Australia beat England at Lord’s for seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title
Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield powered Australia’s chase as England fell by seven wickets in the 2026 final at Lord’s.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Australia won the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup by beating England by seven wickets at a sold-out Lord’s, extending their record to seven titles in the format. Reuters reported that Australia chased 151 with 17 balls remaining after Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield took control of the final.
Mooney made 64 from 49 balls and Litchfield scored 48 from 35 in a second-wicket stand that left England with little room to recover. The victory completed an unbeaten tournament for Australia, with Mooney named player of the tournament.
England had reached 150-4 after captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Freya Kemp put on an unbroken 80-run partnership. Sciver-Brunt scored 58 from 53 balls, while Kemp made 44 from 28, including a six off Sophie Molineux in the final over, according to Reuters.
Australia’s bowlers had put England under early pressure. Lucy Hamilton dismissed Amy Jones for six, caught low by Georgia Voll at gully, while Annabel Sutherland removed Danni Wyatt-Hodge for eight after wicketkeeper Mooney took a diving catch down the leg side. Reuters reported that the wicket was Sutherland’s 50th in T20 internationals.
England were 39-2 after the first six overs. Alice Capsey briefly lifted the scoring by hitting Ash Gardner for six, but she was bowled by Molineux for 23 while attempting a reverse sweep. Kim Garth then trapped Heather Knight lbw for two and finished with 1-20 from four overs.
Sciver-Brunt and Kemp repaired the innings, but Reuters reported that England’s total left Australia with a chase they handled at pace. Voll struck the first ball of Australia’s innings, bowled by Charlie Dean, for four before falling to Lauren Bell for nine in the next over.
Mooney and Litchfield then drove Australia to 98-1 after 10 overs. Litchfield hit two sixes before Dean bowled her, and Mooney later fell lbw to Sophie Ecclestone.
Ellyse Perry finished the chase after surviving when a catch by Ecclestone was ruled not out by the TV umpire, Reuters reported. The winning runs came from four wides delivered by Ecclestone.
Litchfield said Australia wanted to strike early in the chase and reduce the required rate quickly. She also credited Mooney for easing the pressure, saying it was “lots of fun” batting with her and that helping win a World Cup was “such a cool feeling.”
Mooney said she aimed to get Australia ahead early and called the title “icing on the cake” after a strong tournament for the group.
England coach Charlotte Edwards said Australia had set the standard in women’s cricket for years. She said England needed to be at their best to beat them and were not, while adding that her side should not be disheartened because Australia were a “very, very good” team and England were “not too far away.”
The result continued Australia’s recent dominance over England. Reuters noted that Australia had beaten England 16-0 in the multi-format Ashes 18 months earlier.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.