Australia’s route to the Women’s T20 World Cup final now looks less like a surge than a controlled squeeze on the tournament.
The ICC’s latest tournament framing underlined the scale of the problem facing whoever emerges from England’s semi-final against South Africa, with Australia carrying a six-match unbeaten run into Sunday’s Lord’s final.
That record has been built on repeated answers to different questions. Australia beat Pakistan by 113 runs, chased India down by six wickets and then removed West Indies from the semi-final equation with an eight-wicket win at The Oval.
Australia’s depth has become the warning
The most damaging point for the chasing pack is that Australia have not needed one narrow route through the competition. Beth Mooney’s knockout authority, Ash Gardner’s all-round influence and the left-arm variation around the attack have given them several ways to regain control.
That is why Sunday is already taking shape as a pressure examination as much as a final. England would bring home advantage and deeper batting if they get through; South Africa would bring the memory of previous knockout disruption.
Australia, though, have banked the clearest body of evidence. Their final opponent will not just be facing a side in form, but a side that has spent three weeks proving it can win from different match states.
Source: ICC road to the final. Related ReadCricket coverage: Mooney ruthlessness gives Australia final control.
