A rampant Australia emphatically clinched their fifth Women’s T20 World Cup title on Sunday, thumping India by 85 runs in front of more than 86,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Alyssa Healy smashed a quick-fire 75 and Beth Mooney hit an unbeaten 78 as the defending champions plundered an ominous 184/4 — the highest score ever in a Women’s T20 World Cup final. In reply, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India could only manage 99 in 19.1 overs, ending a 17-day tournament that reinforced Australia’s dominance of the sport, having now won five of the seven World Cups so far.
Brief scores: Australia 184/4 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 78*, Alyssa Healy 74; Deepti Sharma 2-38) beat India 99 in 19.1 overs (Megan Schutt 4-18, Jess Jonassen 3-30) by 85 runs.
Here’s how the cricketing world reacted to Australia’s win over India:
Congratulations @AusWomenCricket on winning yet another T20 title. You have brilliant. Savour the moment! #T20WorldCup https://t.co/DT4PF6ebSz
— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) March 8, 2020
Our girls gave their everything, just had one bad day but it was so wonderful to see the way in which they played barring today .Wishing them better luck next time. Congratulations to Australia on winning the #T20WorldCup
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 8, 2020
Congratulations to the @AusWomenCricket,on there success. @BCCIWomen be proud of your efforts, you had a great tournament, you are building a team that will cause havoc in the coming years. Women's cricket is alive and well. The game is growing. #T20WorldCup #AUSvIND
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) March 8, 2020
This was heartbreaking. Well played @BCCIWomen. Sometimes, it's just not your day! Congratulations @AusWomenCricket. May this World Cup inspire many more to take up the sport! 🙌🏼 #INDvAUS #T20WorldCup
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) March 8, 2020
Australia are deserving winners of the #ICCT20WorldCup. And they produced a spectacle at the MCG. 86k here. It has been magnificent for the women's game.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 8, 2020
Congratulations @southernstars team for another amazing World Cup win. You set the standard for the women’s game again and again and should be really proud of your incredible efforts https://t.co/RrWI0cwmdP
— Steve Smith (@stevesmith49) March 8, 2020
Great campaign for the @BCCIWomen , well done @wvraman and the entire team for making us all proud. Onwards and upwards 👌👍🏻 . Congrats to the @AusWomenCricket for a dominating performance on the big night. 👏#WomenWorldCup2020
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) March 8, 2020
No matter what we are still proud of you . Remember this was our first defeat in the tournament. So many great memories of the tournament. Lessons learnt and hopefully next time we will be champion. #AUSvIND #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/jxtCIvNxqc
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) March 8, 2020
The pressure of coming good in the finals was a bit too much fr Indn girls..@MCG is a cruel venue fr first timers-but all said & done OZ outplayed Indns frm the moment they won the toss..& then they went about their job most confidently & serenely-Indns struggled 2 stay n game!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) March 8, 2020