'Belief' spurred Australia's women to World Twenty20 title

Captain Jodie Fields relieved after defending champions beat England by four runs.

Australia went through some nervous moments against England before lifting the World Twenty20 trophy. Ishara S Kodikara / AFP

Australia defended their women's ICC World Twenty20 title with an exciting four-run win over arch-rivals England in the final today.

Jess Cameron hit the highest score of 45 in any World Twenty20 final to help Australia to 142 for four in their 20 overs before they restricted England to 138 for nine at R Premadasa Stadium.

The spinners Jess Jonassen (3-25) and Lisa Sthalekar (2-16) shared the spoils as England found the going hard on a spin-friendly pitch. The seam bowler Julie Hunter grabbed two for 36 to finish as tournament's best bowler with 11 wickets.

England needed 16 off the last over but Danielle Hazell (16 not out) managed 11, leaving the Australia players jubilant.

Jodie Fields, the Australia captain, said her team's hard work had paid off.

"It's a good feeling," she said. "England played a really good match, but we had the belief in our team.

"Just an all-round performance. It's awesome to be standing here as winners. All the hard work has been worth it."

Alyssa Healy (26) and Meg Lanning (25) put on 51 for the opening wicket in Australia's competitive total after they were put in to bat. Cameron smashed five boundaries and a six during her rapid 34-ball knock.

Charlotte Edwards, the England captain who top-scored for her side with 28, said: "It didn't go our way, but congratulations to Australia. We didn't do well up front, and just couldn't pin them."

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