The Australian Southern Stars celebrate their T20 World Cup win. Tamworth's Erin Osborne is far right. Photo: Getty Images
TAMWORTH'S Erin Osborne was handed the nerve-wracking
task of bowling
the last over in Sunday night's ICC Women's Twenty20 World Cup Final against England in Sri Lanka, but did enough to get Australia home by four runs.
The team celebrated the defence of its T20 world title after scoring 4-142 in Colombo.
Jess Cameron led the batting with 45 while Meg Lanning (25), Alyssa Healy (26) and and Lisa Sthalekar (23 not out) also produced valuable knocks.
Australia was always on top in the run chase but the previously undefeated England wouldn't go away.
England needed 16 runs off the last over and with all of Australia's other four bowlers bowled out it was left to Osborne to settle the match and the championship.
There were a couple of nervous moments but England couldn't get Osborne's off-breaks to the boundary and finished five runs from victory with 8-138.
Osborne didn't take a wicket from her four overs but her contribution when it mattered most at the death was just as useful.
Jess Jonassen claimed 3-25, Lisa Sthalekar 2-16 and Julie Hunter 2-36.