England's hopes crushed as Australia win T20 World Cup
T20 World Cup final, Lord's
England 150-4 (20 overs): Sciver-Brunt 58* (53), Kemp 44 (28)
Australia 153-3 (17.1 overs): Mooney 64 (49), Litchfield 48* (35)
Australia won by seven wickets
England's T20 World Cup hopes were crushed as Australia clinched their seventh title with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory at Lord's.
Their Ashes rivals, despite all of England's improvements to this point, ensured there would be no first trophy for the hosts since their iconic win on this ground in 2017, as they instead delivered an emphatic display of their strength.
England struggled to cut loose in making 150-4 - captain Nat Sciver-Brunt needing 53 balls for 58 - before Australia brutally put that score into context.
After Georgia Voll was bowled by Lauren Bell in the second over, Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney put on a dismissive partnership of 100 in just 67 balls.
By the time Litchfield fell for 48, Australia needed only 34 runs from 42 balls.
Mooney took them within 11 of the finish line in making a brilliant 64, before one more piece of England-Australia controversy.
With seven runs needed, Sophie Ecclestone appeared to have taken a clean catch to dismiss Ellyse Perry in the 17th over but Perry was called back by the TV umpire.
The crowd booed and Ecclestone was incensed but it would have had no impact. The winning runs came when England's spinner bowled five wides in the next over.
The victory margin denied the tournament a competitive finale fitting of the day, with Lord's filled by a capacity crowd in another landmark moment for the women's game.
The occasion is one positive for England, as are the signs of progression they have shown under coach Charlotte Edwards at this tournament, but Australia were ultimately a class above yet again.
England falter at the last
Even had Ecclestone's catch been allowed, it would have been too late.
There would be no dramatic fightback, like the one Anya Shrubsole inspired against India in 2017.
Perhaps too timid with the bat, England were unable to counter a pitch that appeared low and slow.
They certainly put in their worst bowling performance of the tournament – a performance which was exposed by the class of left-handed duo Litchfield and Mooney.
With England's seamers offering width too often, Australia had matched their boundary count by the 10th over of the chase.
Overhauling Australia was always going to be a huge ask, given the 16-0 margin of England's Ashes defeat last year when issues with fitness and fielding loomed large.
Those issues have been put to bed as England ended a run of three tournaments in a row without reaching a final.
The first part of their rebuild, one of consolidation and improvement, is done. Now they must close the gap on Australia before the Ashes at home next summer.
England's batting struggles
England's lack of batting fireworks were summed up by Sciver-Brunt, who hit only five fours. Against South Africa in the semi-final on Thursday she hit 75 runs in 47 balls.
England's captain was again in early – Amy Jones unable to emerge from her slump as she sliced a drive to backward point in the second over for six – but after stroking her first ball for four, never found top gear.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who ends as the tournament's leading run-scorer despite defeat, was unfortunate to glove a catch down the leg side off Sutherland in the fifth over for eight.
Early on, England hit the fielders in the deep too often when Australia strayed from their straight lines.
Alice Capsey struck two fours and a six in the ninth over but was bowled attempting a reverse sweep to Molineux in the 10th. When Heather Knight was hit on the pad by a leg-stump half-volley from Kim Garth, England were 70-4 in the 11th.
Freya Kemp timed the ball better than any of her team-mates in making 44 not out from 28. She hit one fine straight six in the last over but England's total always looked below par.
Mooney delivers again
For Australia, who finish the tournament unbeaten, this is an incredible 14th World Cup win across formats, in addition to one Commonwealth Games gold.
After semi-final defeats in the last T20 and 50-over World Cups, they are at the top of the world again.
There has been evolution since their last win in 2023, when Meg Lanning was captain and Alyssa Healy wicketkeeper and opener.
Molineux has steered her team with minimal fuss in their place after doubts over whether she should make their best XI.
For Litchfield and Voll this is also a first World Cup win. In contrast, Perry now has nine to her name and Mooney five.
Mooney, who averages 76.42 in T20 finals, showed class in putting away anything full and cracked away anything short.
England had no answer until it was far too late.
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