Gardner named Player of the Tournament as Australia win sixth Women’s T20 World Cup title

Callan Morse Published February 27, 2023 at 11.00am (AWST)

sport

Gardner celebrates Australia's win alongside captain Meg Lanning. Image: Mike Hewitt.

Ash Gardner and the Australian Women's cricket team have won the ICC Women's T20 World Cup for a sixth time, defeating hosts South Africa by 19 runs overnight.

Electing to bat at Newlands in Cape Town, Australia posted 6-156 on the back of an unbeaten 74 (53) from opener Beth Mooney, and 29 (21) from allrounder Ash Gardner.

After Gardner was promoted up the order following the loss of Alyssa Healy (18 from 20), the pair combined in an innings-high 46-run second wicket stand to see Australia surpass 80 inside 12 overs.

Gardner struck two boundaries and two sixes in her cameo number three appearance, highlighted by back-to-back sixes from the bowling of Nadine de Klerk in the ninth over.

However she was brought undone by leg spinner Chloe Tryon on the last ball of the 12th over after advancing and mis-timing a lofted drive, caught at long off by South African captain Sune Luus.

Gardner's two innings sixes included a lofted straight drive from the bowling of Nadine de Klerk. Image: Mike Hewitt

Mooney remained the innings' constant following Gardner's departure, with Grace Harris (10 from 9) and captain Meg Lanning (10 from 11), chipping in to see Australia set South Africa 157 for victory.

Australia used seven bowlers in defence of its 6-156 with Gardner delivering four economical overs (1-20) throughout South Africa's unsuccessful chase.

Following the departure of opener Tazmin Brits (10 from 17), she claimed the key wicket of dangerous allrounder Marizanne Kapp (11 from 11) in the ninth over.

This left South Africa behind the required run-rate with a new batter at the crease, however Laura Wolvaardt (61 from 48) gave the Proteas hope, striking five boundaries and three sixes in an innings that threatened to take the game away from Australia.

But South Africas hopes were all but quashed after she was dismissed by swing bowler Megan Shutt (1-23) in the 17th over, leaving too much for Chloe Tryon (25 from 23) to do at the back-end of the innings.

Gardner received the Player of the Tournament award after a consistent tournament with both bat and ball. Image: Matthew Lewis.

Gardner was one of four Australian wicket takers, with Darcy Brown (1-25), Jess Jonassen (1-21) and Megan Schutt (1-23) also picking up wickets in the chase.

The Muruwari star's consistent performances with both bat and ball throughout the tournament earned her Player of the Tournament honours.

Across six tournament matches she smashed 110 runs at an average of 36.66 (strike rate 119.56) and took 10 wickets at an average of 12.50 (economy 6.25 runs per over) to finish second on the wicket taking table.

Following the final, Gardner put her personal accolades second, focusing instead on the success of the Australian team.

"Personal accolades are great but I am proud of this win," she said.

The Australian team celebrate their fourth consecutive and sixth overall ICC Women's T20 World Cup tournament victory. Image: Mike Hewitt.

"Words cannot describe how proud I am of the group.

"This is something I am going to be proud of later in life."

Player of the Match Beth Mooney also sung Gardner's praises following Australia's victory, pointing to her consistency to perform on the biggest stage.

"I think she's matured immensely across the last few years just off the field and obviously with her own game she's probably in a sweet spot as well in terms of how comfortable and confident she is," Mooney said.

"She's making match-winning contributions very consistently for this Australian team, so I've been really impressed with what I've seen from Ash.

"She's going to be around for a long time so hopefully she can continue to produce those games."

The victory marked Australia's fourth consecutive Women's T20 World Cup tournament win.