England advances to the semi-final thanks to Wyatt-Hodge, Knight, and the bowlers.

West Indies 148 for 5 (Henry 51*, Dean 2-31, Bell 1-20) lost to England 186 for 7 (Wyatt-Hodge 64, Knight 43, Munisar 2-42) by 38 runs.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge's courageous half-century under difficult circumstances helped England defeat the West Indies by 38 runs, making them the first side to advance to the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge achieved her second score of fifty or higher in the competition

Heather Knight's 43 off 26 deliveries helped Wyatt-Hodge post a 42-ball 65 on a sweltering evening at Lord's, where temperatures reached 34 degrees Celsius right before the toss.

Spinners Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, and Linsey Smith combined for four wickets as England's bowlers tied the West Indies down. Chinelle Henry and Jahzara Claxton of the West Indies persevered in a 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket, with Henry staying undefeated at 51.

Hayley Matthews, the captain of the West Indies and a crucial player, was given out caught behind for 14 on an England review earlier, which caused controversy since one camera angle appeared to indicate a discrepancy between the vision and UltraEdge. As a result, Matthews vigorously argued her position with the umpires both on and off the pitch. Her team is still in the running for the knockout stages even though her and her team's efforts were in vain.

The West Indies attack first

When she hit the match's fifth ball, Henry roared loudly. Amy Jones coaxed a drive that caught the edge and looped to Afy Fletcher at short third because it was a fuller one outside off-stump with a hint of away swing. However, Wyatt-Hodge settled in with a pull through midwicket and a top edge that beat Fletcher, and Henry gave up 17 runs off her subsequent over.

After Sophia Dunkley's reverse sweep for four, offspinner Ashmini Munisar entered the attack and reacted with a fuller ball that was too full for Dunkley's attempt to sweep, pinning her leg before the wicket. Wyatt-Hodge and Alice Capsey, however, outwitted the field despite the early wicket losses, leading England to their best powerplay of the tournament at 57 for 2.

Wyatt-Hodge does it once more

After enduring two lacklustre innings in between, Wyatt-Hodge backed up her century on opening night with another crucial performance, propelling her to the top of the tournament run-scoring standings. She used some classic and lofted drives to hammer the offside after punishing some short bowling early on. With a back-footed flip off the pads to cover, Wyatt-Hodge reached her fifty from 32 balls.

Capsey ended a 65-run partnership with Wyatt-Hodge for the third wicket after unfurling a beautiful reverse for four off Karishma Ramharack. Two deliveries later, Capsey advanced to a length ball and threw it to Henry at long-on. Both Wyatt-Hodge and Knight scored forty more runs, but Wyatt-Hodge lacked the legs in the sapping heat to reach the other end when they ran on Knight's cut straight to the cover fielder.

England won't have any late fireworks

When Matthews bowled Freya Kemp while she was trying to sweep on Saturday night at Headingley, the formidable partnership between Dani Gibson and Kemp would not be repeated. Knight survived a few near-misses before being driven out. On the penultimate ball of the innings, Gibson also fell cheaply, but the home team had already scored a lot.

The moment of Ashes for Matthews

Matthews tried to cut off Linsey Smith in the fourth over, but she was unfazed when England overturned a not-out judgement for caught behind. UltraEdge suggested a spike, although one angle on the replay revealed a gap between bat and ball, despite Matthews' insistence that she hadn't made contact with the ball. The West Indies captain spent a considerable amount of time arguing with the on-field umpires after TV umpire Nimali Perera declared Matthews out.

In the West Indies dugout, Matthews watched additional replays and spoke with the fourth umpire on the sidelines about his persistent disapproval of the call. When TV umpire Chris Gaffaney upheld Australia's Alex Carey's not-out call despite a distinct spike appearing several frames before the ball had passed the bat, it was similar to the Ashes Snicko controversy of the previous year. However, in this case, Matthews was out for 14 according to the scorecard.

The West Indies separated

Deandra Dottin helped herself to 15 runs off Dean's first four balls in the final over of the powerplay, including back-to-back fours and a powerful six over long-on. However, as Dottin attempted to clear long-on once more, Dean responded by tossing one up on middle and leg on the final ball. She spotted Capsey just inside the barrier after failing to fully connect.

After six overs, West Indies were 46 for 2, and England maintained control thanks to some economical bowling by Ecclestone and Dean's second wicket in as many balls when she had Jannillea Glasgow chopping on with the first ball of her next over.

When these teams last faced off at a T20 World Cup in 2024, England lost the game and the opportunity to advance to the knockout stage due to a string of fielding mistakes. Despite being a much better team, Claxton and Henry dug in, and the hosts wasted two opportunities in three balls.

Australia easily defeats Pakistan under Ellyse Perry's leadership

Australia defeated Pakistan 86 (Molineux 2-6, Perry 2-9, Sutherland 2-12) by 113 runs at 199 for 7 (Perry 71).

With a huge 113-run triumph over Pakistan, Ellyse Perry put on one of her best performances of a lengthy T20 World Cup career to help Australia win four straight games.

Ellyse Perry got off to a fast start in the power play

Perry scored 71 off 48 balls to lead her team to 199 for 7 on a batting-friendly pitch on a brilliant summer evening at Headingley. She and Georgia Voll shared a century partnership for the second wicket after Pakistan had made an early breakthrough by dismissing Beth Mooney's first delivery.

As Pakistan lost a steady stream of wickets, including two to Perry in her first over to finish with 2 for 9, Mooney bravely continued to keep wicket despite having twice dislocated her finger during Australia's fielding innings.

Pakistan were bowled out for just 86 with 6.2 overs remaining after Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland each claimed two wickets, Mooney and Sutherland combined for the final wicket, and Sadia Iqbal was caught behind for a first-ball duck.

Perry continues to improve

Perry, who participated in all ten T20 World Cups, was at the top of her game, recording her first half-century in any of her fifty-one outings. As she skilfully targeted the holes, punished anything short, and used deft footwork to control the crease, she emanated sophistication. Her six over a leaping long on off Rameen Shamim was the ideal balance of strength, grace, and timing.

Before this innings, Perry's highest score in a T20 World Cup was 42 in a losing match against New Zealand in Nagpur in 2016. However, her 71 was not as high as her career highs of 75 and 72 not out, both of which she struck during Australia's 2022 tour of India. Since October 2023, it has been her first fifty in the format.

When Perry entered the attack in the tenth over, Pakistan was four wickets behind. Muneeba Ali hit a short ball straight to midwicket with the first ball, and she caught Aliya Riaz behind with the final one.

A boost to Pakistan's pace

On the opening ball of the game, Gull Feroza removed Mooney with a spectacular one-handed catch, diving to her right at slip to give Pakistan an advantage. Mooney had recovered from the back pain that caused her to retire hurt on 74 not out against the Netherlands on Saturday. However, her time at the crease was short this time, as she angled in and prodded at a Sadia Iqbal delivery outside off. Feroza plucked the ball from the air and held it firmly as she landed.

Voll and Perry seize control

But after that, Perry and Voll made their opponents' suffering even worse. Diana Baig, a seasoned seamer playing in her maiden tournament encounter, went for 19 off her first over, including three boundaries as Perry found her rhythm and five wides as wicketkeeper Muneeba failed to collect one down the leg side. Fatima Sana conceded 17 runs in the second over. Australia's score at the end of the power play was 64 for 1, which was their best for this tournament during that part of the innings.

Pakistan is lifted by Sandhu

As Pakistan continued their perfect start in the field, Nashra Sandhu's two wickets in three balls in the tenth over gave her team cause for jubilation. Ash Gardner was hit by a second-ball duck chipping to cow corner, while Voll attempted to get down the ground but holed out to long-off. Georgia Wareham and Sutherland were both dismissed by Shamim, the latter following a 44-run partnership with Perry, as Pakistan persisted in holding their catches. The crucial catch occurred as Pakistan reviewed after Perry gloved a Sana bouncer from behind. Muneeba slid forward and got her gloves under the ball as it died on her.

Beth is bulletproof.

The Australian team called Mooney's departure in the last game "precautionary", but on Tuesday night in Leeds, she showed remarkable bravery by keeping wicket despite having a dislocated finger replaced twice.

When Mooney first attempted to stop a wide delivery from Kim Garth to Muneeba, she was smacked in the fingertips of her right hand. Mooney was obviously in pain as team medical personnel adjusted her finger. She then put on the gloves once more, much to her relief. When she was hit again while trying in vain to get an edge from Muneeba, she had to have the same finger wrapped up. However, she persisted once more and was thereafter engaged in five dismissals.

Pakistan's run-outs rack up

Muneeba was engaged in two run outs before she hammered the next ball for six over deep midwicket. In the first, Voll shot the ball back to Garth, who flicked off the bails, and Muneeba reluctantly sent back opening partner Feroza after Mooney mishandled an attempt to gather down the leg side. Similar circumstances occurred when Molineux tossed the ball back to Mooney when Ayesha Zafar was out of her ground after she pushed a Lucy Hamilton delivery towards cover and started for a run, only to be sent back by Muneeba.

In the powerplay, Pakistan was able to reach 50 for 3, but the wickets kept falling, especially after Shamim hit Molineux to mid-on and was more than halfway down the pitch before captain Sana sent her back. Voll's throw to Mooney beat her by a considerable distance.

SL's chances for the semifinals are revived by Athapaththu Tonne

Sri Lanka defeated Ireland 130 for 5 (Lewis 59, Ayodhya 1-18) by nine wickets at 134 for 1 (Athapaththu 106*, Prendergast 1-22).

Sri Lanka scorched to the mark of 131 with 27 balls and nine wickets remaining against Ireland, with captain Chamari Athapaththu's ruthless 106 off 61 balls. It was brutal from beginning to end, and Athapaththu's fourth T20I century was her first in a World Cup. She had concluded the innings with an equally dominant stroke through the same area after starting it with a brilliant boundary through cover.

Sri Lanka got off to a fast start thanks to Chamari Athapaththu

Thanks in large part to a 59 off 50 from their own captain, Gaby Lewis, Ireland had recovered from a bad start to register 130 for 5. But in this mindset, Athapaththu was too strong for their bowlers, and only Orla Prendergast could make a breakthrough by getting rid of opener Imesha Dulani.

To maintain even their slim chances of qualifying for the semi-finals, Sri Lanka has to drastically increase their net run rate. With Scotland yet to play and other games still in the group, Athapaththu's innings has increased their NRR to less than negative.

Athapaththu lets loose

Athapaththu had referred to herself as a failure after the depressing defeat to the West Indies since she had never guided Sri Lanka to a World Cup semifinal. (However, she is the only captain to guide Sri Lanka to victory in the Asia Cup.) She appeared determined to at least keep Sri Lanka in the tournament during this innings. In the powerplay, she hit eight more boundaries, particularly the legside boundary, after drilling her first ball through cover.

When the pitch returned, she hardly slowed down. She continued to hammer Ireland's bowlers, reaching 50 off the 29th ball she faced. In the ninth over, she hit her career's 100th slog-swept six off Cara Murray. Her favoured hitting zones were the square leg, cover, and straight sections. Despite Prendergast's intermittent attempts to slow her down, she lionised Strike throughout, reaching triple figures off the 58th delivery she faced. She had scored 79% of Sri Lanka's runs by the end of their innings.

Gaby Lewis brings Ireland back to life

Ireland didn't score a run off the bat until the fourteenth ball of the innings. They had already lost two wickets by that point. Lewis found her timing when Rebecca Stokell was dismissed in the fifth over, despite Stokell's attempts to startle Ireland with boundaries down the ground. Throughout her innings, she continued to have success with the pull shot after hitting her first boundary, a pulled four, off the final ball of the powerplay. On the off side, she was equally powerful in the square of the wicket.

Leah Paul, who smashed 20 off 41, joined her in a 66-run fourth-wicket partnership. After Paul was dismissed, Lewis reached a half-century, although by British standards, he was clearly exhausted from the effort in hot weather. Alice Tector helped Ireland give the innings a last push with 28 off 21, but she faded late in the innings.

Once more, Kaushini excels behind the stumps

Kaushini Nuthyangana, the wicketkeeper-batter from Sri Lanka, has been having a fantastic campaign thus far and has quickly established herself in this game. Nuthyangana caught Amy Hunter centimetres short by swooping on the ball, turning, and throwing down the stumps as Ireland's openers took off for a leg bye in the first over. She also anticipated a scoop from Leah Paul, which she intercepted to take another wicket out of the air following a simple stumping to remove Prendergast.

Sharp and Halliday keep New Zealand's chances of making the semi-final alive by blunting Scotland

Scotland 131 for 7 (Carter 72*, S Bryce 25, M Kerr 3-17, Devine 2-19) was defeated by New Zealand 132 for 4 (Sharp 62, Halliday 41*, K Bryce 2-13, Slater 2-22) by six wickets.

At the Women's T20 World Cup 2026, New Zealand defeated Scotland after surviving a scare in the field and at the crease. They held Scotland to a manageable 131 for 7 after putting them in to bat and giving up 51 runs in the first seven overs. Considering the net run-rate, they would have preferred to finish off the total as soon as possible.

Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday contributed 101 for the fourth wicket

Scotland, however, had different thoughts. They may sniff their second victory of the season after taking three New Zealand wickets during the powerplay. However, the experience of New Zealand was evident. New Zealand completed the goal in the 19th over with Izzy Sharp's career-high 62 and Brooke Halliday's fourth-wicket stand of 101. Scotland was thus eliminated from consideration for the semifinals.

They will continue to compete for a semi-final position as a result of their net run rate moving into positive territory. However, New Zealand must defeat England this weekend and hope for other favourable outcomes.

In addition to their victory, New Zealand celebrated Lea Tahuhu's 100th T20I wicket on her tournament debut. Scotland might celebrate its own achievement. Despite having played one more innings, Darcey Carter has surpassed Smriti Mandhana as the tournament's top run scorer with her second half-century.

Two additional catches are dropped by NZ

New Zealand's campaign got off to a rough start, but they've shown that it's pointless to dwell on the past. However, the quantity of missed opportunities will cause considerable annoyance. After putting Scotland into bat and creating an early opportunity, they put one down after dropping 10 catches in their first three games. One of the tournament's most impressive seamers, Bree Illing, got an inside edge off Katherine Fraser, who had not yet scored. However, New Zealand wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze missed a straightforward opportunity.

Fraser was eventually caught at extra cover for seven after failing to establish consistency throughout her innings. As a result, the harm was little on an individual basis but expensive for the partnership. Carter contributed 41 of the 51 runs that Scotland's opening partnership scored in seven overs.

Following Fraser's dismissal, Scotland was pulled back by New Zealand. In nine overs, they were 58 for 2 as Kathryn Bryce was caught at deep-backward square leg off a googly from Melie Kerr. However, the fielding virus quickly reappeared. Nensi Patel was unable to cling onto a normal opportunity, but Carter, who had been denied a strike through the middle overs, cut Melie to backward point when on 47.

Devine pulls it back, Spinners

Carter slowed down from 35 off 18 balls to 54 in 39 as New Zealand starved her of the strike. However, with Sarah Bryce leading the way with 25 off 21 deliveries, New Zealand called for Sophie Devine's intervention in the 15th over. She responded to the call right away and played all around a straight ball, pinning Sarah on the pad with her first ball.

After four balls, Devine was sent directly to Melie at long-on by Ailsa Lister, giving her a second wicket and giving New Zealand a chance to rejoin the match. Nensi bowled Megan McColl in the following over, and then Devine and the offspinner applied the squeeze.

Before Melie came on to bowl the penultimate over, Scotland had only managed to score 25 runs in the four overs they bowled in tandem. Priyanaz Chatterji made four unsuccessful attempts to sweep her before being out lbw on the fourth try. Then, Pippa Sproul chipped Melie to Jess Kerr at mid-off, leaving Scotland at 121 for 7. This was a Kerr double act. Melie and Nensi captured four wickets while bowling eight overs for forty-two runs. Scotland finished undefeated at 72 as Carter helped them score ten runs off the final over.

Scotland dominates New Zealand's top tier

Only three runs were scored in the first over bowled by Kirstie Gordon, frustrating New Zealand early on as they focused on improving their net run rate and getting rid of the total as soon as they could. However, Scotland, who were only defending 131, got off to a great start when they eliminated Devine, Gaze, and Melie, who had elevated herself to open the batting, during the powerplay.

In her opening two overs, Kathyn Bryce scored twice: once when Melie chipped her to mid-on and again when Gaze attempted to clear mid-on but was only able to locate the fielder. Then, Rachel Slater delivered a stunning ball that sneaked through the space between bat and pad and tucked back into Devine. A huge upset was imminent as New Zealand were 26 for 3 in the sixth over.

NZ stay Sharp to take two points

Sharp, the leading scorer for New Zealand versus Ireland, demonstrated her willingness to keep New Zealand in the game by hitting two boundaries straight down after the early carnage. She appeared increasingly at ease on a surface that most batters required time to get used to, sending Gordon over midwicket and Carter off her pads over short fine leg.

Halliday, a left-hand hitter, was Sharp's companion, and the two worked well together, just as they did against Ireland. Following the second drinks break of the innings, they gained momentum when Halliday struck Hannah Rainey for consecutive boundaries in the fifteenth over. When Sharp hit Gordon's leg side for her seventh four off the 38th ball, she reached fifty. New Zealand needed 13 off 18 balls before the end of that over, and for the first time, the demand was less than a run per ball.

South Africa overcomes India after falling behind because to Kapp's 81*

Marizanne Kapp led South Africa to a six-wicket victory over India in what was described as the greatest group stage match, marking a significant stride towards the semi-final. In her debut match in the tournament, she teamed up with Tazmin Brits to lead South Africa to a six-wicket victory after helping them recover from 25 for 2 inside the powerplay to chase down 159 runs.

Although Kapp and the Brits scored 97 for the third wicket, there were some opportunities during their time together. Kapp finished on an undefeated 81 off 45 balls to carry South Africa home after offering two difficult chances on 9 and 25 and one easy one on 65. By getting 44 runs off of Deepti Sharma's four overs, they also eliminated India's main ball danger.

India may view their batting effort as the reason they lost the game on a brand-new Old Trafford pitch after deciding to score runs. None of their lineup could get going after a brilliant start, and Shafali Verma's 31 was their highest score. In addition to being South Africa's most economical bowler with 2 for 27 in four overs, Kapp was essential to the squeeze.

With South Africa and India both having four points, the outcome keeps the group alive. While South Africa's remaining matches are against Bangladesh and the Netherlands, India must defeat both Bangladesh and Australia.

With the bat, India is off to a wild start

As Kapp drifted onto the pads, Shafali, in typical daring fashion, started India's boundary count with a clip through short fine-leg. However, Shafali truly benefited when Shabnim Ismail gave her more speed. Before passing the ball to Smriti Mandhana, who smashed Ismail through the covers and then swivel-pulled her through fine leg to take 14 runs off her first over, she located the gap at cover point.

Mandhana's inventiveness persisted as she tried to ramp Kapp but was unsuccessful after walking down the track to hit her through mid-on. For whatever reason, Shafali went all over Chloe Tryon after she was given the fourth over. South Africa appeared to be at a loss as she utilised her feet effectively and scored 14 runs off the first three balls. After four overs, India was 47 for 1.

South Africa pulls India back with an unexpected wicket

South Africa had a lucky break just when it appeared that Shafali had escaped them. Ismail bowled the fourth ball in her second over instead of the bouncer. Shafali thought about pursuing it, but as he attempted to escape the shot, he stumbled. Replays from South Africa revealed that Shafali had gloved the ball through to Sinalo Jafta as she regained her footing. In the eleventh over, India was reduced to 82 for 4 as Yastika Bhatia, who was selected ahead of Bharti Fulmali, was out lbw to Ayabonga Khaka's second delivery, and Jemimah Rodrigues was caught off a leading edge by Nadine de Klerk.

India ultimately stifled

Now it was up to the skilled hands of Deepti and Harmanpreet Kaur, and the captain of India began the match with a boundary against Tryon. Before Harmanpreet needed medical attention on the pitch, they battled Mlaba together for a 12-run over. After only two balls, she chopped onto Ismail's wobble-seam delivery for twenty-four. Deepti was obliged to play a tumbling sweep for a catch to short fine leg with a packed leg-side pitch after South Africa's lines choked Richa Ghosh. India only scored 36 runs off the bat in the final four overs after Ghosh also gave a catch to short fine leg off Kapp's slower one in the final over.

With the ball, India is likewise off to a wild start

With their captain, Laura Wolvaardt, still having trouble speaking fluently, South Africa had an entirely different start to their innings as they failed to get India away. When she attempted to take on N. Shree Charani, she was on 20 off 19 balls. The left-arm spinner made a sharp return catch after she smacked the ball straight back to him. Annerie Dercksen almost immediately went for a big shot, played across the line, and was bowled, which improved Charani's over. South Africa was far below the necessary run rate at 25 for 2 as the powerplay finished with a wicket maiden.

Brits and Kapp turn it on

Despite having the experience of Kapp and the tenacity of a returning British team, South Africa was far off the pace at 45 for 2 after nine overs. In Prema Rawat's opening over, Kapp scored ten runs off the first two balls, including the ramp that she would grow to love throughout the game. Before she confronted Deepti and hit her over long-on for six, the Brits waited a while. After being dismissed lbw on 28, the Brits properly reviewed, and their stand reached 50 in the 12th over. Even when they were unable to establish limits, neither Kapp nor the Brits let the opportunities they presented to India impede them.

They took 16 runs off Arundhati Reddy in the fifteenth over, which was their big moment. After the British hit her back over her head for four, Kapp swept her for consecutive boundaries and scooped her over well, ending South Africa's chase.

For the West Indies, Matthews and Taylor make it three in three

The West Indies defeated Sri Lanka 98 (Nilakshika 30, Matthews 3-15) by five wickets at 99 for 5 (Taylor 35*, Dilhari 2-22).

In Bristol, West Indian spinners stifled Sri Lanka's batsmen to secure a third consecutive victory. Stafanie Taylor then led a tense chase to win by five wickets. As a result, the West Indies and England are tied for first place in Group 2, only separated by net run rate, while Sri Lanka's chances of advancing were severely damaged.

With the new ball, Hayley Matthews claimed three wickets

West Indies' effort was greatly aided by Hayley Matthews, who may have set up the victory on the first power play. The West Indies reduced Sri Lanka to 24 for 4 during the power play after forcing them to bat, a position from which they never fully recovered. Mathews recorded an innings-best 3 for 15.

Then, with the bat, Matthews contributed to a 28-run opening partnership with Deandra Dottin. Although Sri Lanka continued to take wickets during the middle overs, a combination of subpar catching, an abundance of extras, and Taylor's management made sure the West Indies' chase was never really threatened.

SL suffers from profligacy

When defending a poor total, even on a field where batting isn't the simplest, it's important to seize all possibilities, and Sri Lanka did just that after being bowled out for 98.

However, Sri Lanka gave up too many free runs while also finding it difficult to take advantage of the possibilities presented to them. Thirteen of the twenty-three extras that were given away over the innings were wides.

In addition, Sri Lanka lost three catches during the innings, two of which occurred soon after a wicket fell. In a low-scoring match, momentum is crucial, and Sri Lanka was guilty of losing it too quickly. Additionally, there were a few near-runout opportunities that failed miserably.

As a result, the West Indies, who had been anxious during their chase, were not penalised for their errors, which were caused by pressure from Sri Lankan bowlers and fielders in addition to their expensive mistakes.

Cool Taylor completes it

Most teams would benefit from having someone with Taylor's experience in the middle order, and she once again proved her worth on Sunday. The West Indies have fallen from 2 for 36 to 5 for 70 following a strong opening partnership. The remaining 29 runs might have felt closer to 50 with a few more wickets.

But Taylor provided exactly the composure needed in such a circumstance, satisfied to skilfully spin the strike and make sure there were no more mishaps. Although it was only six of the game, her six from a free hit demonstrated her ability to take advantage of the circumstances. She scored the winning runs, fittingly, and was crucially dropped at midwicket.

WI wins the game

Since the conclusion of the last T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka has averaged just over 6 runs per over against spin, and with a team full of spin options, the West Indies were well-positioned to take advantage of that possible vulnerability.

Matthews, the captain, was first on that list. He opened the bowling and scored three runs in a three-over performance during the power play. She effectively didn't try to do too much on a tacky surface, just keeping her lines and lengths neat.

Vishmi Gunaratne gave away a leading edge, which Matthews memorably grabbed out of the sky, during a spell that devastated the Lankan innings before it had even really started. Chamari Athapaththu went far too early on a pull as she saw her left bail dislodged. Harshitha Samarawickrama, on the other hand, battled to keep down a straight-to-point cut because she was done in by some extra bounce.

With just 24 runs scored, Sri Lanka have lost their fourth wicket during the powerplay when Chinelle Henry caught Imesha Dulani at mid-on.

Sri Lanka lost seven of their ten wickets to spin before being bowled out for 98 with two balls remaining. Ashmini Munisar, who was called into the XI to provide even more spin options, and Karishma Ramharack each claimed three wickets.

Nilakshika is the only spark.

Nilakshika de Silva set out to save the ages because the top and middle orders were not providing much in the way of encouragement.

Her two stands of 34 and 23 with Kavisha Dilhari and Kawya Kavindi accounted for most of her 30 off 26. As Sri Lanka's innings stumbled into motion, there were only three double-digit partnerships during that time.

However, the batting came to a complete stop once more after Nilakshika stumbled while attempting to confront the fielder at deep square leg. Without Nilakshika, Sri Lanka's middle overs yielded 60 for 3, but the West Indies' spinners tightened their grip on the match with just 15 runs in the final overs.

England wins three straight thanks to Dunkley, Kemp, and Gibson

England defeated Scotland 162 for 7 (S. Bryce 34, Ecclestone 2-23) by 38 runs at 200 for 5 (Dunkley 57, Capsey 40, Kemp 39*, Gibson 30*, Gordon 2-30).

Sophia Dunkley's timely half-century and Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson's boundary blitz helped England defeat Scotland by 38 runs, maintaining their undefeated start to the Women's T20 World Cup.

Due to captain Nat Sciver-Brunt's calf injury, Dunkley was called up at No. 3 for her maiden tournament match, but she made good on her return to the England team with 57 off 37 balls. On a beautiful summer's evening at Headingley, that provided Kemp and Gibson with a great starting point for their uninterrupted sixth-wicket partnership of 61 off just 21 balls as the hosts reached 200 for 5.

In place of the injured Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley scored 57 off 37

Former England left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon, who returned to Scotland before this World Cup, got off to a strong start with a wicket on the first ball on her way to 2 for 30. But her side was far less secure in the field than they had been in their spirited seven-run defeat to the West Indies earlier in the week, with a flurry of blunders costing them.

With a formidable task ahead of them, Scotland got off to a strong start, matching England in the powerplay, but Sophie Ecclestone's two wickets in nine balls put her team on the right track.

Gordon gives me headaches in the morning

Scotland made early progress against the opposition, much as they had done against the West Indies. Amy Jones's half-hearted drive looped up to extra cover after Gordon flung the match's opening ball outside of her off stump. A diving Megan McColl joyfully caught the offering low to the ground as it dipped right in front of her.

When Dunkley swept Kathryn Bryce to short fine leg on 4 in the third over, and Priyanaz Chatterji used her left hand to make what would have been a fantastic diving catch, they very nearly had another. However, as she went to ground, she spilt the ball, and Dunkley then hit the second ball over wide long-on for six.

It wasn't until after the power play that Gordon was reintroduced into the assault, and she hit first ball once more. When her great buddy Dunkley established her rhythm, Danni Wyatt-Hodge was limited to a supporting role. She was on 7 off 11 balls when she chipped to Kathryn Bryce at mid-on after reaching for a short ball outside off.

Dunkley takes action

After a poor summer in which she scored just 98 runs in six Twenty20 International innings against New Zealand and India with a maximum score of 26, Dunkley was ignored for the tournament's opening two games. However, she hit three fours in four balls from Gabriella Fontenla and another from Kathryn Bryce in the following over, suggesting that her early reprieve had sparked something.

By the end of the power play, England was 51 for 1, and Dunkley was undefeated on 47 off 25 balls. As a wave of fielding mistakes swept through the Scotland camp, she kept riding her luck. She chopped a wide one from Chatterji through point to get her half-century off 33 balls. Dunkley finished her knock by taking out Hannah Rainey on the boundary at deep backward square while shuffling over her stumps to slog-sweep Kathryn Bryce.

England locates their finishers

Rainey, who replaced injured left-arm seamer Rachel Slater in the Scotland XI, delivered a gem on top of off stump to Alice Capsey, who had contributed a 40 from 25 balls. A new combination met at the crease and lit up the night when Heather Knight selected a short, beautiful leg off Chatterji.

After both players battled back stress injuries last year, England had been waiting for the Kemp-Gibson union. The pair began peppering the boundaries when England was 139 for 5 in the middle of the 17th over, leading their team to the 200-mark for the fourth time in this version of the T20 Women's World Cup and only the fifth time by any team overall.

As Kemp bookended a four off a full toss with sixes down the ground and slog-swept into the bleachers, Kathryn Bryce gave up 20 off the 18th over. Then Gibson entered the next over, which was bowled by Gordon. He instantly hit a stunning 86-meter maximum straight down the ground and into the second tier of seats after hitting back-to-back fours. With her sixth boundary in 11 balls, Gibson ended the innings and set the score for Scotland's response.

Too much work

When Ecclestone pinned back Kathryn Bryce's middle stump while she was trying to sweep, she achieved her 150th wicket in Twenty20 Internationals. Ecclestone took the pace off one that spun sharply to beat the bat and crash into the leg stump, but Darcey Carter, who had made a half-century while battling cramp against the West Indies, was looking good again.

Once more, Gibson and Kemp worked together to eliminate McColl, who was picked out just inside the deep square leg barrier. Then, with a beautiful back-cut over point for six against Lauren Bell, Sarah Bryce produced a promising 34 off 24. However, it turned out to be Scotland's highest score when she holed out to Gibson at deep midwicket off Smith. On the final ball of the game, Pippa Sproul, who had replaced Ailsa Lister in the lineup, was run out.

Pakistan is eliminated from the 2026 T20 World Cup by Shorna and spinners

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 100 for 8 (Muneeba 25, Nahida 3-18, and Meghla 3-21) by 23 runs at 123 for 6 (Shorna 39*, Sultana 36, and Fatima 2-18).

During their Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match in Southampton, Bangladesh stunned Pakistan with a stunning comeback victory. With two group-stage games left, Pakistan was eliminated from the competition after suffering its third consecutive loss.

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan

Pakistan needed just 124 to win, but Bangladesh's spinners turned the game into a fight. What appeared to be an inevitable loss was transformed into a stunning 23-run victory by their middle-overs domination.

Pakistan lost 8 for 35 in the next ten overs after being 49 for 0 two balls into the eighth over. During that phase, Nahida Akter and Sanjida Akter Meghla, whose addition was the only alteration in Bangladesh's lineup from their loss to Australia, both claimed three wickets.

With consistent contributions from captain Nigar Sultana (36 off 38 balls) and Sobhana Mostary (22 off 19), as well as a brilliant 22-ball 39 not out from Shorna Akter, Bangladesh made a similar comeback with the bat earlier in the game. Bangladesh was faltering at 13 for 3 in the fifth over following a fantastic opening burst from Pakistan captain Fatima Sana and Tasmia Rubab.

Even though South Africa still has a game in hand, Bangladesh's final score of 123 enabled them to move up to No. 3 in Group 1. The Netherlands, the newcomers to the T20 World Cup, were the only team below Pakistan, who remained at number five.

Fatima delivers early blows

Sultana wanted Bangladesh's top order to take advantage of Southampton's batting-friendly conditions, but Sana, her adversary, made sure that didn't happen with a double-strike in her opening over. Dilara Akter top-edged one to mid-on while attempting a wild hack across the line, but Sana caught him off the second ball of the second over.

Sana produced a gem after three balls. From a considerable distance, she managed to get the ball to jag back into Sharmin Akter's, beat her inside edge, and thump it against the pads directly in front of the stumps. After her first ten balls, Bangladesh was unable to score. Bangladesh's innings was severely damaged by her opening burst (3-1-9-2), as they only achieved 23 for 3 in the first six overs.

Finally, Pakistan takes the catches

Although Pakistan got an early opening thanks to the first Bangladesh wicket, they must have also been relieved that a chance was safely kept onto rather than being shelled, as has been the case with them for the majority of this tournament. After dismissing Dilara with a catch, Nashra Sandhu was back in action when she caught Juairiya Ferdous off Rubab, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 13 for 3.

But shortly after the drinks break, Aliya Riaz—who has been under fire for her poor fielding—took Ritu Moni's catch at long-on, which must have given Pakistan's fielding coach the most relief. Pakistan appeared to be a lot better fielding team overall from their losses to South Africa and India, despite some ground fielding lapses as a few regulation stops burst through the hands of the fielders.

The final bombardment of Shorna

Two balls into the eighteenth over, Bangladesh were 92 for 6 after Sultana was dismissed by Sadia Iqbal for a weak shot. However, Shorna's spectacular late strokes ensured that the Bangladeshi bowlers had a competitive total to deal with. Bangladesh scored 43 runs off the final four overs, with Shorna leading the innings with five boundaries. She frequently retreated to hit the ball over the fielders or scythe it through the gaps when the offside was packed.

Pakistan wastes its advantage

At 49 for 0 in the eighth over, Pakistan was playing well when Gull Feroza chopped Nahida's half-tracker into the point's hands. Muneeba smacked another big hop to deep square leg in Nahida's eleventh over of the chase. By dismissing Marufa Akter, who had taken two first-over wickets against Pakistan in the 2025 ODI World Cup match in Colombo, the two had deftly prepared the groundwork.

However, none of Pakistan's batters accepted responsibility once the openers were removed. From over eight to sixteen, they lost six wickets. With the wickets of Ayesha Zafar and Aliya Riaz in the twelfth over, Meghla swept through Pakistan's middle order. In her subsequent order, she dismissed Saira Jabeen for nothing.

Pakistan seems to have relied entirely on their captain to produce yet another valiant effort. Bangladesh erupted in celebration when Sana holed out to long-on at the beginning of the eighteenth over.

Australia's record score against the Netherlands is hampered by the Mooney back injury

Australia 219 for 9 (Mooney 74 retired hurt, Gardner 58, Zwillling 3-52) beat Netherlands 121 for 3 (de Leede 56*, Kalis 44, Garth 2-20) by 98 runs

Australia easily defeated the Netherlands at Southampton, flexing their muscles to record the joint-highest total in women's T20 World Cup history. However, the victory was marred by another injury issue, as Beth Mooney experienced back discomfort throughout her game-winning innings.

After making 74 from 42 in Australia's 219 for 6, which matched England's tournament record set in this edition's opening game and paved the way for a 98-run victory, Mooney withdrew injured. Georgia Wareham crushed 41 from 18, while Ashleigh Gardner scored 58 from 32 after recovering from injury. As the sole specialist keeper chosen for Australia's 15-player squad, Mooney's injury is thought to be minor, and her decision to retire was precautionary. However, it meant she was unable to keep wicket. For the first time in her professional T20 career, Georgia Voll had to keep because Phoebe Litchfield, Australia's theoretical reserve, was also out due to injury.

Ash Gardner and Beth Mooney both scored fifty against the Netherlands

As Kim Garth took two early wickets to disrupt the Netherlands' pursuit, Voll made a good catch. Sterre Kalis and skipper Babette de Leede gave it their all in their 100th Twenty20 International. Kalis struck the Netherlands' opening six of the competition, but they were never able to match the pace. In a 96-run partnership with Kalis, De Leede scored an undefeated 56 from 57, which is the fourth-highest total against Australia in tournament history. Australia bowled neatly, but they missed two challenging opportunities and only claimed three wickets.

With two games remaining in group one against Pakistan and India, the victory moves Australia one step closer to a semi-final spot.

Mooney and Gardner feast

Mooney and Voll barely took a chance to reach 50 in 4.3 overs, demonstrating the class difference from the first few overs. Without feeling compelled to go overhead, Mooney farmed the strike and did little more than pick off loose balls. In an attempt to clear long-on, Voll adopted a different strategy and paid a price by skewing Iris Zwilling to backward point. Ellyse Perry, playing a record 50th T20 World Cup match, perished just three balls later, bizarrely hitting a long hop from Heather Siegers straight down the neck of the single fielder monitoring the line on the leg side at deep midwicket.

In the opening half of her innings, Gardner made no such errors, skilfully scooping fine when the field was shifted and lofting magnificently over mid-off multiple times. However, she did have one reprieve when Phebe Molkenboer spilt her first of two sitters in the innings after she spooned Frederique Overdijk to backward point. The second would be hit by Annabel Sutherland on the penultimate over. Gardner's error proved expensive, as she quickly hit 50 off 28 balls after Mooney had got hers in 30, seemingly destabilising records.

Wareham's overall value is once again evident as Mooney's back stiffens

Mooney's back constricted as she ran on the final ball of the 14th over, with just 26 needed for a century, and she immediately left the pitch for evaluation. Two balls later, Gardner picked out deep midwicket in the same fashion Perry had done previously to stop Australia's momentum. However, Wareham took control and put it back in fifth gear right away, hitting eight boundaries in eighteen balls. She was fortunate enough to find the deep third rope with two outside edges from Isabel van der Woning.

However, she demonstrated similar prowess going inside over cover and stepping across her stumps to pull leg side once she got her stride. At the end of the innings, Nicola Carey, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, and Alana King only found the rope twice in a total of 15 balls, making their innings stand out. Zwilling finished with three for the innings after picking up Wareham and Molineux.

Garth gleams in the darkness

Garth's new ball masterclass against Bangladesh continued exactly where she left off. In the second over, Molkenboer's outside edge was discovered by a textbook outswinger. Heather Siegers was stuck in front of a long inducer. After being fortunate enough to survive an umpire's decision in her favour against Molineux in the previous over, the opening took a review. After six overs, the Netherlands were 28 for 2 after Garth took 2 for 18 in three powerplay overs, making any chance of a miraculous victory seem improbable.

De Leede and Kalis engage in combat

Kalis made a spectacular strike off King as the needed rate approached 15. Kalis sent her 80 metres over mid-off when the legspinner flung her second ball up, suggesting that the Netherlands would be able to compete with the best in the world with more exposure. Australia's economic attack caused Kalis and de Leede to battle with fluency. However, they managed to persevere.

Kalis was dropped twice: once by King off Sutherland, who made a challenging dive full stretch to her left at mid-on, and again by Sutherland, who dived to her right off Lucy Hamilton at the same location. The 19-year-old deserved more appreciation for having bowled brilliantly in her first T20 World Cup game after replacing Megan Schutt in the XI. To thunderous cheers from the Dutch supporters, De Leede reached 50 off 47 balls. While attempting to clear the rope for her personal half-century, Kalis stumbled in the last over.

Melie's brilliance helps NZ win a thriller, but Lewis and Prendergast's fifties are in vain

Ireland 136 for 4 (Prendergast 59, Lewis 58, Melie 2-23) lost against New Zealand 140 for 6 (Sharp 36, Halliday 34, Prendergast 2-26, Murray 2-26) by four runs.

On a beautiful, bright day in Southampton, New Zealand had yet another bad day in the field and came dangerously close to being humiliated by Ireland. However, the reigning champions maintained their composure and preserved their prospects of making the semi-finals with their first victory of the competition. New Zealand was reduced to 10 for 3 and 110 for 5 before the middle order pushed them to 140, so it was by no means a convincing day.

For the majority of the 20 overs in the chase, Ireland also made New Zealand sweat until Melie Kerr's magic arm broke the century stand between Orla Prendergast and Gaby Lewis, bringing the total to 25 required from 12.

The game was completely changed by Melie Kerr's double-wicket over

After Lewis was out in the penultimate over, Ireland required eighteen runs from eight balls, and the two replacement batsmen had a much harder time hitting the big shots. It was reduced to 15 in the last over by Louise Little and Leah Paul. Suzie Bates, playing in her debut World Cup match, took Sophie Devine's place after she became ill shortly before the match. Paul and Little failed to reach a boundary because of Bates' slow pace, and they lost by four runs when they needed six off the final ball.

New Zealand, who are now fourth in Group 2, will be the most aware of the fact that they will need to do much better in order to advance to the knockout stages. They will play their final league match against England following their next match against Scotland.

Prendergast was in charge of Ireland, and only three days after they scared England as well, she first hurt New Zealand with her new-ball explosion before her 45-ball half-century brought Ireland painfully near. Melie, New Zealand's all-rounder, emerged as the team's hero as well, pulling them out of a hole and ultimately taking two vital wickets.

The Prendergast explosion

Prendergast, who kept aiming for the top of the middle stump and was rewarded twice, was largely responsible for New Zealand's early difficulties. When Isabella Gaze failed to scoop the first ball of the second over for just one, she fell first. The score was 6 for 2 because she fell the very next delivery after Georgia Plimmer had handed off a catch straight to mid-off.

New Zealand had fallen to 10 for 3 when Maddy Green, who had consumed five dots, charged against Prendergast at the beginning of the third over. However, after two overs that yielded figures of 2 for 6 with eight dot balls, Prendergast was dismissed. Melie and Brooke Halliday came to their aid as the skipper frequently went out against the spinners to rotate the strike and find boundaries. In the final over of the power play, Melie scooped and cut Arlene Kelly for back-to-back boundaries to increase the scoring pace.

Bates, Halliday, and Sharp elevate New Zealand

Ireland bowled cleverly to their fields at the beginning, keeping Halliday mostly silent. Melie, however, also died, holing out to deep midwicket for 30 off 24 as the Ireland spinners significantly slowed down to make hitting much more difficult. Isabella Sharp began to locate the gaps more frequently, but Halliday remained mostly anchored. Finally, a boundary was hit from overs 10 to 13, raising the run rate from under six to 6.61.

However, Ireland retaliated, eliminating the set batsmen and drying up the boundaries for the following 35 balls. Sharp holed out to long-off for 36 off 28 after Halliday, who had just got medical attention, stroked one straight to short fine leg for 34 in the 17th over. For the first time in her 19-year career, Bates batted at No. 7 in Twenty20 Internationals. She completed the innings with a desperate six pulled from far outside off after exposing her stumps, and she also ended the boundary drought with a reverse lap.

Lewis and Prendergast almost succeed

With a speed of nearly 120 kph and a height that caused discomfort for Ireland's top order, left-arm fast Bree Illing gave New Zealand's defence a blazing start. Amy Hunter was dismissed for two by an inswinging yorker, and Prendergast and Lewis bowled her final three overs in a row.

Prendergast and Lewis took advantage of the fact that the rest of the attack didn't appear to be as dangerous, particularly by moving out and creating space to identify the holes. When a leaping Nensi Patel got a hand to a slice at one point but only got fingers, Prendergast also lost his life. As the runs continued to flow and wickets eluded them by narrow margins, New Zealand was clearly under pressure.

On 25 off Melie in the ninth over, Lewis survived a noisy lbw protest, and New Zealand lost a review because ball-tracking revealed the ball was missing leg stumps. Three overs later, Prendergast was dismissed lbw off Jess Kerr, but a review saved her because ball-tracking once more revealed the ball moving down leg. In the following, they each selected a boundary of Nensi's, bringing the equation down from 42 to 59. New Zealand was losing the match with just five bowlers available.

Melie grabs the match

With two overs remaining, Melie pulled herself back for the fourteenth, and Prendergast hit a six off her leg side to make it fifty from thirty-six. Melie's final effort in the 18th over ultimately proved successful for New Zealand, although that quickly turned into 34 from 24. Two balls later, Rebecca Stokell smashed one to cover after she had Prendergast hole out to deep mid-wicket.

Ireland had lost the four-run over. Lewis seized control as the set batter with 25 to get from 12, but after a boundary, she skied one to cover, making the game New Zealand's to lose. Bates added the final touches with the ball as well, and Ireland was only defeated by a run of singles and doubles off her bowling.

Spinners and Stafanie Taylor help the West Indies defeat Scotland's threat

Scotland 146 (Carter 59, Lister 33, Alleyne 3-11, Matthews 3-19) lost to the West Indies 153 for 6 (Taylor 47*, Campbelle 36, Fraser 2-34) by seven runs.

As the West Indies battled to win the Women's T20 World Cup for the second time, Stafanie Taylor overcame a severe scare from Scotland.

After batting at No. 7 for the first time in T20Is, Stafanie Taylor won Player-of-the-Match

After the West Indies had fallen to 85 for 5 in the 15th over of the match, Taylor, playing in her debut tournament encounter, gave the West Indies' innings much-needed momentum with a boundary-laden 47 not out off just 19 deliveries, striking at 247.36.

Despite a nervous performance by the West Indies with the ball and in the field, Scotland came very close to winning thanks to a spirited half-century from opener Darcey Carter, who recently turned 21 while fighting a leg ailment. She partnered with Katherine Fraser and Ailsa Lister for half-centuries, but Hayley Matthews' 3 for 19 in four overs, which included 13 dot balls, gave her team just enough hope to hang on, and Aaliyah Alleyne's three wickets in the 19th over stifled Scotland just as they were about to win the game again.

In Scotland's thrilling triumph over New Zealand on Saturday, Fraser was exceptional with 2 for 34, a magnificent catch on the edge of the boundary to remove opener Qiana Joseph, and a fast run-out of West Indies star Shemaine Campbelle.

Scotland's disciplined bowling approach, along with outstanding fielding throughout, weighed down the West Indies. However, under Taylor's leadership, they scored 69 runs in the final six overs to give Scotland a huge target, which the qualifiers came much closer to meeting than their rivals would have preferred.

Taylor's counteroffensive

Taylor entered the game with her team struggling and in dire need of someone to give their innings a much-needed boost. As she and Taylor attempted to speed, Jahzara Claxon hit the first six for the West Indies on the final ball of the 17th over, slamming a short one down the leg side from Kathryn Bryce over cow corner. However, four balls later, Bryce, who was positioned in the same location in the field, made a simple catch to dismiss Claxton and give Fraser her second wicket.

To give the West Indies' bowlers plenty to defend, Taylor hit boundaries down the ground and over the covers, then sent two sixes back over the bowler's head and past deep extra cover before hitting a third, 83-meter maximum over deep midwicket.

Wonderful Fraser

West Indies openers Matthews and Joseph were held to just 13 runs in the first three overs by Scotland's bowlers, who were astute in the field from the start. Rachel Slater was especially economical, giving up just a wide in her first over. Gabriella Fontenla was making the ball swing well when an incoherent Matthews struck a deliberate release shot over midwicket for four. However, Joseph's attempt to properly break the shackles proved to be her downfall and showed how competitive Scotland was.

Joseph muscled a Slater delivery to deep midwicket, giving Fraser a chance to win catch of the tournament thus far. Fraser demonstrated amazing spatial awareness to avoid contacting the sponge with her elbow by just a few centimetres when she landed after leaping to retrieve the ball from the air just inside the boundary. West Indies were 33 for 1 at the end of the powerplay, and Matthews had scored 12 off 17. As Scotland celebrated their incredible start, she managed just two more before retreating to a faster delivery from Fraser and losing her middle stump.

The West Indies included

On 28, after walking past a Fraser delivery that bounced off the keeper's gloves and raced through fine leg to the boundary, Sarah Bryce lost a difficult opportunity behind the stumps against Campbelle. As Deandra Dottin moved forward and turned to watch her bails whipped off, sister Kathryn, who had irritated West Indies with her exceptional lengths, threw one up outside off.

By the end of the 13th over, West Indies had only reached the boundary seven times, so they were scuttling singles wherever they could. Campelle was run out by Fraser on the subsequent delivery, and Kirstie Gordon pinned Chinelle Henry's leg before wicket, further endangering the West Indies, so there would be no repeat of her earlier innings.

Carter's Bravery

With Carter hitting four boundaries in the opening three overs and Fraser scoring 13 runs off six deliveries, Scotland started the run chase far more impressively than their rivals. While attempting to work a Matthews delivery down the leg side, Carter seemed to injure her leg. On 19, Joseph dropped what should have been a sitter for Campbelle's High behind the stumps, giving Carter a life. Carter found it more difficult to run between the wickets, but she persisted and reached her seventh half-century in Twenty20 Internationals off 53 balls.

Alleyne completes it after Matthews makes a breakthrough

Scotland was 51 unbeaten after five overs, but Matthews scored the pivotal hit, defeating Fraser on the sweep with a quicker ball that stayed low. In just two overs, that led to a collapse of four wickets for seven runs. Matthews eliminated Kathryn for a second-ball duck, miscuing to mid-off, and got her third when she trapped Megan McColl lbw attempting a reverse sweep.

McColl had been dropped by Campbelle three deliveries prior, sprinting from behind the stumps nearly to midwicket. Shortly after McColl's dismissal, Campbelle left the field, seemingly feeling ill, and was replaced by Mandy Mangru, a substitute wicketkeeper. As the anxiety began to show on the West Indies, Carter and Lister persevered despite some careless bowling and awkward fielding. In her 150th Twenty20 International, Dottin began the 18th over with three consecutive wides before sobbing when Carter hit two fours in three balls. With the support of her teammates, she was able to give up just one more run.

Alleyne eventually ended Carter's innings with a return catch off a top edge and removed Lister and Gordon with consecutive balls as Scotland needed 22 runs from the final two overs. West Indies managed to scrape home when Joseph dismissed Slater and Fontenla in three balls toward the end, despite their ongoing difficulties with ground fielding.

Despite Sana's heroics, Dercksen and Kapp help SA lose to Pakistan

Pakistan 126 for 9 (Sana 55*, Kapp 3-23, Ismail 1-15) lost to South Africa 127 for 8 (Dercksen 52, de Klerk 37, Sana 3-16) by two wickets.

Although Pakistan lost the game that began with the possibility of a humiliating setback at the hands of South Africa, that didn't fully tell the story.

Pakistan's batting lineup was mercilessly destroyed by South Africa, who reduced them to 55 for 8 and created what appeared to be a run-rate-boosting victory. However, Pakistan managed to get back into the match and score 126 with Fatima Sana's half-century, an undefeated 38-ball 55.

Annerie Dercksen reached a fifty off thirty-two balls

Annerie Dercksen's scorching half-century put South Africa on course, but that was still well below par. Rather, Pakistan continued to take enough wickets to stay in the running till the very end, but bad fielding left them struggling. With two wickets and three overs remaining, South Africa finally secured a nerve-wracking victory.

Marizanne Kapp trapped Muneeba Ali in front of the opening ball of the match, setting the tone for South Africa. She ended the over with a brilliant delivery that crashed into the top of Gull Feroza's middle and off stumps after passing through bat and pad while maintaining its line.

Ayabonga Khaka encouraged Natalia Pervaiz to drag on in the next over, while Kapp hobbled Ayesha Zafar with a yorker that landed on her foot in front of the stumps. This was just the beginning of the devastation South Africa was causing. Even though Sana's skill gave Pakistan a total they could defend, their propensity to self-destruct, with at least four run-outs, did not help.

They appeared to have a strong defence for four overs during the chase. Sune Luus was sent back by the unstoppable Sana, and South Africa was reduced to just 20. However, Dercksen entered the game and used a devastating onslaught to blow Pakistan away through the middle overs. He started with 21 off Rameen Shamim in an over, highlighted by Pakistan's terrible fielding. Regular wickets kept Pakistan in with an outside chance, but it was a recurring theme throughout the innings—Sana herself put down two chances.

But every time the pressure started to mount, South Africa managed to escape with a boundary or a cameo. Sana scored to eliminate Nadine de Klerk, the final acknowledged batter, even though the scores were level, leaving South Africa eight down. But Pakistan were their own worst enemy, as was evident throughout the match, as a wayward wide down leg sealed the victory for a relieved South African team.

Pakistan's button for self-destruction

Even though Kapp and South Africa were destroying Pakistan's lineup, Pakistan helped them out with those four run-outs. At crucial moments of the innings, just as they were starting to rebuild, three of them were particularly absurd.

Shamim was the first to fall in this manner, watching the ball instead of her strike partner, Iram Javed. When she was eventually caught short, she oddly turned around and gave Javed a hard time. Although Javed may not have been at fault in that instance, he later committed an even more heinous act of running, setting out for one after a straightforward clip to short midwicket made it all but impossible. Nashra Sandhu finished the set, but she was unfortunate when her partner, Sana, stumbled over the bowler, causing Sandhu to sacrifice herself. Pakistan was now 55 for 8.

The amazing innings of Fatima Sana

Sana had the opportunity to move up the order, but instead, she went about making up for lost time with an incredible assault that managed to get her team back into the game. Pakistan languished at 80 for 8 by the fifteenth over and seemed incapable of assembling a score that was even fairly competitive.

However, Sana launched her attack at the end of the innings after taking it deep, starting with a boundary off Kapp's last delivery. She unleashed in the ensuing overs after South Africa's top bowler was removed, culminating in a vicious final-over raid that stole 19 off the over and propelled Pakistan to 126. With 42 runs off the last 19 balls of the innings, she reached her personal half-century.

Dercksen wrecks Pakistan

Dercksen's ease was completely at variance with the other hitters' anxiety since Sana batted on a different wicket than her companions. She shifted the tone of the match with some of the cleanest power-hitting at this event when Pakistan threatened to turn the chase into a terrible scrap. Dercksen consistently cleared the mid-on and midwicket boundaries with her bottom hand in the fifth over, taking Shamim to the cleaners. Her two sixes were the biggest strokes of the evening for either team.

Between, she kept deftly identifying the holes, particularly in the Powerplay, and relieving pressure on Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt on the other end. With eight wickets remaining, South Africa just needed 51 in 63 by the time she scored her final run. Even with South Africa's subsequent nervousness, they were unable to waste this comfortable position.

India defeats the Netherlands thanks to Shafali's all-around performance

India defeated the Netherlands 114 (de Leede 28, Charani 4-19, Shafali 3-20) by 95 runs at 209 for 5 (Mandhana 74, Shafali 55, de Lange 2-32).

India won by 95 runs in cloudy Headingley because of an all-around performance by Shafali Verma, who took 3 for 20 after scoring her first fifty at a T20 World Cup. India was playing the Netherlands for the first time in a women's Twenty20 International, and their experience on the big stage proved too much for a Netherlands team that had just finished a close match against Bangladesh in the final overs on Sunday. This would not be a close battle.

Shree Charani claimed four wickets

With Smriti Mandhana leading the way with a 47-ball 74, India scored their highest-ever T20 World Cup total of 209 for 5 when they were put in to bat first. The Netherlands batted hard for 114 before Shree Charani's session of 4 for 19 finished it off.

Thanks to a superior net run rate, India easily defeated Australia to take first place in Group 1, securing their second straight victory. Conversely, the Netherlands is still without a victory.

Mandhana and Shafali rule

Shafali's and Mandhana's opening partnership of 115 runs set the tone for India. Their stand was an illusory study. Throughout the 11.4 overs they shared in the middle, they kept their shots grounded and hardly took any chances against the Netherlands bowlers. They continued to score at a rate of nearly ten runs per over on the scorecard.

This was partly due to the Netherlands bowlers' careless mistakes. Myrthe van den Raad bowled a 12-ball over with seven runs off extras, and they often went unnoticed. She did, however, finish up giving up just 11 off the over, which was representative of the Netherlands' performance with the ball in hand. She stayed in the good-length area when she wasn't spraying down her leg. The Netherlands conceded 16 runs in extras overall.

Shafali started using the aerial path to increase the run rate. After making her tournament debut six years prior, she achieved her first 34-ball fifty at a T20 World Cup. In the 12th over, she mistimed a pull off Heather Siegers and holed out to long on, forcing her to leave against the flow of play.

India won, huge thanks to the careless Netherlands

The Netherlands had already amassed double-digit extras, but in the last four overs of the match, they missed three opportunities to allow India to reach an unbeatable total.

Shafali reached her fifty on the ball after being dropped at cover in the eleventh over. The Netherlands had made a mini-comeback, but more lost opportunities awaited them: at the conclusion of the 16th over, Caroline de Lange removed Mandhana, and at the beginning of the 17th over, van den Raad got Jemimah Rodrigues edging behind on the scoop.

India was now 162 for 3. When Richa Ghosh bunted an edge up in the air in the 17th, van den Raad appeared ready to put her extra problems behind her with a second wicket. But Phebe Molkonboer shelled the catch next to the stumps while sprinting in from further cover. The Netherlands lost out on a run-out opportunity at the non-striker's end of the same delivery because no fielder was supporting the stumps.

Two more drops followed: in the 18th over, Silver Siegers dropped Ghosh, causing the ball to break past her hands and reach four. Robine Rijke then dismissed Harmanpreet Kaur at mid-off in the last over. As India racked up 41 runs in the final three overs, Ghosh made the most of her second opportunity by scoring an undefeated 8-ball 20.

The spin stranglehold of India

The Netherlands' fearlessness with a bat in hand was unquestionable. Heather Siegers, the opener, scored 21 from 16 balls, including four fours. In a demonstration of strength and timing, she boshed drives into the 'V', even stepping deep into the offside at one point to Shafali in the fourth over, drawing her to long leg.

But to maintain a tight grip on the Netherlands batting lineup, India's spinners worked together to create a pitch that remained low and slow throughout the second innings. The other opener, Molkenboer, is frequently unable to time her shots beyond a crowded cover cordon while playing flawless drives of her own. She ultimately died on 15 off 20 in the eighth over, with the Netherlands just making it to a run per ball.

Unfortunately, an ankle injury ended one of India's spinners' days on the pitch. When Molkonboer timed an on-drive to Shreyanka Patil's right in the sixth over, she attempted to field the delivery but ultimately twisted her right ankle. She ultimately had to be carried off the field on a stretcher and did not participate in the game anymore.

The Netherlands is defeated

The Netherlands' hitters skipped down the track to assault India's bowlers even as the needed rate soared beyond the range of the feasible. Looking to loft Nandani Sharma down the ground, Captain Babette de Leede was stumped well from her ground. When Sterre Kalis swung across the incorrect line against Shafali, whose slow deliveries through the air continued to perplex the opposition, she too heard her stumps rattle.

After the midway point of their chase, the Netherlands' wickets continued to fall in the same manner. When batting against Shree Charani, Iris Zwilling was out looking for a slog sweep; Frederique Overdijk holed out to long-on, and Rijke was held lbw seeking an elaborate sweep, giving the Indian left-arm spinner a fourth wicket.

After losing their final five wickets for only one run over the course of nine deliveries, the Netherlands ultimately succumbed. When Isabel van der Woning attempted to swing down the ground, Shafali was the one with the ball in hand, fittingly with just one wicket remaining. Rodrigues completed a superb catch after running in from long-on to propel India to the top of their table.

Australia defeats Bangladesh handily thanks to bowlers and Voll

Australia defeated Bangladesh 77 for 8 (Molineux 2-14, Perry 2-14, Garth 2-18) by nine wickets at 78 for 1 (Voll 45*).

At Headingley, Australia easily defeated Bangladesh, limiting them to 77 for 8 before chasing down the runs with more than 10 overs remaining, giving themselves another substantial net run rate boost.

In her opening two overs, Kim Garth scored twice

This was another impressive performance, although the game went according to plan, particularly after Australia had been able to bowl first in favourable conditions on a surface that nibbled about for the seamers. Although victory was shared, Kim Garth set the tone with a pair of early wickets and had strong support from Ellyse Perry.

Even after slumping to 27 for 5 in the eighth over, Bangladesh may regret not being a little bolder, even though they could only achieve six boundaries in their 20 overs. Nigar Sultana, the captain and top scorer with 27 off 47 balls, declared, "We are better than that," following the game.

After taking a few balls to establish her rhythm, Georgia Voll pounded the boundaries, collecting as many fours in 32 deliveries (six) as Bangladesh had managed in their whole innings. The chase just depended on how soon Australia could complete it.

Due to Ashleigh Gardner's ankle strain and Phoebe Litchfield's quad injury, Australia had only 13 fit players to choose from before the beginning of the match.

The groove's garth

Headingley has been a favourite of many swing and seam bowlers throughout the years, and Garth quickly made an impression on a cool morning when the sun was hesitant to rise. In the second over, Dilara Akter swiped across the line, and Juairiya Ferdous, who had made such an impression against the Netherlands, was beaten by a ball that straightened as she also tried to leg it.

Sophie Molineux followed her first-over wicket against South Africa with another when Sharmin Akhter was dismissed by the DRS after Molineux's initial ball, which was missing leg, was rescued by the DRS. Meanwhile, the recalled Megan Schutt was a little short with her inswingers.

Perry's reminder of Molineux's infinite possibilities

Molineux then contributed to Perry's first wicket by removing Sobhana Mostary's drive with a deft catch at short cover. When a nip-backer pinned Shorna Akter lbw at the conclusion of her first over, Perry had already scored two runs. Perry went on to bowl three overs in a Twenty20 International for the first time since January 2024, despite being deployed with the ball less frequently these days.

In the eighth over, Perry's double strike reduced Bangladesh to 27 for 5 and put them in danger of being bowled out. Nigar and Ritu Moni's stand of 32 stopped that, but Australia was never under any scoring pressure.

Legspinners Georgia Wareham and Alana King shared four overs as Molineux alternated between different pace and spin combinations. Molineux has so many alternatives that even the talented swing bowler Nicola Carey, who would have loved these conditions, hasn't bowled in the competition yet.

Voll is in a hurry

Voll quickly gained ground in the brief chase after taking a few deliveries to adjust to the pitch's speed and Marufa Akter's inswing. After the duck against South Africa, she started the competition with her maiden boundary, a six down the ground off Marufa, and other shots in the 'V' that demonstrated her power.

Marufa bowled her four overs straight through, and the only wicket to fall was Beth Mooney, who was well-held at mid-off by a diving Moni. Australia has given itself early breathing room in the race for a semi-final position, but it will be hoping that its injury problems subside in the coming days.

Spinners and Sciver-Brunt lead England to a laborious victory over Ireland

England defeated Ireland 118 for 9 (Little 26*, Prendergast 26, Ecclestone 3-22) by four wickets at 119 for 6 (Sciver-Brunt 48).

In a stunning turn of events, England defeated Ireland in their second T20 World Cup encounter when Nat Sciver-Brunt led her team to the verge of victory before quitting.

The cornerstone of England's run chase was Nat Sciver-Brunt

Before leaving the pitch, Sciver-Brunt scored 48 off 37 balls, and England needed nine runs from 25 balls to win. She immediately went to the dressing room to be evaluated by England's medical personnel, and the ECB quickly confirmed that she had experienced tightness in the same calf that she had torn before the competition. She was officially recorded as "retired out" for the first time in a T20 World Cup, according to match officials.

Sciver-Brunt hurt her left calf on April 29 while playing domestic cricket. She hadn't played all summer until the two warm-up matches right before this tournament. "It was just precautionary," she stated during the presentation following the game. "I thought I'd better not push it."

She made a strong comeback, scoring a half-century against India in the second warm-up and an undefeated 46 in the World Cup opener match as England overcame Sri Lanka.

Rain delays begin to compete

Just as the players were leaving the field from the previous game, Sri Lanka's thrilling victory against New Zealand, a rain storm blasted across Southampton, delaying play by just over an hour. However, England won with 15 balls remaining, losing no overs and avoiding the rain.

Before Sophie Ecclestone's 3 for 22, limiting Ireland to a pitiful 118 for 9, Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell led an all-around bowling performance. With a meagre 2 for 11 from her four overs, Charlie Dean was perhaps the best bowler, while Dani Gibson also took two wickets.

With 26 runs apiece, Orla Prendergast and Louise Little shared the top spot for Ireland, but they needed more. Aimee Maguire and Prendergast combined to make them 35 for 3 during the power play as their bowlers tried their hardest to deliver it early. However, before further drama developed, Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight broke the back of the run-chase.

Bell and Smith, the pests of power play

So far this English summer, Smith and Lauren Bell have put other teams on the defensive. This time, Amy Hunter telegraphed a sweep to one that dipped and shaped in to crash onto the stumps, and Smith struck with her sixth ball, the 12th of the game.

Bell had made a concerted effort to focus on the powerplay since the conclusion of England's 50-over World Cup campaign in October of last year, realising that it was an essential component of her role. Since then, she has proven deadly throughout this stage. In just three overs, she dismissed captain Gaby Lewis for a first-ball duck that was expertly collected by Knight jumping at short fine leg, leaving Ireland 16 for 2.

Dean and Ecclestone add

Ireland were in serious trouble at 25 for 3 as Dean removed Alana Dalzell with a brilliant, low catch by Freya Kemp at cover in a wicket maiden. Dean took two for eleven with an outstanding economy rate of 2.75, while Gibson also took two, including Prendergast, who shared the top spot.

Alongside Deepti Sharma of India, who claimed five wickets in their first game against Pakistan, Ecclestone rose to the top of the tournament wicket-takers list. Ecclestone completed a laborious innings by Rebecca Stokell, who was stumped advancing to a quicker delivery, then cleaned out tailenders Arlene Kelly and Cara Murray to add to her two wickets from the opening-night victory over Sri Lanka.

Too little, too late

Ava Canning, who underwent precautionary scans due to a lower back injury, was replaced in the Ireland XI by Little, who finished the innings with an undefeated 26 off 15 balls, surpassing Prendergast's 26 off 18.

Little's late flourish, which began with a slither down the pitch to smash the ball beyond mid-off and ended with a flick off her pads behind square leg, produced four fours off Bell in the last over.

Old guard overcomes fear

In only three deliveries, Maguire and Gaby Lewis eliminated both England openers. The hosts faltered to 28 for 2 as both Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge holed out to Lewis at wide mid-off. Prendergast then delivered a superb yorker to Alice Capsey.

However, any short-term concerns were allayed with the extensive experience of the former England captain, Knight, and her successor, Sciver-Brunt, to follow in the batting lineup.

Together, they have made 592 international appearances, 277 of which were in Twenty20 internationals. They mowed down the majority of the goal with a 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket. After striking Knight's front pad low in front of middle and leg, Prendergast overturned an lbw verdict in Knight's favour, splitting them up. Freya Kemp was run out after Sciver-Brunt left the pitch, but Gibson and Dean saw them home.