Sign Up
..... Connect Australia with the world.
Categories

Posted: 2023-02-27 03:09:14

Cue the superlatives because this team is in rarefied air.

The Australian women's cricket team's 19-run victory over South Africa in the final of the women's T20 World Cup is just the latest win for a team that refuses to lose.

As was the case in the semi-final victory over India, Australia was under pressure at times, but once again found a way to win.

"We've been longing for this moment since the last World Cup, and I think we've played some fantastic cricket throughout this tournament, and I guess today just showed that," said Australian all-rounder and player of the tournament Ash Gardner.

"We probably weren't in winning positions through the game, but we scrapped, and we fought, and we bowled the absolute house down so I'm just super proud of this group."

It's been a feature of this team that there's always someone to step up when required.

Gardner was the star during this tournament, with crucial contributions with both bat and ball, making 110 runs at a strike rate of 120 and taking 10 wickets at an average of just 12.5, with an economy rate of 6.25 runs per over.

Australia's Ash Gardner waits with bat poised to hit a shot square on the leg side during the T20 World Cup final.
Ash Gardner's quickfire batting has been vital for Australia, but she is also a match-winner with the ball, taking 5-12 against New Zealand.(AP: Halden Krog)

But those figures don't do justice to Gardner's ability to produce for her team at the exact moment when it needs it.

During this tournament, she took a career-best five-for-12 against New Zealand and scored a vital 31 of just 18 balls in the semi-final against India.

View More
  • 0 Comment(s)
Captcha Challenge
Reload Image
Type in the verification code above