No sixes, no problem: Beth Mooney proves class still thrives in T20 cricket
Australia have done it. They have reclaimed their throne, winning their seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup after defeating the home side, England, at Lord’s on July 5 in front of a passionate home crowd. After asking England to bat first and restricting them to a modest 150/4, the Aussies chased down the target with seven wickets and 17 balls to spare.
Veteran opener and wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney played a significant knock of 64 and was deservedly named Player of the Match. She was also adjudged Player of the Tournament after finishing with 238 runs in seven innings at an average of 47.60 and a strike rate of 142.51, including three fifties.
However, Mooney did not begin the tournament well. She managed only 17 runs in the first two matches, scoring seven against South Africa and 10 against Bangladesh.
Against a relatively inexperienced Netherlands bowling attack, she registered her first half-century of the tournament with an unbeaten 74 before retiring hurt because of a back injury. Despite those fitness concerns, she continued to play but then suffered a golden duck against Pakistan before managing just 22 against India in Australia’s final group-stage game.
Even before the tournament, Mooney was searching for consistency. She had scored only one half-century in six T20Is in 2026. As a result, there were some concerns over her form. At the same time, her opening partner Georgia Voll also struggled while trying to play the aggressive role, allowing Mooney extra time to settle before constructing the longer innings.
But Mooney once again did what she is known for. She stepped up when it mattered most – the semi-final and the final.
Against West Indies at the Oval, she smashed an unbeaten 61 off just 36 balls before following it up with a match-winning 64 off 49 deliveries in the final at Lord’s against England. Interestingly, she adopted a very similar approach in both chases.
Australia were chasing modest totals in both games after restricting West Indies to 125/7 and England to 150/4. In both matches, the pitches looked slightly slow during the first innings. Batters found it difficult to time the ball and find the gaps consistently, although Australia’s disciplined bowling also deserved plenty of credit.
What stood out was Mooney’s approach at the start of both chases. As usual, Voll looked to attack but could not get going in either match. Despite the early wickets, Mooney, along with Phoebe Litchfield at No. 3, ensured Australia made full use of the powerplay while the ball was still new and easier to score against.
Against West Indies, while chasing 126, Australia raced to 63/2 in the first six overs, with Mooney scoring 41 off just 19 balls, including seven boundaries. Just as importantly, she ensured she did not waste the start. She added another 20 runs from her next 17 deliveries with just one more boundary. There were no sixes, highlighting her outstanding running between the wickets.
The final at Lord’s followed a similar pattern.
While chasing 151 against England, Australia reached 62/1 in the powerplay. Mooney contributed 28 off 19 balls with five boundaries despite Voll’s early dismissal. Once again, she did not throw her wicket away. She added another 36 runs from her next 30 deliveries, struck five more boundaries and shared a match-winning 100-run partnership with Litchfield.
Remarkably, she did not hit a single six in either innings. Across the semi-final and final, Mooney scored 125 runs from just 85 balls, hitting 18 fours but no sixes. Yet she maintained a strike rate of 147.05, largely because of her relentless running between the wickets. Even when the boundaries dried up, she ensured the scoreboard kept moving through singles and twos.
It was another reminder that a classical batter like Mooney continues to prove that power-hitting is not the only way to succeed in T20 cricket. Staying busy at the crease, finding the gaps, timing the ball well and building strong partnerships can be just as effective. Mooney has demonstrated that time and again.
Overall, she finished second on the tournament’s run-scorers’ list, with England’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge ending at the top with 302 runs. Where Mooney surpassed Wyatt-Hodge was in delivering on the biggest stage. While Wyatt-Hodge could not produce a major contribution in either the semi-final or final, Mooney played match-winning knocks in both games. That is why she was a deserving Player of the Tournament.
Mooney continues to prove that a simple, elegant and calculated batting approach can still thrive in T20 cricket. She has done it repeatedly on the biggest stage. Across Australia’s last three Women’s T20 World Cup triumphs, one name has consistently stood out in the finals – Beth Mooney. Unbeaten 78 against India in 2020, unbeaten 74 against South Africa in 2023 and now another match-winning 64 in the 2026 final.
That is exactly what is expected from a senior player. Mooney continues to shine on the biggest stage, delivering whenever Australia need her most while reminding everyone that power-hitting isn’t the only route to success in T20 cricket.
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