Australia and South Africa secure semifinal berths in Women’s T20 World Cup

By Bilal Ahmed

By Bilal Ahmed — 29 June 2026 — 3 min read

The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup has seen a dramatic conclusion to its group stage, with Australia and South Africa advancing to the semifinals from Group 1. Their qualification came after a day of intense cricket that also saw India and Bangladesh eliminated from the tournament. The knockout phase is set to begin with the semifinals, leading up to the final match at Lord’s on July 5.

In a pivotal match at Lord’s, Australia secured a 6-wicket victory over India, shattering India’s hopes of progressing. India, needing a win to qualify, posted a challenging total of 170/4 in their 20 overs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the batting with an unbeaten 70 runs, supported by Jemimah Rodrigues’ 47. This total marked India’s highest-ever score against Australia in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

However, Australia’s deep batting line-up proved formidable. Despite being under pressure at 68/3 at one stage, a crucial 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner turned the tide. Perry contributed 56 runs, while Gardner remained unbeaten on 53, guiding Australia to chase down the target of 171 in just 19 overs, finishing at 172/4. This chase also set a new record for the highest successful run chase in Women’s T20 World Cup history.

Semifinalists Emerge After Group Stage Drama

India’s defeat meant they finished level on 6 points with South Africa but were eliminated due to an inferior Net Run Rate (NRR). This heartbreaking exit for Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad paved the way for South Africa, who had earlier kept their hopes alive by defeating Bangladesh by 4 wickets. South Africa’s qualification was confirmed with Australia’s victory, as they secured the second spot from Group 1 thanks to their superior NRR.

From Group 2, hosts England and the West Indies secured their places in the semifinals. England demonstrated dominance, winning all 5 of their group matches to top the group with 10 points. The West Indies qualified as the second team from this group. New Zealand, the defending champions from 2024, were among the teams eliminated, with their exit marking the end of international careers for players like Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu.

Bangladesh concluded their tournament campaign with only a single victory out of their five group matches, finishing near the bottom of the table with 2 points. Their final match against South Africa, though a formality, saw them unable to avoid defeat.

Upcoming Knockout Matches

The semifinal schedule is now confirmed, with both matches set to be played at The Oval. The first semifinal will feature Australia against the West Indies on June 30. This match is scheduled for a 2:30pm BST start. The second semifinal will see England take on South Africa on July 2, with an evening start at 6:30pm BST.

South Africa’s journey to the semifinals was not straightforward, having faced initial defeats to Australia and Pakistan. However, they responded with consecutive wins against India and the Netherlands before their crucial victory against Bangladesh. Captain Laura Wolvaardt has been a key performer throughout the tournament, and Tazmin Brits enters the semifinals with confidence after scoring her maiden T20I century against the Netherlands.

The winners of these two semifinals will then proceed to the final, which will be held at Lord’s, London, on July 5, to compete for the coveted trophy.

Source: pressenza.com