Greatest matches in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history
From last-over thrillers to record-breaking spectacles, these iconic clashes define the legacy of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Since 2009, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup has been the stage for some of the most dramatic and high-quality contests in cricket. As the women’s game has evolved, so too has the scale and intensity of its biggest matches, producing unforgettable moments that have shaped the sport globally and cemented its place as a spectacle to behold.
Here are five of the greatest matches in the tournament’s history.
Australia v India | Final Highlights | Women's T20WC 2020
1. Australia v India — Final, 2020 (Melbourne)
The 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground wasn’t just a decider, it was a defining moment for the sport.
On a historic night for the tournament, Australia delivered a near-flawless performance. Alyssa Healy set the tone with a blistering 75 off 39 balls, attacking from the outset, while Beth Mooney anchored the innings with an unbeaten 78 off 54 balls to propel Australia to 184/4.
India, chasing under immense pressure, struggled against a disciplined Australian bowling unit led by Megan Schutt (4/18) and Jess Jonassen (3/20). This stunning showing ensured a 99-run victory for the home side, winning their fifth T20 World Cup title.
Yet, beyond the result, the night belonged to the 86,174 fans in attendance, the largest crowd ever for a women’s cricket match, cementing this final as a watershed moment in the game’s history.
Australia v West Indies | Final Highlights | Women's T20WC 2016
Eden Gardens played host to an electric T20 World Cup Final between Australia and the West Indies
2. Australia v West Indies — Final, 2016 (Kolkata)
The 2016 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final produced one of the most nerve-shredding finishes in the tournament's history.
Australia posted a competitive 148/5, built around contributions from Ellyse Villani (52) and Meg Lanning (52). In response, West Indies were powered by captain Stafanie Taylor, whose composed 59 kept the chase alive despite mounting pressure, she was assisted by Hayley Matthews who scored 66 off 45 balls, as West Indies put up 120 for their first wicket.
As the equation came down to the final over, West Indies held their nerve. Calm finishing and smart running between the wickets by Deandra Dottin (18) and Britney Cooper (3) ensured they crossed the line with just a couple of balls to spare, sealing a famous victory.
Carlos Brathwaite’s heroics against England in the Men’s T20 World Cup Final on the same day capped off a fairytale for West Indies, as they clinched both the men’s and women’s titles.
WT20WC: Ind v NZ – India seal thrilling win over NZ
3. India v New Zealand — Group Stage, 2020 (Melbourne)
A fixture that was played at the Junction Oval in Melbourne, this group-stage clash proved that early tournament matches can carry knockout-level intensity.
India posted a competitive total thanks to key contributions from Taniya Bhatia (23) and a 15-year-old Shafali Verma (46), setting New Zealand a target of 133 as Melie Kerr and Rosemary Mair picked up a brace of wickets each.
In reply, New Zealand looked in control for long stretches, but India’s bowlers, led by Shikha Pandey (1/21) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1/22) applied pressure at crucial moments. Wickets at key intervals shifted momentum, and the match came down to the final over.
India ultimately sealed a dramatic three-run victory as Hayley Jensen was run out by Shikha Pandey on the last ball as India sealed a three-run victory. A result that proved pivotal in their journey to the final and highlighted their growing maturity on the global stage and changed the global perspective to seeing India as a competitor on the biggest stages.
Hosts England beat New Zealand to lift first-ever Women's T20WC | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2009 Final
England and New Zealand met at Lord's for the Final of the 2009 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
4. England v New Zealand — Final, 2009 (Lord’s)
An understated classic that was the catalyst for the Women’s T20 World Cup, while the fixture did not have high-scoring fireworks, it was filled with tension and the weight of history.
New Zealand, one of the strongest sides of the era, were restricted to 85 by a superb England bowling performance. Katherine Sciver-Brunt (3/6) set the tone with early breakthroughs along with Nicky Shaw (2/17) and Jenny Gunn (2/19), while England’s fielding ensured there were no easy runs for the Kiwis.
Chasing a modest total, England might have expected a straightforward finish, but finals rarely follow scripts. New Zealand’s bowlers applied relentless pressure, and wickets fell at regular intervals, turning the chase into a test of composure.
It was Claire Taylor (39) and Sarah Taylor (23) who steadied the innings, with the former guiding England home alongside Lydia Greenway. England eventually sealed victory by six wickets, but only after navigating a tense and absorbing chase to win the inaugral ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title.
Deandra Dottin celebrates her unbeaten 112 against South Africa in Group A fixture of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2010 // Getty Images
5. West Indies v South Africa — Group Stage, 2010 (St Kitts)
An incredible start to the second edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup. At Warner Park during the 2010 ICC Women's T20 World Cup, Deandra Dottin produced one of the most extraordinary performances in the tournament’s history.
Dottin walked in with the West Indies stranded at 52-4 in the tenth over. What followed was an exemplary display of power hitting as she smashed bowlers to all parts of the ground. Dottin eventually finished at 112* off 45 balls, a knock laced with seven fours and nine maximums as she struck at 248.88.
It was the first century in Women’s T20 World Cup history, and at the time, one of the fastest in all T20 internationals.
West Indies eventually won the game as they restricted South Africa to 158/4. This game served as the catalyst that changed the approach toward T20 batting, it inspired a new generation of players to play with freedom and aggression in the shortest format.