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Perry guides Australia to title

. — Photo: AFP

Moment to cherish: Australian women celebrate after they beat New Zealand in the final

Bridgetown (Barbados): Medium-pacer Ellyse Perry scalped three wickets for 18 as Australia emerged as the ICC World Women's Twenty20 champion defeating New Zealand by three runs in a thrilling summit clash here.

Opting to bat, Australia made a modest 106 for eight in 20 overs but its pacers bowled with purpose and accuracy to restrict New Zealand to 103 for six at the Kensington Oval on Sunday.

Perry was the most impressive of the lot as, apart from picking up three crucial New Zealand wickets, she held her nerve in a tense last over to guide the Australian eves home, just hours after their male counterparts had lost in the corresponding final to England.

Needing 14 off the last over, Perry, backed by some superb fielding, did not concede a single boundary to give New Zealand the heartbreak, a year after it had lost to England in the final of the last edition at Lord's.

Chasing a modest 107, Sophie Devine (38 not out off 35) rescued New Zealand from a top-order collapse to give it a shot at victory after it was reduced to 29 for four at one stage. At 36 for five, the game was out of New Zealand's grasp, but Devine and Nicola Brown (20) batted with resolve to add 41 runs for the sixth wicket.

Perry broke the dangerous-looking partnership, getting Browne caught behind as New Zealand slumped to 77 for six.

Earlier, Nicola Browne (two for 11) starred with the new ball while Devine (two for 21) came up with a useful contribution in the middle overs to restrict Australia to the modest total.

Leah Poulton top-scored for Australia with a 28-ball 20 while Sarah Elliot (19 off 20) and Lisa Sthalekar (18 off 13) chipped in with useful contributions down the order to take Australia past the 100-run mark.

Elliot and Sthalekar shared a late 27-run stand between them to help Australia's cause.

The scores: Australia 106 for eight (Leah Poulton 20, Nicola Browne two for 11, Sophie Devine two for 21) beat New Zealand 103 for six (Sophie Devine 38 n.o., Nicola Brown 20, Ellyse Perry three for 18). — PTI

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