A timeless rivalry filled with classic encounters

Women’s CricZone looks back at the top five clashes between the two sides in World Twenty20s.

 

2009 World T20 at London: 2nd semifinal (England won by eight wickets with three balls remaining)

In a match where a final berth was at stake for the two teams, the hosts won the toss and elected to field first.

From the moment the Aussie openers stepped on to the crease they played aggressively with some scintillating shots. Australia got off to a great start. The 78-run opening stand between Shelley Nitschke and Leah Poulton was the second-highest of the tournament.  All the top four batters got good starts to set a target of 164.

England didn't get a great start as the two openers fell quickly. Claire Taylor scored a brilliant 76 not out from 53 balls and struck an unbroken partnership of 122 runs with Beth Morgan for the third-wicket to seal a berth in the final. England went on to beat New Zealand to lift the title in the inaugural edition.

 

2010 World T20 at Basseterre: Group Stage (Australia won on the basis of six count)

In this low scoring thriller, the pendulum fluctuated between each team at various points. Australia won for scoring maximum sixes after the scores were tied in the Super Over also.

After electing to bat first, England could not get to the best of the starts. Apart from Sarah Taylor's 46, nobody touched 20 as England were dismissed for 104 in 17.3 overs, falling short of a par score.

Australia's chase was dented as the openers fell cheaply. At one point, it felt that the target of 105 runs were too many for Australia as they were reduced to 63 for 7. However, Alyssa Healy and Lisa Sthalekar shared a partnership of 23 to set the tone for a tense finish. English fielders were brilliant at the end of the innings, leading to a tie.

In a dramatic fashion, the scores were also tied in the Super Over where both the teams scored 6 for 2. Thanks to the lone six of the match from Jess Cameron's bat, Australia won on the basis of six count.

 

2012 World T20 at Colombo: Final (Australia won by four runs)

Once again, on a big stage, Australia held their nerve to retain the World T20 trophy with a four-run win over England. Australia were exceptional in all the three departments and just about outplayed their opponents.

Having a brilliant T20I record under their belt, the England side looked nervous in that game and that was clearly evident during their run-chase of 143 where they became so desperate and fell to a series of catches in the deep.

Charlotte Edwards, the England skipper, elected to field first. The Australian openers Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning put on a 50-run partnership at more than run-a-ball rate. Courtesy of decent contributions from the other batters, Australia put on 142 for 4.

Chasing a big total in a pressure game, England got five fours and and a six in the Power Play overs, but always were always behind the required run-rate from the start. The batters were frustrated and didn't last long at the crease as each of them tried for big shots and were caught at the deep. Edwards top-scored with 28, but no one held the chase together after she got out in the eighth over.

Needing seven off the last two balls, England lost Holly Colvin to a run out and managed just two runs as Australia prevailed.

“So proud of this team.I love this jersey, I love playing with the girls," Jodie Fields, the Australian captain, said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "Such a good feeling. Whenever you put this jersey on, you have to fight hard. England played a really good match, but we had the belief in our team. Just an all-round performance. Always had the belief (towards the end). Just to be standing here is awesome. All the hard work has been worth it."

 

2014 World T20 at Dhaka: Final (D/N) (Australia won by six wickets with 29 balls remaining)

Australia won comprehensively and overwhelmed England, which meant that they had completed a hat-trick of titles.

Australia came up with a dominant performance on the big day and did not give England any chance. Lanning was at her best and scored a quick-fire 44 to become the leading run-scorer of the event. Elysse Perry played an anchoring role and scored an unbeaten 31 unbeaten to complete the chase in style.

After they were put in to bat, England failed to find the boundaries. Their only fluent period came shortly after the Power Play as Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight moved along at nearly eight runs an over. Once Taylor departed England struggled to put on a 105, which was at least 40 runs less than the desired total.

 

2016 World T20 at Delhi: Semifinal (Australia won by 5 runs)