England captain Nat-Sciver Brunt and Freya Kemp shared an unbroken stand of 80 as the hosts were held to 150-4 by Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's on Sunday.

Sciver-Brunt finished on 58 not out, following her match-winning 75 in Thursday's 40-run semi-final win over South Africa, with Kemp unbeaten on 44.

The pair came together with England faltering at 70-4, with Sciver-Brunt completing a 45-ball fifty and Kemp facing just 28 balls.

England's total looked at least 20 runs shy of a truly challenging target given Australia had chased down 171 to knock India out in a group-stage game at Lord's last weekend.

But England, bidding for a first major global trophy since winning the 2017 50-over World Cup final at Lord's, were still in the game, with six-time champions Australia having to chase on a sluggish pitch where strokeplay was difficult.

The new-ball duo of Kim Garth (1-20 in four overs) and Lucy Hamilton (1-19 in three) were the pick of Australia's attack.

Both sides were unchanged from the semi-finals, with Australia veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry passed fit after retiring hurt with a quad problem during an eight-wicket rout of the West Indies.

Australia soon had a breakthrough after captain Sophie Molineux won the toss on a hot and sunny day in northwest London.

Hamilton had Amy Jones edging to gully with just her second ball -- the left-arm quick's first wicket of the tournament.

Moments later Sciver-Brunt, who had taken son Theo onto the outfield with her for the pre-match anthem, stylishly cover-drove her first ball, from Hamilton, for four.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who during her innings became the first batter to score 300 runs at a Women's T20 World Cup, fell for just eight when she gloved Annabel Sutherland down the legside and was well caught at the second attempt by diving wicket-keeper Beth Mooney.

Australia choked up the runs until a ninth over costing 16 which saw Alice Capsey hit spinner Ash Gardner for two fours and a six.

But left-arm spinner Molineux bowled Capsey, missing a reverse sweep, for 23.

Former captain Heather Knight, who made 58 and shared a partnership of 133 with Sciver-Brunta against South Africa, was then plumb lbw for just two to Garth's leg-cutter to leave England 70-4.

Knight's exit brought in the big-hitting Kemp and the left-hander drove Hamilton down the ground and Sutherland to long-on for two fours before smashing Molineux for six in the last over.

Source: AFP

– Agencies