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Australia's Mooney back at No 1 in batting rankings after World Cup heroics / Photo: © AFP
Australia's Mooney back at No 1 in batting rankings after World Cup heroics
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 wicketkeeper-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 23 March 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 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.
Shelley Nitschke, Australia's head coach, spoke after the final of how Mooney could always be relied upon in pressure moments.
Mooney, 32 then jokingly responded to that comment by telling reporters: "I probably didn't start the tournament that well, but I've told Shell to just pick me for the finals now and don't worry about the round games."
Mooney's performance in the final -- which also included a brilliant diving legside catch at the second attempt to remove Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the tournament's leading run-scorer -- for just eight, was also praised by Australia captain Sophie Molineux.
"Mooney is incredible," Molineux said. "She's built for finals...She plays with this freedom, but at the same time she's probably the smartest cricketer I've ever played with."
B. Semjonow--BTZ
