ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023: 5 most memorable knocks from the tournament

Smriti Mandhana. (Photo Source: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)

The eighth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was held in South Africa. A total of 10 teams participated in the biennial international championship, among which Australia, India, England and South Africa qualified for the knockouts.

The world’s top-ranked side, Australia, entered the finals as favourites after winning all four of their group A matches. The Meg Lanning-led side defeated first time World Cup finalists South Africa, to claim their sixth T20 World Cup trophy.

Throughout the World Cup, we witnessed some breathtaking knocks that steered the matches into favourable directions and had tremendous impact on the overall tournament results. These knocks not only immortalised the batters but also added great value to their respective teams and the tournament in general. Today we will look at 5 top-notch knocks which were the highlights of the tournament.

Here are the 5 best knocks from ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023

 5. Chamari Athapaththu’s 68 vs SA

South Africa locked horns with Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 World Cup opener at the Newlands Cricket Ground on February 10. The hosts opted to bowl first after winning the toss. They were soon made to repent their decision by Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu who scored a brilliant half-century to lead Sri Lanka to a respectable total.

Athapaththu shared a second-wicket partnership of 86 runs with youngster Vishmi Gunarathne, who scored 35. The  33-year-old batter smashed 68 off 50 balls, including 12 fours before being dismissed by Marizanne Kapp. The left-handed batter’s knock enabled Sri Lanka to post a total of 129/4 after 20 overs.

South Africa got off to a brisk start but lost three key wickets early into their innings. The Sune Luus-led side could only manage to score 126/9 in the allotted overs. With accurate bowling backed by good fielding, Sri Lanka upset the host nation by three runs. Athapaththu’s gritty knock rightfully made her win the ‘Player of the Match award’ in the opening match.

 4. Smriti Mandhana’s 87 off 56 balls vs Ireland

India faced Ireland in their final group-stage fixture at the St George’s Oval in Port Elizabeth on February 20. After winning the toss, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat first. India posted 155/6 in their 20 overs which later on proved to be extremely crucial given the thin line that separated India from Ireland, based on the DLS method.

This total won’t have been possible without Smriti Mandhana’s magnificent half-century that formed the bedrock of the Indian innings. Mandhana, along with Shafali Verma, stitched a 62-run partnership for the opening wicket. The 26-year-old batter hammered a career-best 87 off 56 against Ireland and was rightfully adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’. Her magnificent innings was laced with 9 fours and 3 sixes.

Chasing a target of 156, Ireland, who were already out of the semi-final race were 54 for two in 8.2 overs. With rain playing a role, Harmanpreet and Co. won the match by five runs via the DLS method and thus advanced to the semi-final. Ireland thus ended their World Cup campaign with without winning a single match.

3.  Muneeba Ali’s 102 off 68 balls vs Ireland

Ireland won the toss and decided to bowl first in the Group B match against Pakistan at Cape Town on February 15. Pakistan opener Muneeba Ali was in charge as she along with Javeria Khan scored 44 off 33 balls for their first wicket. Meanwhile, skipper Bismah Maroof could add only four runs before falling victim to Laura Delany’s ball.

Muneeba stood up for her side as she slammed 102 off 68 balls, including 14 boundaries. Her century propelled the Women in Green to a score of 165 for five in the allotted overs. Reaching the three-figure mark, the 25-year-old batter became the first Pakistani woman to score a ton in the shortest format of the game. She is also the only sixth woman player to score a ton in T20 World Cup.

Chasing 166, Ireland did not get off to a good start. The Pakistan bowlers rattled Ireland’s batting line-up, bundling them out for 95 in 16.3 overs. This 70-run massive win over Ireland was Pakistan’s first victory of the tournament.

2. Tazmin Brits’ 68 off 55 balls vs England

South Africa displayed a stunning show in the second semi-final against England at Capetown on February 24. The enthralling match began on a poor note for South Africa as batting first, the Sune Luus-led side could score just 14 runs in the first four overs. However, after the powerplay, they took control of the game as Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits slammed valuable half-centuries to score runs at an accelerated rate. Brits smashed 68 off 55 balls before falling to a solid catch by Katherine Sciver-Brunt. However, before her departure, she had already inflicted enough damage upon the hosts.

Her innings, studded with 6 fours and 2 sixes, was the highest of the South African team in that match and with the able assistance of opener Laura Wolvaardt, she led her team to a formidable score of 164/4. Brits and Wolvaardt together scored 96 runs for the first wicket.

South Africa staged an excellent bowling performance as well, as Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail claimed seven wickets between them to dismantle the hosts. Brits’ day wasn’t over yet as she took a Women’s T20I record-equalling four catches in the match. South Africa restricted England to 158/8 and secured a place in a World Cup final for the first time in any form of international cricket.

 1.Beth Mooney’s 74* off 53 balls vs South Africa

One of the best knocks of the tournament came in one of its most important matches. Australia and South Africa faced off in the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday, February 26, where Australian skipper Meg Lanning won the toss and opted to bat first. Batters Alyssa Healy, Grace Harris, Elysse Perry and even skipper Meg Lanning herself weren’t able to justify the choice. Ashleigh Gardner gave Australia some breather by scoring 29 runs at a 100-plus strike rate.

But the one who piloted the Australian innings was none other than Beth Mooney. She played one of the finest innings of the world cup to keep hopes alive for Australia. Mooney remained not out by the end, carrying her bat throughout the innings, to take Australia to a 150-plus total. Mooney scored 74 runs off just 53 deliveries, adorning her innings with 9 fours and 1 six. She also built up short but important patchy partnerships to prevent any possible landslide for Australia. It was her second straight half-century in an ICC world tournament final, having previously scored 78 runs in the 2020 T20 World Cup final. Australia finally managed to set for South Africa a target of 157.

The defending champions restricted South Africa to 137/6 to win the T20 World Cup title for the sixth time. Mooney played a pivotal role in Australia’s 19-run victory. Australia’s previous victories had come in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2020.