Australia had never gone consecutive Women's T20 World Cups without winning the title. And Sophie Molineux's team successfully continued that trend to reclaim their crown with a 7-wicket win over rivals England in the final at Lord's on Sunday (July 5). The victory marked Australia's seventh Women's T20 World Cup triumph, which was set up by a collective bowling display before Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield led the way with a 100-run partnership that put the chase beyond any doubt.
Following their win in the final, here's how the Aussie camp reacted.
Annabel Sutherland: Pretty surreal to be honest. Pretty cool feeling. Obviously here at Lord's, what better place to win a World Cup final and I'm sure we'll celebrate pretty hard. All throughout the tournament we've had different contributors, different people stand out, not relying on any one person and we showed that again today. I thought the bowlers did an exceptional job to hold them to that total and then we just played with absolute freedom with the bat. It was pretty cool to watch. (The occasion and the crowd) Yeah, unbelievable scenes. Huge thanks to everyone who turned out. It was such a good atmosphere and I think, you know, an occasion like this deserves a crowd like this and an event. So yeah, incredible job for everyone who's put this event together. (What will the celebrations be like?) I hope Sophie Molineux lets her hair down and gets close because she can do that and she thoroughly deserves to enjoy tonight. She's done an exceptional job leading the group but yeah, I'm sure the girls will go pretty hard and hopefully we can share with friends and family here.
Lucy Hamilton: It's unbelievable. I don't think you can put into words all the feelings and it's really, really pleasing to see all the girls in such a happy mood and just super excited. I'm just so pumped. (On getting her first World Cup wicket) Yeah, it was great. I think obviously (playing at) Lord's, the occasion and then in the final, just absolutely pumped and yeah, it came off, which is lovely. (On her family making the trip) It was lovely for them to come over. I know it was obviously a big trip just for the weekend, so yeah, it's really, really nice to have them over here. But yeah, I think everyone will have a bit of fun tonight and yeah, celebrate hard, that's for sure.
Shelly Nitschke (Australian coach): I'm pretty stoked, pretty relieved, to be honest. I thought that was an amazing effort by the girls... (they) had a fantastic tournament, but you just never know coming into a final series. So for everything to go like it did for us today, we couldn't be happier. (On Australia's consistency and high standards) Look, I don't think there's any secret sauce. I think we pride ourselves on our standards, and we've spoken about getting those positions and making sure that we continue to close out games and things like that. So it's certainly something that we talk about and getting those positions and try to be consistent with that.
(On blending youth and experience in the squad) Look, they're a pretty good bunch, I think. Our leaders do a fantastic job of bringing the group together. Like you said, having a youngster like Luce (Hamilton) come in and be able to settle in so quickly has been fantastic to see both on and off the field, and it certainly helps our group as a whole. (On the team's celebrations) I will allow them to do what they like. I think they have earned it tonight, so looking forward to that. (On Beth Mooney) Yeah, she's pretty determined. She's been fantastic for us, particularly through the final series and the semi as well. So (she was) certainly pretty determined to get us into a really good position at the end of that Powerplay and done a fantastic job of that. So just has the ability to stand up when we need her in the clutch moments and knows her game really well and was awesome again today.
Phoebe Litchfield: So special. Yeah, I think if you told us at the start of the month or a month ago that we'd be here winners, (we'd have been) very happy. And I think the way we've played all tournament, and it didn't change today, so it's a pretty cool feeling. (On her plan with the bat) I think that's the only way to play T20 cricket - throw the first punch, and we just tried to get the run rate down to six as fast as possible. And Moons (Mooney) made it look easy out there and took the pressure off me, and we had an awesome partnership. So it's always lots of fun batting with Moons, running hard and getting creative. But, yeah, it's just such a cool feeling to contribute and to win the World Cup is pretty cool. (On the celebrations) Oh, I think it will be led by our skipper Sophie Molineux. She's the best partier, but I think a shout-out to the Aussie fans in the crowd today. We heard you loud and proud and yeah, a few 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, ois' in there, which was really cool to hear. So thanks all for coming. You've come a long way.
Georgia Voll: Yeah, pretty bloody excited. It's been a great campaign and to finish it off like we did today, it's pretty bloody pumped. (On the energy of the youngsters)] Yeah, obviously the way that Phoebe's gone out there and just put the game away from them today was pretty cool to watch. The way that Moons went out there and just dominated from ball one...itwas a clinical win in the end.
(On the togetherness within the squad) Yeah, it's been great. The lead-up, the last couple of months, working really hard back home, and then coming over here and having a really good tournament to top it off like this. It's been such a whirlwind couple of months, and to come over here and put some performances on like that, the squad's pretty happy. (On the English conditions) Yeah, I think they were really good surfaces. I think once you get yourself in, you can capitalise. I was probably a little bit unfortunate, didn't give myself enough time in some of those games. But yeah, who cares? We're bloody world champions.
(On the depth of the squad) Yeah, we spoke about it the other day, just the way that our whole squad has been used and the way that everyone rocks up to training and is willing to do whatever the team needs. We've got such a quality team. The depth is unreal. And the way that the girls turn up day in, day out is pretty cool. (Looking forward to future World Cups) Yeah, of course. I think, obviously, being a part of the one-day World Cup over in India and unfortunately missing out on that one, and then to come over here and see how excited and keen the group were to get that trophy back. So, yeah, pretty happy it's back at home.
Ellyse Perry: Oh yeah, today has been truly special. The atmosphere, the occasion, it's been absolutely phenomenal. I mean, I'm so grateful for every opportunity to play here. And then for it to have fallen our way, it's just been super special. It was an amazing performance from the girls against an awesome England team who've had a great campaign and who we respect tremendously. So to get over the line in Soph's first World Cup as captain too, and the way that we played throughout, it's just been an absolute joy to be a part of. I'm really over the moon.
(On what keeps her motivated after so many years) Just looking at our group, they are amazing people who always want to get better. We've had some things to work on and some challenges in the last couple of years. And I think to come through it the way we have and hopefully taken our game to a new level and most importantly, people have come out and enjoyed watching us play, that means so much to me. And to have the chance to be a part of that is a privilege of a lifetime. And it's been nice to make the most of it.
(Message to young girls and boys) I think most importantly, not just young girls, but all the young boys here today as well - that's been the coolest shift in the last couple of years, is that we've equally got as many young girls and young boys out here watching. And in years to come, they're going to think it's totally normal for women to be out here on the field doing their thing and to be an awesome spectacle to come and watch. So to me, that's the awesome thing. And so to all the kids that have been here today, I hope you had a great time. But also the parents bringing them along, and just general fans of cricket, we're so indebted to you and you made today as special as it has been.
