Australian women became the first team to retain theWorld Twenty20 title after edging out their English counterparts by a narrowfour runs in a thrilling summit clash here on Sunday.
Put into bat, Australia put up a competitive 142 for four in20 overs with almost all the batswoman getting runs. Jess Cameron with 45 wasthe top scorer but openers Meg Lanning (25), Alyssa Healey (26) and LisaSthalekar (23 not out) all chipped in with useful contributions.
In reply, England could manage 138 for nine as Australianbowlers got wickets at regular intervals.
The Australians became the first team -- male or female-- to retain the ICC World Twenty20 trophy.
Needing 16 of the last over, England managed only 11 runsoff spinner Erin Osborne's over. England needed an over boundary of the lastdelivery but could manage a single as girls in canary yellow celebratedenthusiastically.
Although skipper Edwards showed positive intent but once shewas dismissed for 28, the other batswomen could hardly make any impact.
They did get the boundaries but couldn't stay long enough toget a decisive result in their favour.
Australia had not exhibited any decisive individualperformances until today but peaked at the right time. They got off to anexcellent start as openers Lanning and Healy put on a devastating openingpartnership of 51, scoring at a run a ball until the former was caught andbowled by Holly Colvin for 25.
