Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Australia women T20 World Cup final hopes became reality at the Oval on Tuesday as Sophie Molineux’s side crushed West Indies by eight wickets in a one-sided semi-final.
Beth Mooney finished unbeaten on 61, while Ash Gardner added 35 not out after earlier taking two wickets in an over. Australia chased down 126 in just 13 overs and will now face England or South Africa in Sunday’s final at Lord’s.
For more cricket features, read Ben Stokes Career: England’s Big-Moment Cricketer Leaves A Rare Legacy, while official tournament updates are available through the ICC website.
Gardner And Wareham Break West Indies
West Indies never found enough rhythm after being sent in to bat. Deandra Dottin’s medical scare before the first ball added to a difficult start, although she later returned to make 26 from 16 balls.
Georgia Wareham removed Hayley Matthews for 30 and finished with 2-17. Molineux took 2-30, while Gardner’s double strike helped restrict West Indies to 7-125.
Stefanie Taylor fell for a duck after a soft leading edge went to Kim Garth. Gardner then removed Jahzara Claxton without scoring in the same over.
Mooney And Gardner Finish It Fast
Australia lost Georgia Voll for 16 and Phoebe Litchfield for 4, but the chase never truly slipped. Mooney batted with control and brought up her fifty from 29 balls.
Ellyse Perry retired hurt at the end of the eighth over with quad tightness, but Gardner arrived and immediately drove Aaliyah Alleyne through the covers.
Molineux praised the way Australia finished the job.
"We've stopped ourselves thinking too far ahead, but now we can think about the final which is pretty cool. I thought we bowled really well. We held our nerve and then we wanted to get it done as quickly as possible, and Moons and Ash were clinical."
She also eased concern around Perry.
"Just some quad awareness but it sounds like she'll be more than OK to go on Sunday," she said.
Matthews said Dottin’s scare had shaken West Indies.
""It was a bit scary. She's a massive fighter and someone you never see go down. To see her almost passing out like that after the anthem was a bit scary.
"A bit of a medical emergency, but it shows how much of a fighter she is that she came back out and threw a few punches at the Aussies."
