AUSW vs SAW Highlights, Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Australia beat South Africa by 65 runs

Georgia Wareham takes the final two wickets as Australia complete a comprehensive 65-run victory. Chloe Tryon is caught at deep mid-wicket, and Nonkululeko Mlaba departs for a duck. South Africa are bowled out for 107 in 16.4 overs. Laura Wolvaardt’s 44 was the only significant contribution in a disappointing chase.

Alana King strikes twice in the 14th over. She first removes Kayla Reyneke for a golden duck, caught and bowled off a leading edge. Then she gets Sinalo Jafta caught at long-on for 2. South Africa have lost three quick wickets and are now 101/7 after 15 overs. Chloe Tryon and Shabnim Ismail are at the crease, but the required rate is climbing rapidly.

Marizanne Kapp announces herself with a bang. She smashes two crisp boundaries off Annabel Sutherland in the 10th over, including a pulled four and a perfectly timed punch through cover. South Africa are 72-3 at the halfway stage. Laura Wolvaardt is steady on 25, while Kapp is already 11 off just 5 balls.

Australia make a strong start with the ball in the chase. Sophie Molineux removes Sune Luus lbw in the first over, then Kim Garth bowls Annerie Dercksen in the second. South Africa are 34/2 after five overs. Nadine de Klerk is counter-attacking with two sixes, while Laura Wolvaardt is steady at the other end.

Nadine de Klerk removes Alana King lbw in the final over. Nicola Carey hits a boundary but Australia lose King and can only add 10 runs in the last over. Kim Garth makes a quick 5 off 3 at the end. Australia post 172/8 after 20 overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba finishes with excellent figures of 4-0-22-2.

Ayabonga Khaka removes Annabel Sutherland. She stands tall and smashes a full delivery straight to mid-off, where Nadine de Klerk takes a sharp reverse-cup catch. Sutherland departs for 21 after hitting a six earlier in the over. Australia are now 155/7 after 18 overs. Nicola Carey is still at the crease.

Nonkululeko Mlaba gets her second wicket. Ellyse Perry advances down the track and tries to slog, but gets an inside edge that crashes into the stumps. Perry departs for 36 after a handy knock. Australia slip to 137/6. Annabel Sutherland and Nicola Carey are now at the crease.

Georgia Wareham’s useful cameo ends on 32 off 22. She tried to drive Nadine de Klerk but hit it straight to extra cover, where Laura Wolvaardt took a sharp, low catch to her left. The 50-run stand with Perry is broken. Annabel Sutherland survives a caught-behind review on debut and is off the mark. Australia are 121-5 after 14 overs. Perry remains on 28.

Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham are steadily rebuilding. Perry has started to find her timing, flicking two boundaries in the over against Khaka as Australia collect 15 runs. Wareham also chipped in with a whip to the leg-side boundary. The pair has now taken Australia to 100-4 in the 12th over. South Africa will want to break this stand soon.

Australia are trying to rebuild after losing Litchfield and Gardner in quick succession. Georgia Wareham is showing intent, sweeping Mlaba for four, while Ellyse Perry is rotating the strike. The pair has added steadily but the spinners, Mlaba and Tryon, are keeping it tight. Australia reach 79/4 at the halfway mark. South Africa remain well in control.

Phoebe Litchfield’s superb counter-attack ends on 50 off 24 balls. She sweeps Khaka for four to bring up her fifty, then tries to loft the next ball and miscues it straight to extra cover. Ayabonga Khaka gets the breakthrough South Africa desperately needed. Then Nonkululeko Mlaba strikes second ball, removing Ashleigh Gardner for 1. Australia have lost two big wickets in quick time and are now 63/4 after 8 overs. Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham are at the crease.

Phoebe Litchfield is taking the game on. She has raced to 42 off 21 balls, smashing three fours and a six in the last two overs alone, including a clean pull over backward square leg off Ismail. After losing both openers inside four overs, Australia are finding momentum through their young batter. Ellyse Perry is still on 1 off 2. South Africa remain well placed at 52/2, but Litchfield is making sure they don’t have it all their own way.

Shabnim Ismail has her wicket and she’s pumped. Full and angled across, Beth Mooney reaches for the drive but the ball nips away to take the outside edge. Sinalo Jafta hangs on to a sharp catch. Massive blow for Australia, both openers are back inside four overs. Phoebe Litchfield is counter-attacking with 16 off 10, but South Africa are firmly on top at 24-2. Ellyse Perry walks in to face the next ball.

Australia: Beth Mooney, Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux(Captain), Kim Garth, Alana King

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt(Captain), Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Kayla Reyneke, Sinalo Jafta, Shabnim Ismail, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka

Australia have won the toss and skipper Sophie Molineux says her team will bat first against South Africa. South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt says that her team doesn't mind bowling first since they have a good record while chasing.

Australia have faced South Africa in a total of 13 matches. Australia have won 11 matches, whereas the Proteas have only won two matches.

In T20 World Cups too, Australia have been dominant with seven wins in eight matches against South Africa (One loss).

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match between Australia and South Africa in Manchester. The match will begin at 7 PM IST, with the toss at 6.30 PM.