AUSTRALIA have won the 2018 ICC World T20 after defeating England in the final in Antigua by eight wickets.
Australia chased down the 106 runs they needed to claim their fourth World T20 title after a brilliant display from spinners Georgia Wareham and Ashleigh Gardner helped peg back England at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

England opener Danielle Wyatt gave her team a solid start with a tournament-best 43, but after she departed England lost 7-41 to be bowled out in the final over.
Wyatt had scored just 36 runs in four innings coming into the final but immediately went on the attack, striking a four then a six from left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux in the opening over of the match.

She was lucky in the second over when Rachael Haynes couldn’t hold on to what would have been an absolute screamer at point, and she was given another life the following over when wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy missed an edge off the bowling of Ellyse Perry.
There was no fumble from Elyse Villani in the fourth, safely holding a chance at mid-off to send Tammy Beaumont on her way for four, before teenage leg-spinner Georgia Wareham produced a stunning direct-hit run out to dismiss the in-form Amy Jones for four.

An unsuccessful lbw review from Natalie Sciver saw Perry claim her 100th T20I wicket, becoming the first Australian and just the second player to achieve the feat, and crucially sent the dangerous allrounder on her way for one.
Wyatt had a third life on 34 when Delissa Kimmince put down a sharp return chance in the eighth over, but there was to be no fourth life thanks to the combination of Ashleigh Gardner’s off-spin and the safe hands of Meg Lanning, out for 43 (37).

A correct decision to review for lbw sent Lauren Winfield on her way for six, before Wareham bowled Sophia Dunkley with a ripping delivery the following ball. There was no hat-trick for the teenager, but England had lost 3-10 to be 6-74 in the 13th over.
England captain Heather Knight had been steady while wickets fell at the other end and looked to break the shackles when she struck a maximum in the 18th over, but fell a ball later attempting a similar result for 25 (28).

Gardner (3-22) finished as Australia’s leading wicket-taker, while Wareham (2-11) was superb in her three-over spell.
Earlier, Knight won the toss and elected to bowl at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, with both teams going in unchanged.