‘Unrivalled in world sport’: Australia officially the greatest team ever

The Australian women’s cricket team is being praised around the world as the greatest of all time after their dynasty continued on Monday.

Australia won the Women’s T20 World Cup for the sixth time when they beat South Africa by 19 runs in the final at Newlands on Sunday.

Opening batter Beth Mooney anchored the Australian innings, scoring an unbeaten 74 in a total of 156 for six.

South Africa were never up with the required run rate and were restricted to 137 for six despite opener Laura Wolvaardt hitting 61 off 48 balls.

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“It’s pretty special from the group,” said Australia captain Meg Lanning. “We felt like it was a good score but we had to bowl well and put pressure on South Africa.

On top of the world again. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.

“It was about enjoying the process, about keeping things simple when the pressure is on.” South Africa captain Sune Luus, whose team lost both of their opening games of the tournament, hailed Australia for “setting a benchmark for other teams to live up to”.

She added: “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.”

The world has been full of praise for the Aussie team.

The dynasty continues...

Australia has won its sixth Women's T20 World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 19 runs at Newlands.

They're a class above. #T20WorldCup

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) February 26, 2023

Australia have won 24 ICC tournaments, both Men and Women combined. 5 ODI world cups, 2 champions trophies, 1 T20I world cup & 3 U19 WCs in Men's cricket. 7 ODI world cups & 6 T20I world cups in Women's cricket. The greatest all-format cricketing nation in history. 🇦🇺🏆 #Cricket

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) February 26, 2023

A valiant effort from the South African team. And though they dont get the fairytale ending...they've done themselves and their fans proud. Australia are just incredible. A 6th T20 Women's World Cup win for them. Without a doubt, one of the all time great teams #T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/rLyNsA1Tv7

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) February 26, 2023

Tripping them doesn’t work. You have to go for the kill because they will not give you a second chance. Even then, your killer blow might not be good enough.

This Australia women’s cricket team is something else. One of the greatest this game has seen! #T20WorldCup#SAvAus

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) February 26, 2023

Since 2018, Australia has won:

- 2018 T20 World Cup
- 2020 T20 World Cup
- 2022 World Cup
- 2022 Commonwealth Games
- 2023 T20 World Cup

Throw in a few bilateral series wins and a world-record ODI winning streak, this team continues to create history unrivalled in world sport.

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) February 26, 2023

Greatest Team of all Time. Australia.#T20WorldCuppic.twitter.com/7mahgMa9eJ

— Avinash Aryan (@AvinashArya09) February 26, 2023

Australia showing yet again why they are the greatest sporting team of all time.

Congratulations Australia 👏🏽

South Africa, you’ve created history, that is enough to be proud of 🫶🏼#t20worldcup2022

— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) February 26, 2023

6th title for Australia women in T20 World Cups. Second time they have won three in a row. Throw in 7 Cricket World Cups, they have now won 13 tournaments across T20 and ODI formats. The next best is England (5 titles). A proper force in cricket this Aussie team. #T20WC2023

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 26, 2023

When it comes to sports, the Australian team is a force to be reckoned with! Congratulations on another amazing win. 🎉👍 #womeninsports#Australia#t20worldcup#t20worldcupfinalhttps://t.co/V2p5UBTOug

— Priyanka Hemanti Bhatt (@iPriyankaBhatt) February 26, 2023

Hard to find a national sports team that represents Australia better than our women’s cricket team. Incredibly talented. Driven. Best in their field by miles. But more importantly, respectful & humble throughout. @CricketAus#t20worldcupfinal

— Jamie Tate (@jtate_heraldsun) February 26, 2023

Congrats Australia for winning 🥇 Women T20 World Cup against South Africa 🏅 for the 6th time n 3rd in a row….
Fully Domination !!!#AUSWvSAW#ICCWomensT20WorldCup

— Ajay Ratra (@ajratra) February 26, 2023

Wolvaardt and semi-final heroine Tazmin Brits struggled to find gaps in the field and scored only 17 runs before Brits was caught at mid-on off Darcie Brown off the last ball of the fifth over.

Marizanne Kapp hit two boundaries but was out for 11 and South Africa captain Sune Luus was run out for two. At that stage the home side needed another 103 runs off 56 balls.

Party time. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.

GOAT. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.

Wolvaardt and the hard-hitting Chloe Tryon gave a near-capacity crowd of about 15,000 hope with an attacking fourth wicket partnership of 55 off 37 balls but the match was effectively over when Wolvaardt was leg before wicket to Megan Schutt in the 17th over.

The left-handed Mooney played a measured innings, scoring her 74 runs off 53 balls while a succession of partners batted aggressively.

Ash Gardner and Grace Harris both batted ahead of captain Meg Lanning and appeared to be under instructions to go for their shots.

South Africa’s bowlers performed steadily and were backed up by enthusiastic fielding. Stalwarts Shabnim Ismail and Kapp both took two wickets each.

But Australia showed their quality in defending their total with athleticism and commitment that put the South African batters under constant pressure.

They have now won six of the eight T20 World Cups played — in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023.

Only England, who won the inaugural tournament in 2009, and West Indies in 2016, have broken the stranglehold.

— with AFP