The stage is set for the Women’s T20 World Cup final with host nation Australia to face India at the MCG. Join The Roar for coverage of the decider, with live scores and a blog from 6:00pm (AEDT).
Thursday’s semi-final double-header in Sydney had it all: lots of rain; disappointment for England; elation for India; heartbreak for South Africa; and triumph for Australia.
The first match was abandoned due to the rain, gifting India their first Women’s T20 World Cup final appearance and sent England packing.
Australia moved through to the final with a five-run win over South Africa, holding their nerve in a tense finish to Thursday’s proceedings.
Meg Lanning led brilliantly; the ultimate clutch player as described by Alyssa Healy and a number of other teammates. It started with a steady knock of 49 runs and continued with two catches while rotating her bowlers exceptionally in the shortened second innings.
Australia and India have previously met this tournament in the opening game at Sydney’s Showground Stadium, where India won by 17 runs.
Defending 132, India’s Poonam Yadav and Shikha Pandey ripped through the Aussie line up, bowling them out with a ball to spare on a low and slow pitch.
It’ll be a different ball game on the MCG pitch, you’d expect.
The Australian outfit have felt the pressure of being the number one team and defending champions at a home World Cup, but have managed tight wins and got through to the final.
They will be without recent Belinda Clarke medallist Ellyse Perry, who will miss six months with a hamstring injury which requires surgery.
On International Women’s Day, the event is aiming for a record-breaking crowd and they should be treated to an absolute spectacle between these two cricket nations.
Prediction
Despite losing to India twice in the last month, it’s hard to go past the defending champions playing at home in Melbourne.
While India has not lost in this World Cup campaign, impressively beating Australia and New Zealand in the group stage, they face a different battle in a debut final.
Australia has experience in this situation, although not in front of such a large crowd, and will play with pride, absorbing the pressure to win another title.
Australia to win.
Can Australia collect a fifth T20 World Cup title, or will India’s women’s team lift the trophy for the first time?
Catch all the action live on The Roar from 6pm and don’t forget to add your thoughts in the comment section below!
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
First ball: 6:00pm (AEDT)
TV: 9Gem, Fox Cricket
Online: 9Now, Foxtel, Kayo Sports
Odds: Australia $1.51, India $2.51
Australia squad
Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham
India squad
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Rajeshwari Gaekwad, Richa Ghosh
TRhing-me
Roar Rookie
Surprise! surprise! Australia defeated India to claim WORLD status. Congratulations and a superb outcome in this absolutely thrilling encounter.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Disappointing for your side, but brilliant day for progressing women in the game we love. Hoping that in two generations from now (or sooner), India has a female cricketing icon that is as equally recognised and celebrated in India as Virat Kholi is right now.
JGK
Roar Guru
After the SCG they probably realised that fate was on their side. Dont forget they were close to going out against Sri Lanka as well.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Damn good turn out nevertheless!
matth
Roar Guru
Well played Australia. Looks to me like once the overwhelming pressure to actually reach the final was lifted they hit this game with clear minds.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Again, thank you for joining The Roar tonight - it's been a great night for Australian cricket, Women's cricket and cricket on the world stage. As Australia start their lap of honour, I will sign off from the blog of the final. Thanks for your input.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
For winning, CA will top up Australia’s earning above the ICC payments, to match what is paid to the men’s team for winning.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Meg Lanning "I'm just really proud of this group of players and staff. We've had everything thrown at us this tournament. "It was tough. Especially after we loss that first game. There was a lot of expectation put on us externally and internally as well, we came into this tournament wanting to win, no doubt." "They were a big part of our plans (the injured girls). Especially against a team like India." "It's been massive, 86,000 at the MCG. I never thought I'd be a part of that and be out in the middle for it. I'd like to thank support staff... family and friends... also to the fans, it's been an awesome tournament." Lanning runs over to receive the trophy from Belinda Clark and Australia lift it up for the fifth time - they are ICC T20 World Cup Champions.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Well done team and great call Sarah!
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Ellyse Perry gets an enormous cheer from the crowd as she goes up to collect her medal.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Australia come up to receive their medals as the champions of the T20 World Cup.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Harmanpreet Kaur - the skipper and birthday girl - speaks as the losing captain from this final. "Yes, definitely [the future looks bright]." "I still have a lot of faith in my team... we need to keep trusting ourselves." "It's part of the game (the nerves)... the first game kept us high on the table and then got us through to the final." "It was unfortunate for us to not win today, we just need to keep working." India's admits they need more practice in the big games and hopes there will be many more to come for this team.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
India come up to collect their runners up medals.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
For her consistent performance, 259 runs and a strike rate of 125, Beth Mooney is named Player of the Tournament. Huge smile. Big breath and a sigh from Mooney. "I don't have any words." "Pretty outstanding and to have the support of 87,000 is pretty outrageous too." "You can always be better, Mel. That's a mantra I like to live by." "I'm just very fortunate and grateful to have been given the opportunities I have by Cricket Australia."
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
For her 75 runs from 39 deliveries, Alyssa Healy is the Player of the Final. "It was unbelievable. Thank you everyone." "I never thought we would get this opportunity in my career, maybe in twenty years time...." It's the nature of the way she plays her cricket, she was not worried one bit about form going into the tournament. "Moons was sensational tonight, she'd go off strike and let me do my thing. Then when I got out she got to go..."
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
86,174.Almost!! Just fell short.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Match officials receive awards for their involvement in today's match.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
A moment to savour is right, an incredible night with 86,174 at the MCG on International Women's Day. Beth Mooney 78* (54 balls) Alyssa Healy 75 (39 balls) Megan Schutt took 4 wickets, Jess Jonassen 3. Deepti Sharma was one of India's best, with two wickets and 33 runs from 35 balls.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
It has been a brilliant tournament, the organisers have done an incredible job elevating women's cricket. India played very well in the group stage, it was unfortunate they fell so short tonight.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
The presentations will be after the break, I'll run through the awards as they happen. For those leaving now, thank you for following along tonight and throughout the tournament - it's been great to have your input across the fortnight.