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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Megan Maurice

Australia firm T20 World Cup final favourites but wary of South Africa

Meg Lanning and Australia eye off the ICC Women's T20 World Cup ahead of Sunday’s final against South Africa.
Meg Lanning and Australia eye off the ICC Women's T20 World Cup ahead of Sunday’s final against South Africa. Photograph: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC/Getty Images

There have not been many times since Australia won the last T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2020 that the team has looked beatable. Since that memorable win in front of a record crowd, Australia has only lost three T20 internationals - two to New Zealand and one to India via a super over in late 2022. Australia have always been a dominant team, but that win seemed to set them on a course of becoming near-indestructible.

There are also not many ways to beat Australia. Opposition teams must feel trapped in a horror movie at times - they manage to take quick early wickets and dismiss the openers cheaply, only to have more batters rise up and take on the game. They smash the frontline fast bowlers out of the match, only for captain Meg Lanning to pull an ace from her never-ending list of bowling options.

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