England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt conceded that her side was outplayed by a "classy" Australian team in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday. Australia chased down England's total of 150/4 with seven wickets in hand, achieving the highest successful run chase in a Women's T20 World Cup final.
Sciver-Brunt on Toss and Batting Performance
Sciver-Brunt, who won the toss, said she would have preferred to bowl first. She acknowledged that England's total was below par on a pitch where building momentum with the bat proved challenging. "We were short of a par score on that wicket. It felt tricky to gain momentum with the bat," she said after the match.
Australia's Bowling and Batting Depth
The England skipper praised Australia's bowlers for executing their plans under pressure, consistently hitting the right areas at key moments. She noted that Australia's batting depth made it difficult for England to sustain pressure without taking regular wickets. "When the pressure is on, their bowlers hit their mark. We left it too late in our bowling innings. Bethney played a brilliant innings. They have a powerful lineup, and you know you have to take regular wickets. They have got great depth in their batting line-up. Makes it difficult for bowling line-ups," Sciver-Brunt said.
Beth Mooney's Match-Winning Innings
Sciver-Brunt reserved special praise for Australia's Beth Mooney, whose innings guided Australia to victory. Mooney's knock was instrumental in Australia's successful chase, further highlighting the team's experience in high-pressure finals.
England's Tournament Performance
Despite the defeat, Sciver-Brunt reflected positively on England's campaign, emphasizing the team's preparation, unity, and performances throughout the tournament. "We have so much to be proud of. We have done so much work pre-tournament, and the energy throughout the group was awesome. We have played great cricket, everyone has done their bit, and we have celebrated everyone's success," she said.
Looking Ahead
Sciver-Brunt described the loss as "tough to take" but expressed confidence that England will return stronger. She thanked the fans for their support, calling it a privilege to represent her country in front of a passionate home crowd at Lord's. The final drew a record crowd of over 28,000 spectators.
Australia's Dominance
Australia's victory added another golden chapter to their rich World Cup history, ending England's perfect record at home World Cups. The win capped an invincible run for Australia in the tournament, as they successfully chased down England's total to register the highest successful run chase in a Women's T20 World Cup final.
