SAW vs AUSW, Women's T20 WC final, Highlights: Aussies defeat Proteas by 19 runs to win 6th title

And the dominance of Australia continues. They have beaten South Africa to win their sixth T20 World title out of 8 attempts. This is their second hat trick of T20 titles and boy, they are a team to defeat for everyone. South Africa were good in their first-ever final of senior cricket. They had a few moments especially when Wolvaardt and Tryon were batting but they were chasing the game more often than not. Once, the two were sent back, the Aussies complete a solid 19-run win. Earlier, Australia scored a good 156-run total. It was a good fight between Aussie batters and Proteas bowlers but the hosts could not find enough power to go over the line. So, here are your champions of the 8th edition of the Women's T20 World Cup- AUSTRALIA! It was a pleasure bringing this to you, I Varun Malik, sign off, thanks for joining. Will meet next time, ta, ta.

The chance of South Africa winning the title is slipping away as they are 6 wickets down with 30 runs needed from 10 balls.

Schutt traps South Africa's in form batter Wolvaardt 61 (48) in her spell and the Proteas land in trouble as they are 4 down. 

Wolvaardt has smashed a fifty and it's game on in Newlands. Proteas need some more of these shots.

Wolvaardt and Tryon are not giving up and are going behind the bowlers. 15 from Wareham's over and 69 runs are now needed off 36 balls.

McGrath has bowled 2 no-balls and Wolvaardt has hit one over the ropes. 14 from the 13th over and they need many more of these. 84 needed off 42.

Proteas captain Luus has been run out as there was a big mix between Luus and Wolvaardt. This is getting difficult for the hosts now. Big hitter Tryon comes in and she needs to play a big one today.

Ash Gardner has found her first wicket and Kapp walks back. Australia are not letting South Africa free their arms. This was fuller and Kapp wanted to slog it but gets a top edge carried to short third. She was timing it well but not this time. Australia are ahead

Not a great start by the hosts. They are 22/1 after 6 overs and need some aggression in the batting.

And the opening stand has been broken. Brown pitches this at good length but Brits could not time the ball as the miscue went straight up to Mcgrath at mid on.

Not a firing start from the Proteas openers. They are going around 3.50 at the moment and need to up the ante a bit.

Wolvaardt has managed to survive an LBW scare. This was close. Pitched on good length as it came back into the right hander. Umpire gave not out as Australia reviewed. But it stayed umpire's call. Wolvaardt survives.

Beth Mooney is a big match player and her resume says so. Mooney in T20 International finals since 2019:

February 2020 (Tri-series)- 71* off 54 balls vs India

March 2020 (T20 WC)- 78* off 54 vs India

August 2022 (CWG)- 61 off 41 vs India

February 2023 (T20 WC)- 74* (53) vs South Africa

And here is the chase. Proteas openers- Brits and Wolvaardt are out in the middle. They have built some strong partnerships in the recent three games and need a similar one today. Schutt to start for Australia.

So, Australia have finished at 156/6 at the end of the first 20. This is a good total for both sides, depending on how you look. Australia have some target on the board and the chase is expected to become tougher. But Proteas would believe thet have got the Aussies 10 under than what they could have got. Brilliant contest in the first innings and the chase also promises to be the same. Back with the chase.

Ismail has got the wicket of Perry and has bagged the most wickets in the women's t20 world cup

Meanwhile, South Africa are 1 over behind and 1only 3 fielders are outside the ring for the final over.

Even though, this was not her best inning, Mooney is carrying Australia's charge and has gone past 50. 

South Africa have got another one and it's the big one of Lanning. Tryon grabbed a stunning flat catch at deep mid-wicket as Lanning walks back. Game on in Newlands

We are down to the final four overs of the innings. Australia are placed fine but South Africa are very well in the game too. Aussies need to get past 160 while Proteas will something under 150

Mlaba has come into the attack and she has cleaned up the hard hitter Grace Harris. This probably stayed a bit low but it does not matter how it comes. South Africa have got the third wicket as Lanning now comes in.

Meanwhile, Australia are prioritising the attacking approach. Lanning has now promoted hard hitter Grace Harris above her. They are looking for a big total.

Tryon has done the trick for the hosts. She has sent back the dangerous Gardner. This was a brilliant catch by captain Luus. Was not timed well and went way up in the sky at long on. The ball was swirling and she had to cover big ground but does extremely well to grab it. Timely wicket!

Meanwhile, Mooney is not looking in good touch today. She is not able to strike even at a run a ball at the moment.

Australia are starting to show their power. Gardner is playing her game and is going over the strike rate of 165. South Africa need wickets at the moment to dent Australia's middle phase or the defending champions will post a big total. Ismail and Kapp hold key at the moment.

Gardner has probably sent up to attack and she is looking to free her arms. She has hit 2 fours already and her long stay can hurt the home side.

End of the powerplay and Australia are 36/1 after 6 overs. A mixed outcome for both teams. Australia were sensible for the most part but lost Healy on a bouncer, while Proteas would be happy to send the first batter back. The final over of the powerplay was a maiden from Ismail. Aussies bat deep and Proteas need regular wickets.

Ash Gardner has been promoted up the order and this is a big move by them. She is a power hitter and Aussies are looking to give the Aussies a strong platform.

And South Africa have found the first wicket in the match. Kapp has got the wicket of Healy as she has been caught at extra cover. She is all pumped and so are the fans.

This is the big contest. Australia's batting vs South Africa's bowling. So far, it is going balanced. 18 runs have come from 3 overs 

Ismail is in to bowl the second over and has sent one LBW appeal upstairs. This was fuller and hit on the leg, going down the leg and SA lose their 1st review. review.

The action has begun and Healy has swept Mlaba to a four on the second ball. Great way to start the proceedings. 

Anthems time in Newlands. Australia's anthem to go first followed by South Africa's anthem.

The final can be decided by how the players like Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy, Shabnim Ismail, and Marizanne Kapp, among others perform. More on this here

South Africa's Playing XI:

Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Sune Luus(c), Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta(w), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

Australia's Playing XI:

Alyssa Healy(w), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning(c), Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown

Meg Lanning won the flip of the coin and she decided to bat first. Both the teams are unchanged in the final.

The two teams have faced each other 6 times in T20Is. On all occasions, Australia have emerged victorious.

We are standing less than 20 minutes from the toss and the Proteas players are preparing for the match. Visuals from the Newlands:

Sune Luus' South Africa is the first-ever senior team in the country to reach a final of a world cup. Though the nation has won a champions trophy in the men's category, it always stayed two steps away from a World title. Luus now has a chance to make her team the most celebrated team in history. But Australia stand ahead. South Africa played some brilliant cricket to defeat a strong England side and have great bowling. Ismail, Khaka and Mlaba are key with the ball, while Brits, Wolvaardt are vital with the bat. They would need all bit of that and also more of the batting to upset the Aussies. Australia were dominant in the group but were not at their killing best. They were good against the Indians in semis and would eye a similar performance in the final..

South Africa's run in the T20 World Cup 2023 is just one step away from a fairy tale ending. From reaching into the semis due to their superior net run rate to now standing one hurdle ahead of history, the South African fans did not dream of this. But this is cricket. The Proteas defeated England in the semifinal and became the first-ever South African team to play in the final of a World Cup. Hello and Welcome to the coverage of the final match in the Women's T20 World Cup 2023. It's South Africa vs Australia in the final of the Women's T20 World Cup. It happened in the semis of the 2020 edition but Aussies edged past the Proteas to book a final meet with India. This time, they have defeated India in the semis and set a final meet with the Proteas, sound like a complete circle? Meanwhile, the Proteas fans are living a dream but their team has made it to the finals. It would be some battle between the Aussie batters and the Proteas bowlers. Do South Africa, have some more fuel left to overcome Australia? Only time will tell. So grab some snacks as I, Varun Malik, take you across this contes