OneCricket's Team of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023
Beth Mooney scored 206 at an average of 51.50 [AP Photo]
An exciting, riveting, and historic ICC Women's World T20 2023 came to a fitting conclusion last evening when Australia lifted its sixth 20-over title, defeating hosts South Africa in a thrilling encounter.
The 10-nation competition witnessed the best women players showcase their prowess as the world marveled at scintillating performances with bat and ball over 16 days. Here, we take a look into who makes the cut for the T20 WC Team of the tournament.
Openers
Beth Mooney: One of the most consistent batters around, Beth Mooney keeps her rightful place in the squad. Mooney, who became the first women's player to register 50+ scores in the T20I WC Finals, amassed 206 runs at a staggering average of 51.51.
The 29-year-old single-handedly carried Australia's batting in the final, slamming an unbeaten 74.
Alyssa Healy: She performed her duties to the tee as a wicketkeeper-batter. The 32-year-old held Australia's innings together while other hard-hitting players rallied around her.
Apart from scoring 189 runs, she also picked up four dismissals behind the stumps, taking one catch and inflicting three stumps.
Middle Order
Laura Wolvaardt: South Africa's star in the T20 WC, Laura Wolvaardt, led the batting charge for her side. The 23-year-old top-scored with 230 runs, which included a determined knock of 61 runs in the final.
She ended up scoring three back-to-back fifties, enabling her side into their first-ever ICC final.
Natalie Sciver-Brunt: English deputy exhibited accelerating batting throughout the event. Baring a rare blip against Ireland, Sciver-Brunt scored 216 runs for her side, hitting two half-centuries in the process.
She also claimed a solitary wicket in England's record-breaking win over Pakistan in their last group match.
Meg Lanning: The Aussie skipper is busy creating unrivalled records, clinching herself a fifth ICC title after guiding Australia to their sixth T20I World Cup. Lanning, who is returning after a long break, displayed no signs of rust while marshaling her troops in South Africa.
The ever-reliable batter scored 149 in the process as well.
Lower Middle Order
Richa Ghosh: Fresh from clinching the U19 Women's T20 World Cup, India's Richa Ghosh stole the spotlight from more established players with her performances. Ghosh, 19, provided Team India with a much-needed impetus down the order, accumulating 136 runs at an astounding strike-rate of 130.7.
She was the most successful wicket-keeper in the tourney, claiming seven dismissals in five matches.
Ashleigh Gardner: Her rise in cricket has been phenomenal. Her output in WT20 WC cemented her place as the world's best all-rounder in women's cricket as ranked by the ICC.
Named 'Player of the Tournament', Gardner picked up 10 wickets and scored 110 runs. Her standout performance came against India, where she scored a crucial 31-run knock and snapped two key wickets in a semi-final encounter.
Marizanne Kapp: A veteran of 94 T20Is, Marizanne Kapp was South Africa's leading wicket-taker in the competition with 9. The 33-year-old picked up wickets in almost all of South Africa's matches, barring one, where she stood tall for her side with the bat, and scored a match-winning 27 against England in the semi-finals.
Bowlers
Sophie Ecclestone: One of the best in the business, Sophie Ecclestone was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 scalps from five matches, however, her importance for England lay in how miserly the wily bowlers gave runs, stifling opposition batters.
Her economy stood at 4.15, the second-best in the tournament, behind Grace Harris.
Shabnim Ismail: South Africa's Shabnim Ismail claimed 8 wickets in the tournament. She, much like Ecclestone, choked the opposition for runs and picked up wickets upfront.
The 34-year-old pacer during the course of the tournament became the all-time Women's T20 World Cup leading wicket-taker (43), and also bowled the second-fastest ball against England, clocking over 127.4 kmph.
Megan Schutt: She claimed 10 wickets for Australia and was third on the list of wicket-takers. Apart from her skills with the new ball, her ability to bowl in death overs makes her dangerous.
As seen in match against South Africa, Schutt showed composure and knocked over Wolvaardt in a pressure situation. She also claimed a four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka.
Team of the Tournament
Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Beth Mooney, Laura Wolvaardt, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Richa Ghosh (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Ecclestone, Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, and Megan Schutt.
 "Vishal Mehra")
