JESS Cameron is on top of the world. The Williamstown-born 23-year-old top-order batsman lifted Australia to a four-run victory over the old enemy England in the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup final in Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Cameron was player of the match in the final for her brilliant knock of 45 off 34 balls.
The Werribee resident produced a masterful innings with strong hitting both sides of the wicket.
She had a hint of the unconventional at times, keeping the fielders on their toes and the crowd entertained.
A perfectly executed reverse paddle-shot off middle stump brought up triple figures in the team total.
Cameron was out lofting the ball to long on, but not before setting the Southern Stars, as the women’s national team is known, on their way to an imposing 4-142 off their 20 overs.
A 51-run third-wicket partnership with veteran Lisa Sthalekar consolidated the innings.
“Lisa and I at the time spoke about rotating the strike and the boundaries would come after that,” Cameron said. “I think we did that really well and were fortunate enough to find enough boundaries.”
Cameron had a slight scare in the field.
She battled on after being hit on the knee by a fiercely hit shot from England captain and player of the tournament Charlotte Edwards.
“The knee is OK,” Cameron said. “I didn’t give Charlotte credit enough on how hard she can hit the ball. It got me right on the point, but it’s all right now.”
The Stars were seemingly coasting to back-to-back T20 titles until England mounted a late charge.
They held on for dear life, restricting England to 9-138.
Cameron received the player of the match spoils from former England men’s captain and cricket commentator Nassar Hussain.
She finished with six sixes for the tournament and Hussain asked what was the secret to her big hitting.
“Maybe I’m just bulking up in the gym or something,” Cameron quipped, “or maybe it’s the bat I use.”
