LONDON: Australia’s Beth Mooney has returned to number one in the women’s T20 batting rankings after winning the player of the tournament award at the women’s T20 World Cup.

The wicket-keeper/batter, also named player of the tournament in the 2020 edition at home, has overtaken Australia team-mate Georgia Voll, who had occupied the top spot since March 23 this year.

Mooney won the player-of-the-match award in Sunday’s final at Lord’s for a decisive 64 off 49 balls in a seven-wicket win over England that helped her finish the tournament with 238 runs and start her fifth stint as number one.

“I just hate losing, to be honest,” Mooney said when asked about the secret of her success after Sunday’s final. “I know what it feels like at times. I see a bit of red out there when the game’s on the line as well.

“It’s really important to go out there and make sure you do your job and do it when it counts.”

Mooney followed scores of seven and 10 in the first two games of Australia’s unbeaten campaign at this World Cup by reaching 74 before she retired hurt against the Netherlands suffering from back soreness in the third.

After a duck against Pakistan, when she impressed behind the stumps despite twice dislocating her finger, she made 22 against India.

Mooney came came to the fore in knockout play, with 61 in Australia’s semi-final rout of the West Indies followed by 64 as her side reached a target of 151 against England — a record run chase for a T20 World Cup final.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026