T20 World Cup Final, Sir

England 150-4 (20 overs): Sciver-Brunt 58* (53), Kemp 44 (28)

Australia 153-3 (17.1 overs): Mooney 64 (49), Litchfield 48* (35)

Australia won by seven wickets

Scorekeeper

England’s T20 World Cup hopes were crushed when Australia clinched their seventh title with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory at Lord’s.

Their Ashes rivals, despite all of England’s improvements to this point, ensured there was no first trophy for the hosts since their iconic victory on this ground in 2017, instead putting on an emphatic display of their strength.

England struggled to break loose and score 150-4 (captain Nat Sciver-Brunt needed 53 balls off 58) before Australia brutally put that scoreline into context.

After Lauren Bell bowled Georgia Voll in the second over, Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney put together a disdainful partnership of 100 off just 67 balls.

When Litchfield fell for 48, Australia only needed 34 runs off 42 balls.

Mooney took them to within 11 of the finish line by making a brilliant 64, before another piece of the controversy between England and Australia.

With seven runs needed, Sophie Ecclestone looked to have taken a clean catch to dismiss Ellyse Perry in the 17th over, but the television umpire called Perry.

The crowd booed and Ecclestone was outraged, but it would have had no impact. The winning runs came when the England spinner bowled five wide deliveries in the next over.

The margin of victory prevented the tournament from a competitive finish worthy of the day, with Lord’s packed to capacity in another historic moment for women’s football.

The occasion is positive for England, as are the signs of progression they have shown under coach Charlotte Edwards in this tournament, but Australia are finally back to being a class above.