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Written by Akash Saha | Edited and fact-checked by Amit Saha | Editorial policy
On this day · 16 May 2010 · Bridgetown, Barbados
Australia win their first Women’s T20 World Cup as Ellyse Perry’s boot saves the final
Defending just 106, Australia beat New Zealand by three runs at Kensington Oval. A 19-year-old Ellyse Perry took 3 for 18 and then stopped Sophie Devine’s straight drive off the very last ball with her foot. It was the first of Australia’s seven T20 World Cup titles.
Quick answer: Australia won the 2010 ICC Women’s World Twenty20, beating New Zealand by 3 runs in the final at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, on 16 May 2010. It was Australia’s first Women’s T20 World Cup title. The first edition of the tournament, in 2009, was won by England. Ellyse Perry was player of the match for her 3 for 18.
How the 2010 Women’s T20 World Cup final unfolded
🇦🇺 Australia 106/8 (20 overs)
Won the toss and batted
- Nicola Browne struck early, removing Elyse Villani and captain Alex Blackwell as Australia slipped to 20 for 3.
- Leah Poulton top-scored with 20 off 28 balls.
- Lisa Sthalekar (18 off 13) and Sarah Elliott (19 not out) added 27 late on to take Australia past 100.
🇳🇿 New Zealand 103/6 (20 overs)
Needed 107 to win
- Perry had Suzie Bates caught by Elliott and bowled Amy Satterthwaite; New Zealand were 29 for 4.
- Blackwell took a leaping catch to remove Aimee Watkins, and Rachel Priest fell to Shelley Nitschke.
- Sophie Devine (38 not out off 35) and Nicola Browne (20) kept the chase alive.
Browne was New Zealand’s best bowler with 2 for 11, and Devine took 2 for 21. For Australia, Perry finished with 3 for 18 and Nitschke conceded just 10 runs for her wicket. A total of 106 looked light, but Australia’s bowlers kept New Zealand behind the rate for most of the chase.
The last ball: Perry’s boot wins the World Cup
Devine kept New Zealand in it with a four and a six in the penultimate over, then hit four twos off Perry to leave five needed from the final ball. She drove it hard and straight back down the ground, but Perry stuck out her boot and deflected it to mid-on, where Sthalekar fielded. New Zealand got only a single, and Australia won by three runs.
The win ended Australia’s run of six straight T20 defeats against New Zealand. For the White Ferns it was a third successive global final defeat, after losing both the 50-over World Cup and World Twenty20 finals in 2009. Earlier the same day, at the same ground, England beat Australia in the men’s final.
2010 final scorecard summary
| Team | Score | Top batters | Top bowlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 106/8 (20) | Leah Poulton 20 (28), Sarah Elliott 19*, Lisa Sthalekar 18 (13) | Ellyse Perry 3/18, Shelley Nitschke 1/10 |
| New Zealand | 103/6 (20) | Sophie Devine 38* (35), Nicola Browne 20 | Nicola Browne 2/11, Sophie Devine 2/21 |
The 2010 tournament at a glance
The second ICC Women’s World Twenty20 was played in the West Indies from 5 to 16 May 2010, alongside the men’s event. Eight teams took part: Australia, England, South Africa and the West Indies in Group A, and New Zealand, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Group B. Group games were played at Warner Park in St Kitts, and the final was held at Kensington Oval in Barbados on the same day as the men’s final.
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Champions | Australia (first title) |
| Runners-up | New Zealand |
| Player of the tournament | Nicola Browne (New Zealand) |
| Most runs | Sara McGlashan (New Zealand), 147 |
| Most wickets | Nicola Browne (New Zealand) and Diana David (India), 9 each |
The start of a dynasty: Australia’s seven T20 World Cup titles
The 2010 win began the most successful run in women’s T20 cricket. Australia have now won seven of the ten Women’s T20 World Cups, most recently beating England by seven wickets at Lord’s on 5 July 2026. Ellyse Perry played in both finals, 16 years apart.
- 2010, West Indies: beat New Zealand by 3 runs
- 2012, Sri Lanka: beat England
- 2014, Bangladesh: beat England
- 2018, West Indies: beat England
- 2020, Australia: beat India at the MCG
- 2023, South Africa: beat South Africa
- 2026, England: beat England by 7 wickets at Lord’s; Beth Mooney (64 off 49) was player of the final and of the tournament, under captain Sophie Molineux
The other titles went to England (2009), the West Indies (2016) and New Zealand (2024). See every final in our Women’s T20 World Cup winners list.
FAQ
Who won the first Women’s T20 World Cup?
England won the first Women’s T20 World Cup in 2009, beating New Zealand in the final at Lord’s. Australia won the second edition in 2010, which was their first title.
Who won the 2010 Women’s T20 World Cup final?
Australia beat New Zealand by 3 runs in the final at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, on 16 May 2010. Australia made 106 for 8 and New Zealand finished on 103 for 6.
Who was player of the match in the 2010 final?
Ellyse Perry was player of the match for taking 3 for 18. She also bowled the final over and deflected Sophie Devine’s last-ball drive with her foot to save the match.
How many Women’s T20 World Cups have Australia won?
Australia have won seven Women’s T20 World Cups: 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2026.
Who won the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup?
Australia won the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, beating England by seven wickets in the final at Lord’s on 5 July 2026. Beth Mooney scored 64 off 49 balls and was named player of the tournament.
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