More comment and reaction
Raf's match report
World Cup’s highest run-scorer: Alyssa Healy
Leading wicket-taker: Sophie Ecclestone (21)
Player of the tournament: Alyssa Healy
Highest scorer in any World Cup final: Alyssa Healy (pipping Adam Gilchrist into second)
And that’s the tale of the final. The two best teams, the No.1 ranked team against the defending champion in a humdinger. England went down fighting thanks to Sciver’s 148, but ultimately Healy, with support from Haynes and Mooney took the title out of reach. Australia - you bloody beauty.
Thanks to all of you for tuning in, and getting in touch, during what has been a thoroughly enjoyable tournament at beautiful grounds on fine pitches. That’s it from us for now - the match report will be here shortly. Congratulations/commisserations to all.
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Time for Australia to collect their medals, florescent yellow pyjamas and huge smiles.
“I think we’ve been extremely consistent over a long period of time,” says Lanning, “and to come out and peform so well over the whole tournament was great. We knew we had to have a number of different people perform, and we did, young players keeping more experienced players on their toes. Alyssa was incredible, I’m probably not surprised to be honest, she’s done it before. Nat Sciver is an incredible player, a special innings which in any other day could have been a match winning one. What next? We’ll celebrate this one first, its really important to look back at this period and how successful it’s been, it hadn’t been easy, they’ve been ups and downs in this thing.”
She thanks England and then, with a lump in her throat, thanks the support staff and the team, before rejoining the team and lifting the trophy with a huge smile. The fireworks go off and Men at Work is played over the sound system.
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England collect their World Cup medals, Beaumont is wearing shorts and Sciver is walking with a limp.
“I think it was a fifty fifty decision at the toss,” says Knight, “credit to Australia, that was a remarkable innings, not really a pleasure to watch but outstanding. Unbelievable from Nat, skill against spin, against seam, just a shame we didn’t have anyone who could stick with her. I’m super proud of the group how we managed to turn things around,t he players and the staff as well, but unfortunately it was one win too many for us. Special mention to Sophie Ecclestone, leading wicket-taker, watching those young players perform gives me a great deal of pleasure.”
What a star she is.
We were lucky enough to watch two supreme centuries today from Nat Sciver and Alyssa Healy. Both batters have been in wonderful form during the tournament. Sciver scooping her way to 148 not out in a losing cause and Alyssa Healy’s scintillating 170, the highest ever score in a World Cup final, which took Australia up, away and into the stratosphere. She is, of course, player of the match and player of the tournament award as well. Not a bad month’s work.
“I don’t really think I should get this award,” she tells Mel Jones, “I only really turned up for the last two games, Rach did most of the work.”
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A thoroughly deserved win for Australia. They’re just an awesome team, fearless, supremely confident in their skills, almost flawless in the field. Well led, bold and disciplined, with a hand of all-time greats. They’re heads and shoulders above all the other teams - unbeaten in the tournament - that’s what professionalism does I guess.
Congratulations to Australia. They had something to prove at this WC - Meg Lanning wanted her side to be considered a truly "great" side, but they needed to win a 50 over WC to really prove that. They've done that.
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) April 3, 2022
Alyssa Healy, she of the highest World Cup score ever, is talking, smeared with suncream and grinning. “It’s not sunk in yet. It was a special game of cricket, very high scoring. It is something we have been working towards for a long period of time. To get over the line was pretty cool. The job was half done, we knew we had a good total. But we knew their lineup was peaking at the right time. The bowlers held their nerves. Sciver played a special knock, almost got them over the line. It was nice to get out there and put up a good total on board. Proud of the batting group and whole group. I think everyone has worked very hard for this. It has been a five-year wait for a title people said we would have had. Will reflect on the three months that we have had.”
The teams shake hands as Australia celebrate. The England team line up to hug Sciver and Shrubsole too - Sciver is proudly resigned, Shrubsole shedding a tear. We get a close up of Lanning taking that last catch - the woman is made of steel, such a look of utter determination. And a hint of a smile.
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Australia win the World Cup by 71 runs!
WICKET! Shrubsole c Lanning b Jonassen 1 A step too far for Shrubsole as she dances down the pitch, plonks the ball in the air and Lanning running backwards takes a fine catch at mid-off. Jubilation for the green and gold, their seventh World Cup win; despair for England.
43.4 overs: England 285 all out (Sciver 148 not out)
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43rd over: England 280-9 (Sciver 143, Shrubsole 1) England need 77 from 42 balls Money on Shrubsole to be England’s hero for the second World Cup in a row?
WICKET! Dean c Jonassen b Gardner 21 (England 272-9)
Scoreboard pressure! Dean goes for the needed boundary but her reverse-sweep can only reach Jonassen at third.
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42nd over: England 275-8 (Sciver 141, Dean 19)England need 82 from 42 balls Jonassen, towel in her back pocket to wipe the dew from her hands, trundles in. Sciver smears her up and over long on but Mooney takes the ball one handed on the bounce to prevent it going over the rope. Brilliant. No boundary.
41st over: England 269-8 (Sciver 137, Dean 17) Gardener bowls her first over at a time of high pressure. Her first ball is reverse-swept for four, and England keep plucking away - ten from it. Dean doing her job with aplomb.
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40th over: England 256-8 (Sciver 130, Dean 14) A mwah over from England, an attempted scoop by Dean, a near run out, and no boundaries. England need 98 from 60 balls.
39th over: England 256-8 (Sciver 128, Dean 13) Sciver brings up the 250 with a scoop. Australia don’t look rattled... yet. The current run rate is 6.56, the required run rate 9.18. The crowd aren’t going anywhere, but the blankets are out and, I’ve got to admit, they look cold.
38th over: England 242-8 (Sciver 121, Dean 11) Through the glass darkly the camera shows Anya Shrubsole, arms folded, crouched over a desk. King finishes her spell (3-64) but not before Sciver somehow survives one that skims past leg stump. England need 110 from 72 balls - it’s possible folks!
37th over: England 242-8 (Sciver 117, Dean 10) McGrath leaking runs. A brilliant bit of fielding from Perry (who has been outstanding in the field today) stops the boundary from Sciver but she takes another from a scoop that is in nodding distance with the bails.
36th over: England 233-8 (Sciver 109, Dean 9) Now that’s gorgeous - Sciver dances down and kettles the ball between mid-wicket and mid-on for four. And there’s another, this time from Dean, who punches Jonassen through the covers. Sciver has now got the fifth highest score in any cricket World Cup final. (Healy is of course top).
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Nat Sciver makes her second World Cup hundred against Australia!
35th over: England 223-8 (Sciver 104, Dean 4) A fumble on the boundary allows Sciver to come back for the second and that’s a fantastic hundred, brave and bold. She. pulls her helmet off (nice earrings) raises her bat and looks to the heavens as England stand to applaud her. So do the crowd. Her second hundred against Australia in this World Cup.
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34th over: England 215-8 (Sciver 98 , Dean 2) Last rites or time to party?
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WICKET! Cross c and b Jonassen (England 213-8)
Cross tries to chip the ball to long-on but gets squared up and rather a limp plonk falls into the arms of the diving Jonassen.
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33rd over: England 207-7 (Sciver 93 , Cross 1) The camera pans to the England bench where they sit stone faced, arms crossed. England need 150 off 102 balls. Can Nat Sciver do a Ben Stokes?
WICKET! Ecclestone lbw McGrath 3 (England 206-7)
A cross seamer traps a static Ecclestone in the crease.
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32nd over: England 204-6 (Sciver 92 , Ecclestone 2) The England two hundred comes up and Sciver celebrates by sweeping King for four. Around the ground the crowd’s hoodies are now firmly pulled up and tied tightly under their chins
31st over: England 196-6 (Sciver 85 , Ecclestone 2) Three singles off McGrath and the air has rather come out of the balloon.
Lisa Keightley's notebook:#CWC22 pic.twitter.com/5foyif7m5t
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) April 3, 2022
30th over: England 191-6 (Sciver 82 , Ecclestone 0) Sciver reverse sweeps for four before Brunt falls. They pause for drinks.
WICKET! Brunt stumped King 1 (England 191-6)
Brunt outfoxed! She goes on the charge, the ball fruit-loops past the outside edge and as Brunt pitches forward Healy whips the bails off.
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29th over: England 184-5 (Sciver 75 , Brunt 1) Cute little paddle from Sciver but she can only get the toe end of the bat on it. England have a problem now iin that they need runs from both ends. Though Brunt is playing in her third World Cup final, I shouldn’t be doubting her.
28th over: England 179-5 (Sciver 71 , Brunt 0) Ah for shame. England down to the batters now as the paddle sweep causes Dunkley’s downfall again.
WICKET! Dunkley b King 22 (England 179-5)
Round her legs! Exactly the same as Hamilton as the ball fizzes from outside leg stump to ping back leg stump.
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26th over: England 176-4 (Sciver 70 , Dunkley 21) It’s cat and mouse at the moment, England going for the big shots, but hitting the Australian outfielders. I take that back, Dunkley leans back and cuts Schutt’s last ball for four, high and over the leaping point.
25th over: England 169-4 (Sciver 68 , Dunkley 15) England eye up King, big hitting but they can’t reach the boundary. And the sky around the Oval turns burnt orange in the most beautiful sunset.
It’s Ed Kay again:
“How are you bearing up? I doubt you’ll need too much coffee this morning with the adrenaline England are giving us with this chase! It’s a tough watch! Every time we start to score freely the Aussies pull out another wicket.
My heart veers between “this is going to be the most incredible run chase, in the most exciting final, of all time!” to “we’ll be all out for 200” and at four down I have to say that my head is with the latter. But while Sciver and Dunkley are at the crease there’s still hope!”
So true. I feel like its impossible really, but England are going about it just the right way so - hope lives.
25th over: England 163-4 (Sciver 65 , Dunkley 12) Dunkley is dropped! By Lanning at cover. A hard chance but you’d expect Lanning to hold on as she throws herself in the air. Next ball, to rub salt in the wound, Sciver pulls Jonassen for four. Four more singles and England march boldly on.
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24th over: England 154-4 (Sciver 59 , Dunkley 10)Dunkley down on one knee and almost pulls the ball onto the stumps. Then Sciver, up and over, says Nasser, and it is. Four more!
23rd over: England 144-4 (Sciver 53 , Dunkley 6)
Hi Tanya,
“Thanks for these updates, no Sky for me so it’s good to keep abreast of how England are doing in the final.
My question is whether the Guardian can put a scorecard up along with the updates. It would give me a better idea of where we are in the game. They normally do hence me sending this one out”
Ah scorecard - yes. Apologies Harold. I’ll try and find someone to sort it in the office.. But you do know you can follow it on free to air via Sky’s youtube channel or free to air channels showcase and pick.
Fifty for Sciver!
22nd over: England 139-4 (Sciver 50 , Dunkley 4) Sciver reaches fifty with a single and I’ve temporarily lost TV coverage, apologies.
21st over: England 131-4 (Sciver 47 , Dunkley 1) This is England’s last recognised pair of batters. No pressure.
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WICKET! Jones c King b Jonassen 20 (England 129-4)
Jones dances down to Jonassen but can only send it up to scrape the moon, and as it falls back to earth King, peddling backwards, takes it with both hands. She punches the air in delight.
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20th over: England 127-3 (Sciver 45 , Jones 19) Sciver has her eye on Brown - smashing her for two consecutive fours, all twinkling feet and flashing blade. She and Jones grin at each other - nothing like being an underdog in a challenge. Thirteen from the over.And ridiculously, England are pulling away from Australia in the required run rate.
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19th over: England 112-3 (Sciver 35 , Jones 13) The sun is starting to set on the beautiful Hagley Oval and England are keeping chipper, hustling singles off Jonassen and then Jones crashes four through midwicket.
18th over: England 105-3 (Sciver 34 , Jones 9) Sciver scoops to conquer and away McGrath is sent, flying down to the boundary. England tip and run more, and they’re on this. If only there wasn’t such a mountain to climb.
“Good afternoon Tanya (well good morning in your time)“ Hello Christine Mulhearn.
“It’s a cold and dreary day in Canberra and it looks infinitely better weather in New Zealand – which is not really how this usually works!
I am at work preparing for a big week ahead finding it very distracting whilst reading the blog and listening on the radio
Alyssa Healy’s innings was just magnificent and whilst it has done amazing things for Australia, I fear it means a couple more hours in the office as I haven’t been working that hard….
Perhaps the Aussies can bowl England out quickly and I can get back to concentrating on work (well that’s my excuse for wanting a quick win anyway)“
17th over: England 98-3 (Sciver 28 , Jones 8) A handsome stroke from Jones, who flicks King off her ankle straps for four, her first boundary. England being brave here, not letting themselves be cowed by losing big wickets.
16th over: England 90-3 (Sciver 26 , Jones 2) England regroup, but still take four from McGrath’s over, tall, brown pony tail bouncing along the back of her neck as she bounds in. The required run rate moves towards 8 an over.
@tjaldred Hi Tanya... Am following your online commentary here in NZ! I just wanted to say that the game IS being shown live on one of the free-to-air channels here. As an Englishman, I'm very pleased to see our team proudly playing its part in the Final... :) #goEngland
— Chris Oakley (@chrisoakley) April 3, 2022
Lovely to hear from you Chris!
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15th over: England 86-3 (Sciver 24 , Jones 0) And with that England’s hopes sink a little further below the horizon. Love Knight though, she has such dignity, even in trudging off.
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WICKET! Knight lbw King 26 (England 86-3)
She turns on her heel and marches off. A lovely ball from King, skids on, squares Knight up and hits her on the pad at calf level.
NOT OUT!
By a whisker!
REVIEW! Sciver lbw King
Sciver wrinkles her nose - shall we review? Knight gives the nod
14th over: England 84--2 (Sciver 23 , Knight 25) A bottom-handed swipe off for four by Sciver through the onside for four off McGrath, then she rocks back to a short ball and pulls her for four more. England currently motoring, but the road is long.
13th over: England 76--2 (Sciver 15 , Knight 25) Some sharp running by England who are hyper alert. Sciver has a narrow escape as she gets an inside edge from King onto her pads.
12th over: England 71--2 (Sciver 11 , Knight 24) A change both ends as Tahlia McGrath takes over, four sharp singles.
After 12 overs, Australia were 49-0, but Healy was yet to really get going.
11th over: England 67--2 (Sciver 9 , Knight 22) Wham, bam, thank you ma’am! Sciver charges into a Alana King long hop and sends it flying over deep midwicket for six, and England share a good belly laugh.
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10th over: England 59--2 (Sciver 2 , Knight 21) To make me look a fool, back to back boundaries from Heather Knight off Brown, twice clipped off her ankles to the rope. Then a third, through the covers perfection.
We spot Lisa Keightley on the boundary with her ever-present notebook. Is she noting down that at the end of the power play England are ahead?
“Morning Tanya!” Hello there Martin Wright.
“Just in case Andrew Pearson (5th over), has made you too jealous, let me balance that by telling you that I’m on a very early train to Luton, en route to Inverness. Hope that helps.
And facing down 356, hope is all we have left, really…”
Oh, the glamour!
9th over: England 46--2 (Sciver 2 , Knight 9) I’ll be charitable and saying England are playing themselves in. Alternatively, Schutt is rather unplayable, still finding gorgeous inswing.
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8th over: England 44--2 (Sciver 0 , Knight 9) Knight leans into Brown’s first ball beautifully and sends it skidding straight for four, but Brown is getting gorgeous shape.
“Hi Tanya,” Hello Penelope Cottier
“Much as I love the blog, it’s a disgrace that this isn’t on free to air TV here in Australia, where many major matches are still shown in that way. I’d love to have watched Healy’s fantastic 170.
Go Australia! (Not that they need the superfluous encouragement.)“
I had no idea it wasn’t on free to air telly Australia - I’m really surprised. Has there been an outcry? Was brilliant of Sky to do it in the UK.
7th over: England 38--2 (Sciver 0 , Knight 4) Beaumont had just disdainfully driven Schutt down the ground for four, before Schutt sent down that beauty to trap Beaumont in front of her stumps. England need these two to knuckle down now, they can’t lose another quick wicket.
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NOT OUT!
Hit her plumply on the pad, but missing the stumps
REVIEW: Sciver lbw Schutt
WICKET! Beaumont lbw Schutt 27 (England 38-2)
Schutt again, swings in and hits Beaumont, with crossed legs on the knee roll. Beaumont wants a review, asks Knight for a review, pleads for a review.. but the captain sends her on her way.
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6th over: England 34--1 (Beaumont 23 , Knight 4) Brown struggling with her length against Beaumont, and her first ball is dispatched again - pat-a-cake boundary. A handful more singles and England a motoring at six an over - only just short of the required rate.
5th over: England 27-1 (Beaumont 18 , Knight 3) Scutt pares it back, fuller, and England can only squeeze a couple from the over.
Andrew Pearson sends me some lovely pictures from Christchurch which the computer won’t let me attach.
“Kia ora from two Brits in Hagley Oval!
England have a mountain to climb thanks to some fantastic batting from the Australians, but the sun is shining, the gin is flowing, and the cricket is glorious!
Come on England!!!”
I’ve got to admit I’m jealous.
4th over: England 25-1 (Beaumont 17 , Knight 2) Brown finishes her over with a lbw appeal against Beaumont, but the ump doesn’t fancy it and neither does Lanning. Beaumont is bristling, pulling Brown’s first ball hrough midwicket to the rope with panache.
An email arrives from the frozen north. Good morning Sara Torvalds!
“Good morning from chilly Karis, Finland. It’s -4 degrees and sunny here, but at least Anya Shrubsole’s late wickets mean England are not chasing 400. Still, nobody said winning the World Cup should be easy!”
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3rd over: England 19-1 (Beaumont 12 , Knight) 1) Beaumont is overheard saying she’ll bat on off stump to overcome Schutt’s inswing. And that’s why - a similar ball to the one that dismissed Wyatt is whipped through midwicket for four. Wyatt looked miserable as she trudged off, pulling off her helmet in frustration.
WICKET! Wyatt b Schutt 4 (England 12-1)
Unbelievable inswinger from Schutt, hoops in and squeezes past the bat and pianos leg stump.
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2nd over: England 12-0 (Beaumont 7, Wyatt 4) Beaumont living dangerously, top-edging Brown over the wicket-keeper’s head for four; edging a sneeze short of a diving Lanning at slip and then comes within an inch or chopping on.
1st over: England 6-0 (Beaumont 1, Wyatt 4) The new ball goes to Schutt, whose up and running with a bunny hop. She strays wide and Wyatt chops her over point for England’s first boundary, before playing and missing at the next.
“Morning Tanya” Lovely to hear from you Ed Kay.
“Well, it’s enough to make you want to go straight back to bed
Anything’s possible, of course, and looks like a good batting track, but if we’re honest Australia will be worthy winners and have finished off with a bang.
At this point I just hope we put in a good showing - and at least make it past Healy’s total of 170!”
Baby steps!
England need 357 to win at 7.14 an over
Out come Beaumont and Wyatt, the evening sun dappling their light blue tops. It’s hustle or bust. Here we go - 357 to retain the World Cup.
I haven’t had time to read this, but putting it in my pocket for later
I think it’s fair to say Healy was a beast today. #cwc2022 https://t.co/wmABLKSFwb
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) April 3, 2022
If you’re in sunny Christchurch, or (cloudy) Sydney, or just waking up on chilly English morning - do say hi: tanya.aldred.freelance@theguardian.com
Kudos to New Zealand cricket, it looks like a fabulous atmosphere in Christchurch, about 10,000 people sunning themselves inside the ground. Healy’s hundred getting suitable props on twitter from the big guns:
Wowwee what an innings @ahealy77 no other words needed 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @AusWomenCricket #CWC22
— Karen Rolton (@rolts21) April 3, 2022
Why is Healy so good? Showed patience when the ball was moving early, attacked the off-spinner, went through the gears and now in full flair mode. Also, she was dropped on 41 which you can’t do #CWC22
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) April 3, 2022
I was making a cup of tea when she was out, and on the radio they mentioned that not only did every member of the England side congratulate her, but every person in the ground stood and applauded.
Mitchell Starc, applauds his wife Alyssa Healy as she follows up her century in the semi final with another in the #CWC22 final. He's not the best player in his household...and he's proud of it. Because love ❤️ pic.twitter.com/oEICWwnUPt
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) April 3, 2022
Thanks Megan, fabulous stuff. I’m just watching a medley of dropped catches by England, followed by the highlights of Alyssa Healy’s pyrotechnics - not exactly Heather Knight’s game plan when England walked out this morning. Still, it looks like a beautiful day in Christchurch and, well, who doesn’t like a challenge?
Australia 356-5
Well if you’re just waking up in England, I don’t have great news for you. This has been pure domination from Australia. Some late wickets from England stemmed the flow of runs the tiniest little bit, but they have an absolutely huge chase on their hands. As I said earlier, maybe this is just a really good batting wicket and they’re in with a good shot here? That’s the best I can do for you in terms of providing some hope right now.
The story of the innings was of course Alyssa Healy. An absolutely sensational 170 from 138 was the key to Australia’s dominance and she looked so mature and composed out there. There were no early rash shots, she eased her way into the game, building her strike rate as she went on. It was beautiful to watch, though perhaps quite painful if you’re English. Mooney and Haynes were incredible in support and Perry came through at the end to ice the cake in the most elegant way imaginable. The batters have played their role and set the stage for their bowlers to bowl at a team that has to take risks if they want to come close to this total.
I’m going to leave you here in the very capable hands of my excellent colleague Tanya Aldred, who will guide you through the England batting innings. Thank you for your company throughout this and I hope you enjoyed watching Alyssa Healy exert her dominance on this match as much as I did. I’ll be settling in to watch the rest of this match with great delight.
50th over: Australia 356-5 (Tahlia McGrath 8, Ellyse Perry 17)
Shrubsole bowls the last over and McGrath chips it over the infield for a single to start. Perry shows no sign of injury as she pushes through for two from the second ball and then cuts one that almost finds the boundary. Next ball she does find the rope and brings up the 350 for Australia, what a batting display it has been today. Just completely clinical in its dominance. Perry is so elegant at the crease and is playing the ‘icing on the cake’ role to perfection here. There’s a run out attempt on the last ball of the over, but Perry is safe and they finish a sensational innings here.
49th over: Australia 341-5 (Tahlia McGrath 7, Ellyse Perry 3)
Ecclestone bowls the penultimate over - her 10th for the day. She took that wicket earlier, but she has been expensive since then and certainly hasn’t looked like the same bowler who took down SA only a few days ago. McGrath finds her first boundary with a cut shot that pierces through the field and runs quickly along the ground.
48th over: Australia 333-5 (Tahlia McGrath 1, Ellyse Perry 1)
The run rate has gone past seven now and Shrubsole has had quite enough of this nonsense and takes two wickets in two balls. McGrath plays the hat trick ball safely for a single and Perry takes strike for the first time. She doesn’t want a run first ball, but McGrath tries to push her for one. Perry sends her back and McGrath is nearly run out, but she gets back in her ground. Perry finishes with a single to get off the mark.
WICKET! Mooney 62 c Sciver b Shrubsole, Australia 331-5
Two wickets in two balls as Shrubsole catches Mooney’s edge and Sciver picks up an easy catch in the outfield.
WICKET! Lanning 10 c Beaumont b Shrubsole, Australia 331-4
Lanning knows she has to be selfless and keep pushing hard, so she goes after one from Shrubsole and skies it. Beaumont sits underneath it and her safe hands see Lanning off in her 100th ODI.
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47th over: Australia 330-3 (Meg Lanning 10, Beth Mooney 61)
Finally we get Lanning in with just three overs remaining and she gives Mooney the strike straight away. Brunt is bowling her final over for the day and she would dearly love to make it her best one and pick up a wicket or two. The wickets have done the trick in slowing down the run rate a little, but can England slow it enough to give themselves a chance with the bat? Lanning finds her first boundary with a pull shot past fine leg, then finds it again with a cut shot.
46th over: Australia 318-3 (Meg Lanning 0, Beth Mooney 57)
Well it wasn’t that long ago we were talking about England trying to keep Australia under 300, but Healy and Mooney blew that possibility out of the water so quickly it was almost ridiculous. Finally England get Healy, but it doesn’t provide much respite with Gardner coming in with licence to go as hard as she likes. She gets off strike, but then Mooney pushes for two and Gardner is short of her ground.
WICKET! Gardner 1 ro Cross, Australia 318-3
Mooney pushes Gardner for two and it doesn’t pay off, Cross gets the ball in quickly and Gardner has to go.
WICKET! Healy 170 st Jones b Shrubsole, Australia 316-2
Finally this brilliant innings from Healy comes to an end, with the quick hands of Jones finding the stumps as Healy was dancing down the wicket in search of more runs. She has been nothing short of sensational and will be delighted with that performance.
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45th over: Australia 315-1 (Alyssa Healy 170, Beth Mooney 57)
Another over from Cross and what a surprise - Healy backs away and drives a ball past deep cover for four. They simply cannot find an answer to stop her doing that. With that trademark shot, she brings up 500 runs for the tournament. She follows it up with a scoop for another four and I can almost see the double century in her eyes. Mooney catches some extra bounce, but swats the ball away behind her. Healy pops one right up in the air, but not even a badly timed shot can stop her today and there are no fielders anywhere near it. Cross then bowls a wide that evades Jones and goes to the boundary, the misery is just piling up for England at the moment. Another wide next ball adds to the frustration and the Australians just take a single from the last ball.
44th over: Australia 297-1 (Alyssa Healy 160, Beth Mooney 55)
Back comes Ecclestone and some sloppy fielding from England gives away overthrows on the first ball on the over. Next ball Healy brings up her 150 driving past deep cover for four, the edges one that also finds a gap and the rope. Because she’s on a bit of a roll she decides she’ll go for another four next ball and then mixes things up with a straight drive for just a single. Mooney gets in on the action with a lovely cut shot for four and the run rate is tiptoeing its way towards seven an over now.
43rd over: Australia 278-1 (Alyssa Healy 145, Beth Mooney 51)
England seem to have no answers for Healy backing away. She’s offering up her stumps, but she loves it when they bowl in that zone and she makes no mistake in getting it into the middle of her bat every time. Healy goes a bit rogue with a scoop that almost finds Beaumont in the field, but sails past her and over the rope for four. It’s all too easy for Healy, she is looking sensational today. Mooney brings up her 50 with a well-timed four on the final ball of the over.
42nd over: Australia 260-1 (Alyssa Healy 132, Beth Mooney 46)
The game’s only wicket taker so far - Ecclestone - comes back into the attack and the run rate is sitting at just a touch below six to start the over. Mooney takes her feet to the ball to send it soaring past that and bringing up the 250 for Australia. It’s been a seriously dominant display of batting. Mooney takes back-to-back fours and she is looking very dangerous today. Australia’s hustle is just so good, the way they push for two has been notable all tournament and it’s no different today when they’re easily on top and don’t necessarily need to go that hard. On the last ball of the over, Australia brings up their hundred partnership and goes past the highest score in a World Cup final with one single.
41st over: Australia 245-1 (Alyssa Healy 131, Beth Mooney 33)
Into the final 10 overs now and the big question is - how many runs will Australia be able to put on here? Or, what can England restrict them to? They’ll be happy to keep it under 300 at this stage. Brunt is bowling this over and her line early is better than it was in her previous over. Healy plays a lovely sweep shot, but Brunt is bowling to her field much better and it doesn’t find the boundary. But it doesn’t take long before Healy makes some room for herself and smacks Brunt for four. Healy is now approaching Meg Lanning’s highest score of the tournament and she is in some kind of form today. Brunt is very unhappy - this has been a long day in the field for England.
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40th over: Australia 236-1 (Alyssa Healy 125, Beth Mooney 30)
Cross bowls this one for England and Healy and Mooney just keep pushing on and rotating the strike. They’re looking supremely confident and Healy is offering up her stumps almost every ball. Eventually they find a sliver of an opportunity through a stumping - it’s great keeping from Amy Jones, but Healy has managed to get her foot back in time and they can’t say goodbye to her just yet. It’s a good over from Cross, all things considered.
39th over: Australia 233-1 (Alyssa Healy 123, Beth Mooney 29)
While it’s true things aren’t looking great for England, let’s offer up a bit of optimism for our English friends who may just be waking up. There’s a chance this could just be a very good batting wicket and Australia might have just as many struggles to restrict and take wickets once they come on to bowl. Brunt struggles with her line early in this over and has trouble getting control back. She desperately wants that breakthrough, but the run rate keeps marching forwards and Brunt isn’t having her best day out.
38th over: Australia 221-1 (Alyssa Healy 117, Beth Mooney 24)
Cross thinks Christmas has come early first ball as Healy backs away and shows off all three of her stumps, but the ball flies past them. Next ball Healy scoops one brilliantly past fine leg for four and her footwork is sensational today. Cross isn’t bowling badly, but it will take an excellent ball to stop Healy in this kind of form. We get a stumping appeal against Mooney on the final ball of the over and the umpires take a look at it, but Mooney’s foot remains grounded in the crease and England can’t get that lucky.
37th over: Australia 216-1 (Alyssa Healy 112, Beth Mooney 24)
In all the excitement of the previous over, Australia also brought up their 200, an omnious sign with 14 overs left. This over they bring up their half century partnership in what feels like the blink of an eye. A couple of singles to start this Shrubsole over and then an aggressive pull shot from Mooney thatsignifies her intent as well. She follows that up with an elegant cut for four and the Australian juggernaut keeps on pushing forward.
36th over: Australia 208-1 (Alyssa Healy 111, Beth Mooney 17)
Cross comes back into the attack and Healy shows her intent early with an aggressive pull shot. She only gets two runs from it, but it’s clear that now she’s passed her 100 milestone, she’s going to have some fun with this and go as hard as she can. Which (in case this is your first encounter with Alyssa Healy) is extremely hard. Next ball she drives one past deep extra cover for four before getting off strike and giving Mooney a look in. Mooney attempts a little paddle, but doesn’t time it quite right and backtracks down a more traditional route next ball for an easy single. Healy finishes the over by lofting a ball over mid off for another effortless looking boundary.
35th over: Australia 196-1 (Alyssa Healy 100, Beth Mooney 16)
Healy takes strike on 99 with Shrubsole coming back into the attack and she defends the first ball back, she’s not in a hurry here. On the next ball she sees her chance and calls with the loudest “YES” I’ve heard and brings up back-to-back centuries in these two finals matches. She heads straight to Beth Mooney for a hug before celebrating for the crowd and raising her bat. These two have spent a lot of time batting together and it’s a lovely little celebratory moment for them. Despite the fact that it’s an away crowd, the fans are genuinely excited to witness this moment and they’re on their feet in appreciation of what they’ve seen today.
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34th over: Australia 187-1 (Alyssa Healy 99, Beth Mooney 12)
The run rate is sneaking up towards six an over, with both of these batters striking at over 100. Healy again is happy to take a single and can’t be tempted into going big to hasten her century. Ecclestone still looks to be the best of the English bowlers and slows the runs down, but it won’t worry Australia.
33rd over: Australia 185-1 (Alyssa Healy 98, Beth Mooney 12)
Healy starts the over on strike to Sciver’s bowling and she’s looking very relaxed close to her century. She doesn’t seem like she wants to do it in one hit and is happy to share the strike with Mooney. The Australian team is looking extremely relaxed on the sidelines - as well they might! Mooney goes unconventionally to Sciver’s bumper and plays a little jumping cut shot over her head for four.
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32nd over: Australia 175-1 (Alyssa Healy 96, Beth Mooney 5)
Healy moves ever closer to her century, going at an excellent strike rate of over 100 as well. Ecclestone looks to emulate her previous effort and take another wicket, but she’s not troubling Mooney or Healy too much just yet.
31st over: Australia 170-1 (Alyssa Healy 93, Beth Mooney 3)
Sciver returns and Mooney immediately drives it to deep cover for a single and keeps the strike rotating. Sending Mooney in has allowed Australia to keep up the left-right combination and every time the strike rotates, they’re asking a new question of the England bowlers and fielders. Healy plays a beautiful straight drive late in the over and Brunt sprints across to field it, gets there in time, but the ball bounces off her hand and finds the rope anyway. Brunt takes some time to get up after landing heavily on her shoulder and the umpires take drinks with a ball remaining in the over while Brunt composes herself. The final ball is eventually bowled and Healy takes a quick single from it.
30th over: Australia 162-1 (Alyssa Healy 87, Beth Mooney 1)
Here comes Ecclestone again - she has looked the best of the English bowlers and she proves me right immediately but taking Haynes’s wicket from the first ball of the over. Lanning decides to give herself a bit of a rest and sends Mooney in instead - a well-deserved opportunity after her brilliant tournament so far. Healy gets Mooney on strike and she gets off the mark immediately and they don’t look like losing a wicket is going to slow their momentum too much.
WICKET! Haynes 68, c Beaumont b Ecclestone, Australia 160-1
Finally England get their breakthrough! Ecclestone catches the edge of Haynes’s bat as she looks to go big and it’s a comfortable catch for Tammy Beaumont inside the circle at point.
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29th over: Australia 160-0 (Alyssa Healy 86, Rachael Haynes 68)
Ed Mackereth on email is feeling for England, but holding on to a touch of hope:
“It must be brutal to have to bowl against Healy and Haynes in this form. England are going to need to have a great day with the bat to make a contest of this. Fingers crossed.”
He’s wondering if the 400 might be on for Australia and I think in this form, you probably can’t count that out. Sciver picks up where Brunt left off with a more economical over, but there are still plenty of singles in it. If not wickets, England need more dot balls at least, but they can’t find them and Healy pulls one cleanly off the last ball for four to rub salt into England’s many wounds.
28th over: Australia 152-0 (Alyssa Healy 80, Rachael Haynes 66)
Some more Brunt and Australia brings up the 150 partnership immediately. It’s a good bounceback from Brunt, but she can’t find that wicket ball. Restricting Australia to a few singles in an over isn’t going to cut it at this point.
27th over: Australia 149-0 (Alyssa Healy 78, Rachael Haynes 65)
What can England do here? The game looks to be rapidly slipping from their grasp. With an Australian team that bats so deep, taking early wickets is essential to get into the batters who haven’t had has much time in the middle. Healy has taken her strike rate up over 100 after a slow start and Haynes is playing her role to perfection. Dean is struggling, but there aren’t too many answers elsewhere either.
26th over: Australia 142-0 (Alyssa Healy 73, Rachael Haynes 63)
Brunt comes around the wicket to Haynes and the singles are still easy pickings for the Australians. After a couple of those, Healy times one beautifully off her hip and sends it down past fine leg to the boundary. She rotates the strike and Haynes takes her own opportunity to go fine for a boundary. Brunt looks frustrated, it’s been a rough over for her.
25th over: Australia 131-0 (Alyssa Healy 67, Rachael Haynes 58)
At the halfway point now and the Australians are in cruise control. Dean comes back into the attack and looks for a more economical over than she’s offered up so far. She starts well enough, but Healy pounces on the third ball to send a ball flying over Ecclestone’s head to the boundary. Katey Martin in commentary isn’t happy with Dean’s change of hairstyle for this match - she thinks Dean should be more superstitious in keeping things the same while they’re working. At this rate, Martin would be very well accepted in Netball Twitter, where changes in trademark hairstyles are a big talking point. Not a great over from Dean again, so maybe Martin has a point?
24th over: Australia 120-0 (Alyssa Healy 58, Rachael Haynes 57)
Brunt comes back into the attack and Amy Jones comes up to the stumps to attempt to cramp the batters up a little and stop them dancing down the wicket to the ball so often. It’s working in part, but there’s just nothing to faze these two at the moment and they’re happy to take the singles while they’re on offer, they see no need to take unnecessary risks.
23rd over: Australia 115-0 (Alyssa Healy 56, Rachael Haynes 54)
Cross’s frustration is starting to show after her fielders dropped two catches off her bowling last over and her first ball is too short and allows Healy to bring up her 50 with a nicely pulled shot for four. The next ball is better and finds Healy’s edge, but everything is falling Australia’s way at the moment and that one heads to the boundary as well. Cross comes around the wicket to Haynes when she gets on strike and the line looks better, but still not dangerous enough to trouble these openers. This is not the economical Cross we’re used to.
22nd over: Australia 105-0 (Alyssa Healy 47, Rachael Haynes 53)
Ecclestone has a big appeal early in this over, but with only one review remaining they decide not to challenge the umpire’s decision. Australia bring up their 100 and it’s all looking too easy for them at the moment as the run rate creeps up towards five. England are fielding well on the boundary, but they need more than that right now.
21st over: Australia 98-0 (Alyssa Healy 43, Rachael Haynes 50)
Cross finally gets a genuine chance with a Haynes edge, but Danni Wyatt puts it down, which you absolutely cannot do against Haynes ever, but especially in a World Cup final after this start. The disappointment on Cross’s face tells the story and she offers them another chance, but this time it’s Sciver that drops the catch. Haynes brings up her half century and it’s not a happy time for England.
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20th over: Australia 92-0 (Alyssa Healy 40, Rachael Haynes 47)
If this was a T20, England would be patting themselves on the back for a great bowling performance to restrict Australia to a small total. But alas, this an ODI and it’s a simply a platform for the Australians to spring from later in the game. Ecclestone and Cross are doing a better job at stemming the flow of runs, but it’s wickets that are desperately needed here and they’re not looking like picking them up right now.
19th over: Australia 86-0 (Alyssa Healy 38, Rachael Haynes 43)
Cross bowls her first ball a touch too short and Haynes pulls it away nicely, but the field keeps it to a single. Healy keeps things very calm. They know they may not get boundary balls from Cross, but they’re also not letting her build dot ball pressure and keeping the game on their terms. This is now the highest opening partnership in a World Cup final and England will need to break it very soon if they want to have a shot at winning this.
18th over: Australia 81-0 (Alyssa Healy 36, Rachael Haynes 41)
We take a little drinks break and England have used six bowlers so far, which is just about all their options, so it would be nice to see a little bit of Knight bowling at some point! Ecclestone continues and she gets Healy playing in the air, but unfortunately for her, it’s a very controlled shot and she lofts it over the field into a gap and it bounces over the boundary for four.
17th over: Australia 76-0 (Alyssa Healy 32, Rachael Haynes 40)
Kate Cross gets her first shot at these two batters - she has incredibly consistent this tournament and has had impeccable line and length. She will want to take wickets, but at the very least she should manage to build a bit more pressure and encourage the batters to take some risks at the other end. It’s a difficult time for her to come in though, Healy and Haynes are so settled and comfortable and they are rotating the strike easily. Their footwork is very good and they’re moving to the ball so well - they will be very hard to stop. Cross isn’t throwing out loose balls, but she’s not making them panic either.
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16th over: Australia 70-0 (Alyssa Healy 30, Rachael Haynes 37)
Our woman of the moment has arrived - Sophie Ecclestone comes on for her first over of the day. She was sensational against South Africa in the semi final and she’ll want to take wickets here. There’s an appeal for LBW in the middle of the over and Knight decides they can review this one. Unfortunately for them, Healy got an inside edge before it hit her pad and England lose their review. It’s a decent over from Ecclestone, just the two from it.
15th over: Australia 68-0 (Alyssa Healy 29, Rachael Haynes 36)
Safe to say that this wouldn’t have been the start England were aiming for. You don’t ever want to let the Australian openers get to this point and they just haven’t had the answers to stop them going about their business very confidently. Sciver does a better job this over, dragging the momentum back after letting two runs go from the first ball, but more pressure is needed.
14th over: Australia 63-0 (Alyssa Healy 26, Rachael Haynes 34)
So far we’ve had two Mitchell Starc sightings on screen - let’s keep track of how many we get during the match. Hopefully we get just as many of Alyssa Healy next time she’s in the stands watching him play. Dean misses her line in the middle of the over and again Haynes pounces and cuts it late for four. Dean hasn’t had the effect England were hoping for as yet and Haynes finds another she likes on the last ball of the over with a drive to the boundary this time.
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13th over: Australia 54-0 (Alyssa Healy 25, Rachael Haynes 26)
Australia have dragged the run rate up above four an over now and it’s an excellent platform for them to launch from. They bring up the 50 partnership from the first ball of the Sciver over. It’s an economical start to the over from England, but Australia are finding these singles a little too easily and England need to build more pressure.
12th over: Australia 49-0 (Alyssa Healy 22, Rachael Haynes 24)
We get our first look at Charlie Dean for today as England look to take some pace out of the game and make Healy and Haynes work a little harder for their runs and maybe take a few risks. Dean is an attacking off spinner and she will look to take wickets here. Healy doesn’t take long to find a ball she likes the look of, coming down the pitch and drives one past long on for four.
11th over: Australia 42-0 (Alyssa Healy 16, Rachael Haynes 23)
Sciver continues and Healy takes a risky run from her off the second ball - a better throw would have easily removed Haynes at the keeper’s end. Haynes celebrates surviving that run out attempt by eagerly latching on to a short ball and pulling it away for four.
10th over: Australia 37-0 (Alyssa Healy 15, Rachael Haynes 19)
Shrubsole keeps her spot at the City end and Healy plays out a couple of dots before she plays a beautiful straight drive straight past the bowler for four. Healy is looking very confident now and clips the next ball away for a single to give Haynes the strike. Haynes is comfortable playing out the over and Australia gets through the powerplay unscathed.
9th over: Australia 32-0 (Alyssa Healy 10, Rachael Haynes 19)
Brunt has been replaced by Sciver at the Port Hills end and Healy is quite happy with the change once she gets on strike and starts to make her mark on the game with a confident boundary.
8th over: Australia 26-0 (Alyssa Healy 5, Rachael Haynes 18)
Shrubsole starts the over well, hurrying Haynes up and the fielders keeping the pressure on with plenty of urgency to back her up and prevent the quick singles. Haynes doesn’t seem too troubled by it, her strong over against Brunt gives her plenty of breathing room and eventually a nice straight drive gives her the opportunity to get off strike.
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7th over: Australia 25-0 (Alyssa Healy 5, Rachael Haynes 17)
Haynes finally gets the ball she was looking for - Brunt bangs one in a bit shot and Haynes pulls it away to the boundary for four. A length ball is defended away before Brunt gives away another one that’s a bit too short and Haynes delights in another pull shot to the boundary. It’s the best over for Australia so far and Brunt will need to have a think about her length.
6th over: Australia 16-0 (Alyssa Healy 5, Rachael Haynes 8)
Shrubsole starts the over coming around the wicket to Haynes - a change up she throws in every now and then in an attempt to unsettle the left hander and bring the LBW into play. The first two balls are good, but the third drifts too far down leg side and is given a wide. She continues around the wicket, but pulls her line back a touch and doesn’t offer Haynes anything but a single to get off strike. Shrubsole comes back over the wicket to the right handed Healy. She’s bowling to her field very well, so despite good shots, Healy can’t get the ball past the fielders. There’s an appeal on the last ball of the over but the umpire says no and Shrubsole can’t convince Knight to review.
5th over: Australia 14-0 (Alyssa Healy 5, Rachael Haynes 8)
It’s a good crowd in today, which is great news considering NZ didn’t make the final four. The tournament organisers have done a great job in keeping the crowds engaged and giving it a real big event feel, so it doesn’t matter to the fans who is playing, they just want to be a part of it. Brunt has a big appeal early in the over, but it’s sliding down leg and she’s smart enough not to review it. The next ball is even better, it’s doing so much it may evolve into a member of the team before too long. Haynes punches one down the ground late in the over that’s fast enough to evade Brunt, but only enough for a single.
4th over: Australia 11-0 (Alyssa Healy 5, Rachael Haynes 6)
It’s a bit of a cat and mouse game going on so far - the English bowlers are mostly bowling very good line and length and the Australian batters are just waiting on the opportunities for the slightly looser balls to pounce on. It’s a very good over from Shrubsole, just one from it.
3rd over: Australia 10-0 (Alyssa Healy 5, Rachael Haynes 5)
Brunt resumes and Healy is looking a little bit cautious. In the past that would have been a bad sign for her, but she seems to have settled those nerves of late and is able to play her way into a game even with a cautious start. It isn’t long before she finds a shorter ball from Brunt that she likes the look of and cuts one beautifully past deep backward point for her first boundary. Brunt tightens up her length and finishes with two dot balls.
2nd over: Australia 6-0 (Alyssa Healy 1, Rachael Haynes 5)
Anya Shrubsole takes the new ball from the city end - no surprises there. Haynes defends one back to her, then plays a delivery that’s heading towards leg stump very fine and down past fine leg for the first boundary of the match. Shrubsole tightens up her line to the left hander and it’s a good match up between these two so far. Shrubsole won’t want to let Haynes get too settled though, she is dangerous once she’s got her eye in.
1st over: Australia 2-0 (Alyssa Healy 1, Rachael Haynes 1)
We’re underway at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval! Brunt takes the new ball from the Port Hills end. She starts with a dot ball to Healy and then bowls a lovely one that dances just past the outside edge of Healy’s bat. Her length is very good today and in the middle of the over, Healy manages to find a little something and gets her away for a single to get off the mark and bring Haynes on to strike. Haynes flicks one away for a single and Healy finishes with a defensive shot to make for a good first over for Brunt.
Well while we wait for the first ball, here are a few things you can read to get you up to speed for this game.
Firstly, this great piece from Geoff Lemon on the gulf in class between the teams. If you’re more inclined to the opposite point of view, Nat Sciver has you covered in this story about why England can win it. Or if you want to make me happy, have a read of this story on Australia’s spin queen Alana King!
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Well the big news from the team lists is that Ellyse Perry is back for Australia. It’s unlikely that she’ll bowl, but she’ll be hoping for a big game with the bat. Although she is Australia’s biggest name, I don’t think it would have troubled the favourites too much if Perry hadn’t been able to play. But she truly deserves this opportunity and after missing the T20 World Cup final in 2020, this is a huge moment for her. England come in with an unchanged line up from the semi - no surprises there, as they were strong in all areas of that game.
England XI
Tammy Beaumont
Danni Wyatt
Heather Knight (c)
Natalie Sciver
Amy Jones (wk)
Sophia Dunkley
Katherine Brunt
Sophie Ecclestone
Charlie Dean
Kate Cross
Anya Shrubsole
Australia XI
Alyssa Healy (wk)
Rachael Haynes
Meg Lanning (c)
Ellyse Perry
Beth Mooney
Tahlia McGrath
Ashleigh Gardner
Alana King
Jess Jonassen
Megan Schutt
Darcie Brown
England win the toss and elect to bowl
Heather Knight says they want to get out as a team to start this game and thinks this pitch might do a little bit. Of course playing on her mind must be the fact that Meg Lanning absolutely loves a chase, so that might be the first step to pushing them out of their comfort zone. Of course, plenty of teams have forced Australia to bat first this World Cup and it hasn’t particularly helped! But it’s certainly a confidence boost and if they can take early wickets, they will be buyoed by that.
Preamble
Welcome! Well, after four weeks of fierce competition, we’ve reached the final and it’s Australia v England - the first time these two nations have met in a World Cup final since 1988, which is quite frankly wild. It would have seemed an unlikely scenario earlier in the tournament. England started with three losses on the trot and looked every bit as hapless as they did during the Ashes. But somehow they rallied, Danni Wyatt started scoring runs, Katherine Brunt started looking fearsome again and Sophie Ecclestone showed why she is such a world class spinner. It started with a dominant win over England, followed by a clutch victory over New Zealand. They sailed past Pakistan and Bangladesh and found themselves in a semi final against South Africa. It was in that game where they really showed their turnaround in form, putting 293 on the board, before bowling SA out for 156 in 38 overs. It’s been an incredible run and they won’t want to waste this opportunity they’ve given themselves.
In contrast, Australia has barely been challenged. There have been a couple of instances where they lost early wickets and to the casual observer may have looked like they were in trouble. But their batting line up is just so deep and they have so much belief that there’s never a moment of panic. They were unconvincing against Bangladesh and India took them into the final over of the match, but Beth Mooney’s unflappable nature just keeps on propelling them towards wins. It will take a particularly special effort from England to beat them today, but anything can happen in a World Cup final. If England finds a way to make Australia panic, to finally shift them even slightly out of their comfort zone, they could be in with a chance.
It’s going to be a big day, so stay with us as we guide you through the action. We’ll bring you the result of the toss and how the teams will line up very soon!
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