PARTY TIME: Blackwell parades the ultimate prize with her teammates.
YENDA'S Alex Blackwell has helped the Southern Stars create cricket history to be the first team to win the Twenty20 World Cup back-to-back, after their heart-stopping triumph over England in Sri Lanka.
Like their victory two years ago against New Zealand, the Australians needed every last ball to secure the win, as they restricted the English to just two off the final delivery to win by four runs.
Speaking to The Area News after touching down in Sydney yesterday, Blackwell said her feet had hardly touched the ground after claiming one of the biggest victories of her career.
"The feeling can't be any better than another World Cup off the last ball," Blackwell said.
"But we probably had it too close for comfort this time around because we were in control of the game more than what we were against the Kiwis last time in only scoring 106.
"We were on top most of the time when we were in the field, but credit to their (England) lower order, who hadn't really batted all tournament they came out and played some fantastic shots.
"It's a sweet win because it's against a team who's been regarded as the best going around for the last couple of years.
"But what's pleasing is that when we got to the final, we come out on top. I have not played in a World Cup final that I haven't won."
Batting first at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo Australia got off to a flying star before Blackwell helped Australian finish off its innings in a strong position at 4-142.
In response Australia picked up wickets steadily, including senior players Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor, who Blackwell said were two important chess pieces to get off the board.
However, Blackwell's time to shine in the final came when she made a spectacular diving catch at short-cover, to remove Lydia Greenaway off the bowling of Jess Jonassen
"I was really happy to create that chance at cover, it was one of those catches when you gave to be full stretch for and I just managed to get my fingers underneath it," Blackwell said.
"I was 100 per cent confident when I took the catch because I felt the pressure on top of my fingers, but when they (ump[ires) called for the replay I thought that they must have seen something,' but I was glad they gave it."
Asked is she believed the team's second Twenty20 World Cup win will help put women's cricket further on the map, Blackwell agreed, but said it was up for the players to keep delivering a spectacle.
"The reorganisation is improving all of the time, we're putting good show on more and more often," she said.
"We've had some excellent televised matches and I think that's one best things to show, in terms of the two best teams in the world and the ebbs and flow of the match and for it to come down to the last ball of the match."
Blackwell will head back to state duty with the NSW Breakers ahead of their opening game of the Women's National Cricket League next weekend.