Women's World Cup 2022 Final: England aim to stop Australia from winning 7th ICC World Cup title

After defeating South Africa by 137 runs, England will look forward to stop six-time winners Australia from winning the 7th title of the Women's World Cup (WCC) 2022. Australia will be out to underline their credentials and aim to win the title for the seventh time when it takes on England in the ultimate showdown on Sunday in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Both England and Australia have been marching towards the big day in their own way and will face off in an ICC World Cup final for the first time in 34 years. The two sides started their campaigns together almost a month ago in Hamilton.

Defending champions England are determined not to give up the trophy easily and captain Heather Knight is hoping that the experience gained from winning the WCC 2017 can help her team defeat red-hot Australia for this year's title.

Four-times champions England, which have been facing a tough time since losing their first three contests, stormed into the semi-finals with a thumping victory over Bangladesh. They defeated second-ranked South Africa by 137 runs to reach the finals for the sixth time.

"We've taken a few batterings over the last couple of months, but the fact we're here in a World Cup final is great. We'll go in as underdogs, which is certainly fair (but) what a story has been written for us if we go and beat them on Sunday. We go in as equals.



There's a blank slate. There's no pressure on us at all to do well," skipper Heather Knight said.

England know that they will have to put up a stellar performance when they return to Hagley Oval on Sunday to face Australia, who they have not beaten in their last seven meetings in one-dayers.

While Danni Wyatt clocked 129 runs from 125 deliveries to help set an imposing victory target for the South Africans, and spinner Sophie Ecclestone finished the job with 6-36.

Australia's star all-rounder Ellyse Perry is on track to take her place in the showpiece. She missed the team's last two matches in New Zealand with a back issue. Perry suffered back spasms in their penultimate round robin game against South Africa and underwent two crunch training sessions in Christchurch ahead of the final.

Since losing to India in the semifinals of the 2017 World Cup, Australia have only lost two ODIs, including a recordbreaking streak of 26 consecutive victories. With Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy leading the batting and Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt wielding the ball, Australia will be hard to beat for England.

Spinner Jonassen, who sits behind only Ecclestone in the world bowling rankings, said, "It's the Ashes in something that's, I guess, even more prestigious. A World Cup final against England, it doesn't get much bigger."