Molineux Recreates Warne's Celebration at Lord's
Australia captain Sophie Molineux recreated late spin legend Shane Warne's iconic Ashes celebration after leading her team to a record-extending seventh ICC Women's T20 World Cup title at Lord's on Sunday. Following the victory, Molineux poured a bottle of beer over her head on the Lord's balcony, mirroring Warne's famous celebration after the 1997 Ashes win at Trent Bridge.
Molineux also celebrated with a stump raised over her head as teammates gathered around her. The gesture paid homage to Warne, known for his love of cricket and his larger-than-life personality both on and off the field.
Match Summary: Australia Chase Down 151
England, unbeaten in the tournament, batted first and were reduced to 70/4. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (58 not out off 53 balls, five fours) and Freya Kemp (44 not out off 28 balls, four fours, one six) shared an 80-run partnership to lift England to 150/4 in 20 overs. Kim Garth (1/20) and Molineux (1/32) were the pick of the Australian bowlers, each completing their full four-over quota.
In response, Australia lost Georgia Voll early for nine runs. However, Beth Mooney (64 off 49 balls, 10 fours) and Phoebe Litchfield (48 off 35 balls, six fours, two sixes) set the platform. Ellyse Perry (13 not out) and Ash Gardner (3 not out) finished the chase with seven wickets and 17 balls to spare.
Beth Mooney: Player of the Match and Tournament
Mooney was named Player of the Match for her innings of 64. She continued her stellar record in Women's T20 World Cup knockouts, amassing 424 runs in 10 innings at an average of 70.66 and a strike rate of nearly 133, with five half-centuries. Mooney also claimed the Player of the Tournament award, scoring 238 runs in seven innings at an average of 47.6 and a strike rate of over 142, including three fifties.
According to the report, Australia's victory marked their seventh Women's T20 World Cup title, extending their record in the tournament's history.
