AUS Women vs SA Women, Final at Cape Town, WT20 WC, Feb 26 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary

6:37pm Greg Barclay hands over the trophy to Meg Lanning and the champagne and the fireworks go off! This group has seen it all. Lanning stepped aside from the game, and returned earlier this year to take the captain's mantle again. Healy had stepped up in the interim and managed to keep the dominating spirit and record. You change their personnel, you change their engine room, you change their head coach, they still keep coming hard at you. And quite deservedly, now they move off the podium and pose behind the board that says CHAMPIONS! Smiles all around for the women in yellow. There was a running joke about how other teams only compete and vie to play Australia in the title clash. And it turned out just that way again.

Right then! That brings us to the end of another splendid tournament. Keep an eye out for Shashank Kishore's match report and then on some post-tournament indulgences - in text and video - from Firdose Moonda and Valkerie Baynes who witnessed it all at Newlands. You can find it all on this page.

Well, hope you enjoyed our coverage of this Women's T20 World Cup. There's a lot more women's cricket action in store with the inaugural Women's Premier League starting next week. Before that, of course, the Indian and Australian men's team get down to play the third Test in four days' time. Lots of cricketing action to look forward to and I hope we have your company for all of it and more. On behalf of Chandan, Srinidhi and all others who joined us during the tournament, this is Sudarshanan bidding you goodbye. Take care and ciao, aficionados!

6:25pm Time for the presentation!

The all-female team of match officials for this Women's T20 World Cup first receive their medallions. It's been a first for the ICC in a world tournament.

Next up, Beth Mooney receives her player-of-the-match award from Lisa Sthalekar. Unbeaten 74 off 53 balls, her second successive seventy-plus score in a T20 World Cup final.

Ashleigh Gardner then comes forward to receive her player-of-the-tournament award from Lisa Sthalekar. She finished with 110 runs and ten wickets in the competition.

South Africa players now receive their runners-up medals.

Sune Luus, South Africa captain: "To play to this crowd with so many people watching and supporting, we never imagined. [On the chase] If you would have told me before the game that Australia would have scored 156, we would have taken it. We lost wickets at crucial times, they bowled well and we are proud of how we did. I don't think it's going backward. Exciting few months in store. They have to start club cricket and more provincial cricket to have a continuous supply of players. [On Australia] You guys are very annoying! But congratulations to Meg and the team. You are setting benchmark for other teams to live up to. [On wish for women's cricket] Just to keep on growing. We have set the platform today and throughout the tournament. We can't go up. We need to keep growing through pipeline and keep challenging Australia."

The victorious Australian players now get on the podium to get their winners' medallion.

Meg Lanning, Australia captain: "It's a pretty special from the group. All teams came hard at us but super proud. We felt like it was a good score but we have to bowl well. It was not as good as the semi-final. We had to put pressure on South Africa. It was about enjoying the process and do what we were doing. It was about keeping things simple when the pressure is on. Thoroughly enjoyed it. We were able to get out and see what this country has to offer. Nice to enjoy the win with this group. It's a special group. Not just the players but the support staff that put in a lot of efforts and allow us to go out and spend freely. Thanks to the families, including my mom and dad who are here."

Dwij Madnani: "Such kind of dominance is rarely seen in any sport. Congratulations Team Australia for great win."

Mustafa Moudi : "Really Impressed with the Over Rate of Aussies. While SA-W could field just 3 Fielders due to slow over rate, the overall match is over within just 3 hour. BTW congratulations to the 6 Time T20 World Champions Aus-W. Well deserved victory!!"

6:20pm A quick summary then. Australia were Australia eventually, alright. But South Africa had them in control for most of their batting. Australia sent Gardner and Harris in to raise the rate and then ended up scoring 46 off the last five, thanks to Mooney. 156 seemed to be achievable for South Africa at the halfway stage. But Australia's bowlers never let them off the hook and used the slowish surface to their advantage to stymie the hosts and win by 19 runs. They were good with the bat, superb on the field and excellent with the ball. Lanning and Australia's envious record continues, then.

6:14pm Beth Mooney, player of the match: "Incredible being in South Africa and playing in front of a crowd like this one was special. I am glad I can fake it. I was not calm and the crowd was impressive and not many cheering for us. I walked off thinking we hadn't gotten on the board. Never judge a wicket till both the teams had batted and we did well. I was disappointed with my output in the first couple of games. The belief of the support staff helped me turn it around. [Celebration plans] We'll see what Cape Town has in store for us. But it's nice to sit with the group and celebrate."

Ashleigh Gardner, player of the tournament: "We have been longing for this moment for the World Cup. Today just showed that we were not in winning positions throughout the tournament. Proud of this group. Probably the semi-final... my role within the team with both bat and ball... Personal accolades are great but I am proud of this win. I probably bowled more in games and that was in WBBL as well. I have bowled more and it has translated in internationals as well. It was about putting my team in winning positions. Words cannot describe how proud I am of the group. We talk about evolving as individuals and growing the globally. There is so much fun playing cricket for your country. This phase is something I am going to be proud of later in life."

Rohit Verma: "Women World Cups are organised to find the other three semi finalists and the runner up only!!"

6:07pm Time for some reactions!

Jess Jonassen: "You can't go into a final not thinking you are going to lift the trophy. South Africa took it to the end and the crowd was crazy. Once I was out of the XI I focused on helping the players hydrated. Have my parents and partner in the crowd. Lucky to have been here."

Ellyse Perry: "Amazing game. Huge thank you to the crowd for the atmosphere. I know it didn't go well for them. But was good to be a part of this. It was up and down in our bowling innings. Wolvaardt batted exceptionally well and her partnership with Chloe put them in it. It was tense till we broke that partnership. [Fielding] I think it is nice to contribute in the game. It is a thing you do as a team and it is about effort than skill."

Grace Harris: "[First T20WC] Definitely won't be able to wipe the smile off my face. I thought 156 would be challenging, considering the close semi-finals. Getting a win over South Africa at a packed Newlands who were not cheering for us. Shells said try to get it to 160 and I was excited to get the promotion. It was most fun I have looked forward to with the bat. It was wobbly off the softer grass but was about keeping the legs still and not give up your feet. Thought we came out well."

Laura Wolvaardt: "[Crowd] It's been an incredible tournament to be part of. I live down the road, terrific experience. Tough day. To see the crowd come out was special. Australia are tough to beat. They put up a score and defended it well. We didn't get off to a good start. There were a couple of no-ball free hits and were a lot of cheers. Never experienced something like this. I can do this everyday, it has been a very cool experience. It's been amazing as a group, had a good tournament after how we started."

6:02pm Australia know how to celebrate these. They rush to the middle and are in a huddle. What is this Australian team made of? Lots of warm hugs. Not many over the top celebrations. South African players are struggling to hide their emotions. Tryon walks out with tears in her eyes. Newlands applauds and cheers the champions. Now both teams shake hands and Luus has a smile on her face. Ismail also warmly shakes hands and hugs some of those players. She's been part of the WBBL for some time now and knows many of them.

Australia managed to score 46 in their last five overs. They conceded only 39. Once again terrific death bowling. But it was also about how they bowled in the first half to keep South Africa in check. How does no team figure out these bowlers in such big games? The coaching staff now comes out and joins the players in the celebratory hugs.

Australia begin the final over with one hand on the trophy again. Gardner to finish

Lucas: "Excellent bowling to Tryon throughout her innings. Run a ball ~20 from SA's finisher." True. They did not let her get away

Long-off comes in, fine leg goes out.

Sandeep: "I have noticed that, Perry rarely bowls these days for Australia. Its always 1 or 2 overs for her even when she is bowling really well. Is there a reason for this?" They have a lot of options to not rely on her for full quota.

We've been here, haven't we? Australia cruising towards a dominating title win. Jafta is the new batter in. 35 needed off 12 and here is Schutt.

Three overs to go, 43 to get for South Africa. Healy is laughing and that shows their mindset. Here's Jonassen. Over the wicket.

16 runs off the last two overs...