full again, on leg. Nat picks it up off the pads aerially to deep backward square leg for a run.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Sutherland errs in her length as this is on the pads, on a length. Sciver-Brunt brings her wrists into play and plays it fine of Georgia Wareham at deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Molineux recovered well from that early boundary. Double change in bowling. Annabel Sutherland is introduced now and she replaces Kim Garth.

Speared in at the pads, Wyatt-Hodge flicks it away but straight to the square leg fielder.

Slanting into the right-hander, on a nagging length. Wyatt-Hodge gets down on a knee for the sweep but the ball kicks up a bit to go over the blade and she wears it on the body.

Had to hurry! Slower through the air, on a good length, on middle. Nat uses her feet and looks to go down the ground. She is not to the pitch of the ball and it spins away a bit to catch the outer half. It goes wide of short third and the batters decide to sneak in a quick single. Georgia Voll is quick to get to the ball and throws it towards the keeper. Wyatt-Hodge makes a desperate dive and the replays find her to be safe. A direct hit would have found Wyatt-Hodge in trouble.

Is Wyatt-Hodge run out? She has to put in a full length dive to get back in and that just about proves to be enough to mark her safe. Her bat just slides in before Mooney breaks the stumps. NOT OUT!

Width offered, stays short. Nat cuts it hard but picks out cover-point.

Dropped short now, on off, that is punched off the back foot wide of cover for a single.

FOUR! Streaky! Darted in from around the wicket, on a length, on middle. Wyatt-Hodge steps out and stays leg side to go through the off side. Gets an outside edge and it goes through the gap between short third and backward point. 300 runs in this tournament for Wyatt-Hodge.

The Aussie pace duo has bowled in good areas so far. It's a fantastic start for them as half the Powerplay ticks by. England have been unable thus far to break the shackles but this pair can easily catch up and motor. And here comes the captain, Sophie Molineux, into the attack, replacing Lucy Hamilton.

Beth Mooney comes up to the stumps. At 115.3 kph, nice and tight, bowled on a good length, targeting the off pole. Nat can only pat it down on the strip. Tidy stuff from Garth.

Hits the good length, on off and middle. Sciver-Brunt covers the line and blocks it out.

Angled into the right-hander. Nat clips this full ball wide of mid on, where Annabel Sutherland is late to dive and attempts to make the stop with her right hand. It gets past her, and the batters come back for the second run.

A bit fuller now, on the off stump. A bit of away shape but Sciver-Brunt is watchful in defence.

Beth Mooney goes back to her usual position for the English skipper. Garth stays on the shorter side, on off. Sciver-Brunt hangs back to defend.

Into the wicket, outside off with the keeper up to the stumps. Wyatt-Hodge stands tall on top of the bounce and cuts it to deep point. They cross.

Goes past the bat. The length is pulled back a bit by Hamilton, angled across off. Nat does not move her feet at all and pushes away from her body. She is lucky not to have nicked it behind.

In and around the off pole, on a good length. Nat presents a straight bat for the block.

Closer to the off stump, on a length. Sciver-Brunt taps it down on the off side.

FOUR! What a start. Nat Sciver-Brunt is up and running in confident fashion. Cross-seam ball, on a length. Sciver-Brunt gets the width to work with. She extends her hands and slams the drive through covers for a boundary.

Massive moment for Lucy Hamilton. She picks up her first World Cup wicket, and that too, in the finale. Couldn't get better than this. More importantly, the English opening pair is broken in mere 8 balls. In walks the captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, at number 3.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Lucy Hamilton has her first World Cup wicket. Amy Jones falls cheaply yet again. Very full by Hamilton, going away with the angle from over the wicket. The ball was too full for the drive, and Jones just ended up stabbing at the ball with hard hands. The ball leaves her to take the outside edge. It goes low to short third, where Georgia Voll dives to her left and takes a good catch.

Pushed across the right-hander, flirting with the tramline. Jones does not offer any shot. Wide not given, much to the surprise of Wyatt-Hodge at the other end.

Already there are signs of the pitch being on the slower side. Lucy Hamilton will share the attack, bowling from the Nursery End. A slip in place.

Good effort. Fuller in length, on off. Jones leans on and firms the drive to cover, where Sophie Molineux dives and makes a sharp stop. Just a single.

Bowled on a length, in the channel. Wyatt-Hodge cuts it past point and takes a single to get off the mark.

Was there an edge? Nip-backer by Garth, on a short of a length, on off. Wyatt-Hodge hangs back and presents an angled bat to work it behind point. Ekes out an inside edge onto the back pad. Beth Mooney is standing up to the stumps but cannot react quick enough as the ball lobs off the pads and drops to her left.

A bit of width, on a back of a length, slapped to deep point for a single.

FOUR! Jones is away in the final in a streaky fashion. Garth drags the length back and bowls it around off. Amy stays back and goes across for the pull. Gets an inside edge, and it goes down to deep fine leg, where Georgia Wareham sprints to her right and tries to flick it away from the ropes. The ball trickles back into the boundary cushions just before Phoebe Litchfield can flick it away.

Excellent piece of athleticism already. But has Wareham managed to save the boundary? Nope, she hasn't. Phoebe Litchfield, the other fielder, did try to flick it back with a dive, but the ball had already kissed the boundary cushion by then.

A bit of swing for Garth first up. Starts slightly on the fuller side, moving away in the air. Jones shoulders arms. It does not quite carry through to the keeper and Beth Mooney collects it around her shin.

Done with all the pre-match formalities. It is now time to get the Grand Finale underway. The umpires are already out in the middle. Sophie Molineux has her ladies in a last-minute huddle. Now, the Aussies scatter across the park and take their respective positions. The English openers - Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge - spring out and walk to the crease. Kim Garth will bowl the first over of the Final. Jones will take the strike. 3... 2... 1... let's play...

Goosebumps guaranteed - The giant flags of both nations are being unfurled in the middle as the final gets ready to begin. Out walk the match officials, and right after them, the two captains lead their respective groups for the national anthems. Nat Sciver-Brunt has her own little mascot, Theodore (her son), in tow. It will be Australia's anthem first, sung by Rebecca Hart, followed by England's, performed by Laura Wright.

As expected, both teams are unchanged and understandably so. Why fix something that clearly isn't broken, eh? That means Australian star all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who pulled up with a quad issue against West Indies in the first semifinal, is fit and fine to play. For England, there were no major injury concerns heading into the finale. So yeah, that's that. Sunny conditions and a sell-out at Lord's. It couldn't get better than this. What will work? Runs on the board, or the instinct to bowl first? We shall find out in the next few hours.

Australia Women (Unchanged Playing XI) - Beth Mooney (WK), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (C), Kim Garth and Lucy Hamilton.

England Women (Unchanged Playing XI) - Amy Jones (WK), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell.

The captain of England Women - Nat Sciver-Brunt says they would have bowled first as well, as she details that it is a fresh wicket and runs on the board in the final are always a good thing. She then informs that they are going unchanged for the finale. When asked about handling the pressure of leading a side in a final, she notes it would be silly not to draw on her experience, pointing out that the group has navigated different venues, conditions and pressure situations through the tournament and produced some quality cricket along the way. When quizzed on what it will take for England to get over the line today, she breaks into a smile and says one more run than the opposition ought to do it.

The captain of Australia Women - Sophie Molineux shares that there was plenty of discussion around whether to bat or bowl first, but the decision ultimately came down to instinct. Molineux doesn't expect the pitch to change much during the game. Sophie confirms that Ellyse Perry has come through training well and Australia are unchanged for the final. Mentions that it's a special day, admitting it was always a dream to play at Lord's, and that captaining her country in a World Cup final at the iconic venue feels surreal. When asked what they did during the break since the semifinal, Molineux says the squad made the most of a couple of days off before getting back to training over the last two days.

TOSS - It's time for the coin flip at Lord's. Both captains - Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Molineux pose for a photograph with Rita Ora before heading out to the middle. Mel Jones leads the proceedings. Nat gives it a flick. Heads is the call from Sophie, and she calls it right. Australia Women have elected to BOWL first.

Wow, that was some entertaining performance from Rita Ora. The crowd at the Home of Cricket surely fed off every bit of it, and the energy around the ground lifted instantly. The toss for the summit clash is just minutes away now, and the visuals from the middle show both sides out on the field going through their pre-match routines.

PITCH REPORT - Former England cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent is pitchside alongside India's Dinesh Karthik. Ebony says it's a glorious afternoon at Lord's, with temperatures hovering around 27 degrees Celsius. Adds that there is hardly a cloud in the sky and a light breeze of around 14 km/h. Mentions that the straight boundary measures 71 metres, while the square boundaries are 62 metres and 64 metres. Dinesh informs that the final will be played on the same surface used for the England-West Indies clash. He points out that the pitch has a mix of fresh and dried grass and feels the new ball should offer a bit of seam movement early on.  Karthik believes batters can make the most of the short square boundaries and cash in once set. When asked by Ebony whether to bat or bowl first, Dinesh replies he'd bat first, put runs on the board and let the pressure of a World Cup final do the rest.

Pre-match festivities - The first ball is still about 50 minutes away, but Lord's is already buzzing with British pop star Rita Ora taking centre stage for the closing ceremony. Later in the day, British electronic music group Clean Bandit will perform after the trophy presentation. It brings back memories of the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup final at the MCG, when Australia's players celebrated their title triumph by joining Katy Perry on stage. For one side, it will be a night of celebration. For the other, a case of what might have been. Who are you backing to complete the climb to the summit?

Back where they belong - Australia, meanwhile, are back on familiar territory. After falling in the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 ODI World Cup, the gold standard of the women's game have returned to another global final. Six-time T20 World Cup champions, the Aussies have the chance to add yet another trophy to their glittering cabinet. And for a side built on sustained excellence, there would be no sweeter way to reclaim the crown than by beating their oldest rivals on the biggest stage of them all.

Redemption beckons - For England, this is a chance to complete a redemption arc. From a group-stage exit in the previous edition to standing one win away from a home World Cup triumph, the turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. Victory would end a nine-year wait for a world title, with their last coming in the 2017 ODI World Cup, when they defeated India in the final at this very venue. Only Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge remain from that title-winning side. Can they inspire another Lord's fairytale? More importantly, can the rest of the squad embrace the occasion and treat pressure as a privilege?

Heavyweights collide - There is plenty to feast on, but the main course comes from Lord's. Two of cricket's fiercest rivals lock horns on the grandest stage at the game's most storied venue. England and Australia have been the standout teams of the tournament, both arriving unbeaten and now standing just one victory away from lifting the trophy.

A Sunday to savour - If ever there was a day to stay glued to your screen, today is it. The Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's, the British Grand Prix, the second week of Wimbledon, and two cracking Round of 16 fixtures at the FIFA World Cup, with Brazil taking on Norway before England face Mexico. It doesn't get much better than this.

... GRAND FINAL ...

A date with destiny - So here it is, then. Thirty two matches, over three weeks of relentless cricket, and it all boils down to this. The two best teams in the tournament are staring each other down at Lord's, hungry for one more taste of glory. Australia take on England in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Home of Cricket, and honestly, it just doesn't get better than this. These are cricket's oldest rivals, still carrying the same old grudge, and what we're getting is basically an Ashes final in disguise. Fitting doesn't even begin to cover it as both teams arrive undefeated throughout the tournament. Chasing the seventh wonder - Australia missing a World Cup final is basically a myth at this point. It's as if every other team spends the tournament grinding just to earn the right to face the Kangaroos at the very end. Those rare misses have happened just twice, back in 2009, the inaugural edition, and again in 2024, the most recent one. Everywhere else, they've been there and done that. This marks their eighth final in ten editions, a number that speaks for itself. And of those seven previous finals, they've fumbled the trophy just once, way back in 2016. Australia's run in this edition has been nothing short of clinical. There's a difference between scraping past opponents and flat out flogging them, and the Aussies have made it very clear which one they prefer. The margins of their wins this time around have been so brutal, so ruthlessly one-sided, that it genuinely feels like not a single hair got misplaced in the wind. Just look at the margins. Defending totals, Australia have won by 65, 98 and 113 runs, the numbers climbing higher with every outing, like they're twisting the knife a little more each time. Chasing hasn't been any different either, with wins by 9, 6 and 8 wickets showing just how little the opposition bowling has troubled them. Bat first or chase, the story stays exactly the same. Is it coming home again? If Australia have been the dominant force through and through, England at home in World Cups are a different beast altogether. They have not lost a single T20 World Cup game hosted on home soil so far. Back in 2009, when they hosted the inaugural edition, they won every match on their way to the title, the only time they've ever gotten their hands on the trophy. Fast forward to 2026, and they find themselves on the cusp of doing exactly that again, in front of a home crowd, again. Likewise, their counterparts, the hosts too, have had a largely untroubled campaign so far. But they were pushed to the limits in the second semifinal by the Proteas early doors. Emotions ran high, especially after England were left reeling at 23/3, having been put in to bat. But with a loyal crowd rallying behind them, they were jubilant at the end as a record partnership of 133 from 90 balls between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight put them in the driving seat and they just didn't look back since. This is England's fifth final appearance at the T20 World Cups, and outside of that golden 2009 summer, the ending has never been kind to them. They came up short in 2012, 2014 and 2018. And every single time, the same team was waiting there to slam the door shut. Australia have played the role of England's final day nemesis with almost eerie consistency. And this time, they would hope that it is not the case. Depth and dominance - You won't see a truckload of runs from the Aussie batters, but what you'll find instead is contribution trickling in from up and down the order, different names stepping up on different days, and somehow it's always been enough. Four of their batters, Perry, Mooney, Gardner and Voll, have all crossed the triple digits this tournament, and crucially, they're spread right across the top and middle order. It's less about one superstar carrying the team and more about a batting line up where everyone knows their job. But amid all this dominance, there are names that go under the radar. Two of the toughest jobs in T20 cricket are the middle order finisher and the first change spinner. One demands instant impact, no time to settle, just intent from the very first ball. The other demands control, hunting wickets while making sure the asking rate never breathes easy. For Australia, quietly but very effectively, Georgia Wareham has made that impact. Of course, the sample size is small as she has just faced 45 balls and shy of 15 overs bowled across six games. Yet she walks in with the tournament's best strike rate of 182.22, and boasts one of the best economy rates in the competition at 4.50 alongside 7 wickets at an average of 9.42. Virtually, she has been the bridge between their batting and bowling dominance. Australia’s bowling plans have been a key part of their dominance this tournament, led through the middle overs by their spinning trio of Wareham, captain Sophie Molineux and Ash Gardner. Of all their bowlers this tournament, Annabel Sutherland is the only one with an economy rate of more than seven runs per over, which just speaks to the discipline they have had through and through. The Perry factor - Phoebe Litchfield returned from a quad injury against India, and all eyes remain on Ellyse Perry, who walked off in the semifinal with quad awareness. Reports suggest she has trained well ahead of the finale, and the team is optimistic that she should be fit and fine to take the field. The stakes of her availability are hard to overstate. Perry is Australia's second-highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history behind Schutt, with 44 scalps to her name, and she brings 688 runs to the table as well. Built for the big days - Wyatt-Hodge is in red-hot form at the top of the England order, breaking Beth Mooney's record for the most runs in a single edition of the Women's T20 World Cup. She now has 294 runs in six matches at an average of 73.5. But it's the return of Nat Sciver-Brunt that changed the shape of this team. She missed three games with a calf issue, walked back into the semifinal, and smashed a masterful 75 off 47 alongside Heather Knight's 58 off 47, the very partnership that pulled England from the brink against the Proteas. Behind the headline names, Sophia Dunkley slotted in at number three during Sciver-Brunt's absence and did the job well enough that England barely felt the gap. Not everyone has had it easy though. Amy Jones lit up the opening night with a fifty against Sri Lanka and has gone quiet ever since, scraping together just 36 runs across five innings since. If Australia's story has been about depth papering over the absence of one dominant run scorer, England's has been about their big names showing up exactly when it mattered most. With the ball, Sophie Ecclestone has quietly gone about her business the same way Wareham has for Australia. Across her T20 World Cup career, she has picked up 38 wickets at an economy of just 4.7, control that has repeatedly throttled the middle overs and kept England in games even when the batting hasn't fully clicked. The pace unit around her hasn't leaned on one spearhead either, adjusting to different conditions across the tournament rather than depending on a single wicket taker to do the damage. The numbers back up the collective effort, too. England's attack has taken the most wickets in the tournament, 41 and counting, with Australia not too far behind on 36. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - ENG-W - WWWWW | AUS-W - WWWWW. Venue know-how - Three group matches have been played at Lord's so far this tournament. England posted the highest total seen at the venue, racing to 186/7 against West Indies, while Australia pulled off the ground's record run chase, hunting down 171 against India in their final league game. That win against India was only Australia's second ever T20I at Lord's, their first coming during the 2023 Ashes, a five-wicket defeat to England. England on the other hand, have not lost a single T20I at the Home of Cricket, winning four out of four played, a run that stretches all the way back to the 2009 World Cup final itself, winning by at least 20 runs or five wickets on each occasion. What to expect? If the tournament so far is anything to go by, this final promises fireworks. Two unbeaten sides, two batting line-ups capable of going the distance, and two attacks that know exactly how to shut a game down once on top. Australia are hunting a seventh World Cup title, the kind of number that would put them in a league of their own. England, who have never lost a World Cup game on home soil, will look to complete the circle and add a second home triumph to their name. Lord's has seen high totals and record chases already this tournament, and there's no reason to expect anything less on the final day. Whichever way it swings, by Sunday evening we'll know if it's a seventh wonder or a second charm.