Record broken as Meg Lanning's Australia beat England, clinch women's T20 tri-series

Mumbai: Australia thumped arch-rivals England by 57 runs in the final to clinch the 2018 Women’s T20 Triangular series title at the Brabourne Stadium here on Saturday.

With the victory, Meg Lanning’s side capped off a stunning Commonwealth Tour of India, having clinched the ODI and T20 series with sheer dominance.

It also ended Australia’s wait for a piece of T20 silverware in the shortest format of the game after a long span of almost two-and-a-half years.

England were delivered a huge blow in the mega final with Danielle Hazell replacing Heather Knight as captain, who endured a hamstring niggle just before the match. Bryony Smith and Jenny Gunn made their way into the side, while for Australia, opener Beth Mooney overcame an injury to swap for Sophie Molineux.

After England won the toss and elected to bowl, Tash Farrant struck as early in the first over with the wicket of the explosive Mooney. But they soon recovered from the early blow as Alyssa Healy (33) and Ashleigh Gardner (33) got going before Gunn sent both the batswomen packing back to the pavilion in the eight over.

But then came the moment that changed the course of the match. Together for the third wicket, skipper Lanning (88) and Ellyse Villani (51) annihilated the opposition bowling with a mammoth 139-run stand to help the Aussies register the highest ever batting total in Women’s T20 cricket.

From the 205 runs that were put on board, a massive chunk of 158 came from boundaries alone, consisting of 32 fours and 6 sixes to ensure a mouth-watering run feast.

In reply, England got off to a wobbly start, losing Smith and Tammy Beaumont for nought within the first two overs.

Danielle Wyatt (34), the leading run-getter of the series, displayed her batting prowess once again with a fierce cameo to keep the required run rate within check. Just before the powerplay, Wyatt fell prey to a slower one from Delissa Kimmence in search of another big boundary, as Lanning completed the catch with a leap to perfection at mid-off.

Ashleigh Gardner piled further misery on the opposition by removing Natalie Sciver (50) and Amy Ellen Jones (30) who kept the chase alive with a steady partnership. Megan Schutt also joined the party with wickets of Frane Wilson (14) and Alice Richardson (1) to make it hard for the Hazell and co find a way back.

The dismissals of Sophie Ecclestone (2) and Gunn (1) followed as the Aussies ran out comfortable winners in the end.