Rita Ora sets Lord’s alight with halftime show as Australia lift seventh T20 World Cup title

Sunday’s Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s had cricket at its core, but it was British singer Rita Ora who added some serious glamour to the occasion.

Ora took to the stage in a striking outfit, immediately capturing the attention of the crowd. Her performance drew loud applause both inside the stadium and across social media.

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About Rita Ora

Rita Ora has built her reputation as one of Britain’s most successful pop artists, known for chart topping hits like Anywhere, Your Song, and Let You Love Me. Beyond music, she has also worked across films and television, including stints as a judge and mentor on multiple talent shows.

While Ora entertained the crowd, the real contest was unfolding on the pitch. Australia’s bowlers delivered a clinical and disciplined performance, restricting England to 150 for 4 in their 20 overs.

England’s rocky start

Batting first after Australia won the toss and chose to bowl, England endured a shaky opening. Wicketkeeper Amy Jones fell early for just 7 runs, while opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge was dismissed for 8 during the powerplay.

Young batter Alice Capsey tried to counterattack, scoring a brisk 23, but her dismissal left England struggling at 67 for 3. The pressure only increased from there, with captain Heather Knight departing for just 2, pushing England down to 70 for 4.

Once again, it was skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt who held things together for England. She absorbed the early pressure before gradually building momentum, eventually anchoring the innings with a composed half-century.

At the other end, Freya Kemp provided the spark England badly needed. She played positively against both pace and spin, ensuring no further wickets fell during the crucial middle overs.

A partnership that changed the innings

Together, Sciver-Brunt and Kemp built a partnership of 80 runs off just 55 balls, helping England recover from their early collapse and push their total past the 100-run mark.

A strong finish added further momentum, with England scoring 13 runs in the final over of their innings. Sciver-Brunt finished unbeaten on 58 off 53 balls, while Kemp contributed a quick 44 off just 28 deliveries.

Australia’s bowling effort

Australia’s bowling attack shared the workload evenly, with Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Lucy Hamilton, and Kim Garth each picking up a wicket. Their disciplined effort kept England’s total to a manageable 150 for 4.

With the target set, Australia finished at 153 runs to seal the win. A victory handed them their seventh Women’s T20 World Cup title, extending their dominance in the format.