Beth Mooney’s selfless act in Australia’s record World Cup triumph: Thought of retiring early in final
Beth Mooney revealed her selfless act in Australia’s record-extending Women’s T20 World Cup triumph, saying she thought of retiring early in the final against South Africa.
Beth Mooney played a match-winning knock of 74 not out in the final. (AP Photo)
By India Today Sports Desk: Australia opener Beth Mooney revealed that she was frustrated with her knock mid-way through her match-winning innings against South Africa in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 final.
Mooney’s 74 not out set up the stage for Australia as they clinched a record-extending sixth Women’s T20 World Cup title and completed a hat-trick of trophies for a second time.
The left-hander said that she sent a message back to the dressing room, asking head coach Shelley Nitschke to retire her. Interestingly, drinks carrier Kim Garth kept that request to herself and it did not reach Nitschke, according to cricket.com.au.
At one point, Mooney was batting on a run-a-ball 25 when Australia were at 73/1. The opener rose to the occasion as she pushed her side to 156/6, a total that proved sufficient as South Africa fell short by 19 runs.
“I actually asked one of the girls who ran out if she could ask Shell if she wanted to retire me because I was hitting it that bad,” Mooney said.
“But it just goes to show if you hang in there long enough and get the pace of the wicket … I probably didn’t have a great plan through the middle there, I was stepping across and trying to hit it too square, but once I stayed a bit stiller and hit it a bit straighter it wasn’t too bad.”
Australia head coach Shelley Nitschke heaped praise on Mooney, saying “There is just this steely determination.”
“She’s obviously highly skilled but there’s just this real determination and an ability to read the game and today she, by her own admission, probably struggled a little bit early. But it was really important for us in the context of the game that she stayed there and went on to make a big score and she was striking really well at the end.”
