LONDON: Australia defeated India by six wickets at Lord’s on Sunday to seal a place in the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, eliminating their rivals and completing the group stage with a perfect record.
Chasing a challenging target of 171, Australia recovered from an early setback to reach 172-4 in 19 overs.
The successful chase, the highest in Women’s T20 World Cup history, ensured Australia finished top of Group A with five wins from five matches. India’s defeat also confirmed South Africa’s progression to the last four.
Australia lost opener Georgia Voll to the second ball of the innings but rebuilt through Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner after slipping to 68-3.
The pair added 100 runs for the fourth wicket to turn the match in Australia’s favour.
Perry struck 56 off 38 balls before falling to Shree Charani, while Gardner remained unbeaten on 53 from just 29 deliveries to guide her side home with an over to spare.
“We obviously got to see how India bat and knew it was a good wicket and just needed a good partnership,” Perry said after being named Player of the Match.
“Hopefully, two more big games to go. But focus will be on the semi-finals first,” she added.
India’s World Cup campaign ends
India posted 170-4 after captain Harmanpreet Kaur led the innings with a blistering 56 off 27 balls, including six fours and three sixes.
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid the foundation with a 66-run partnership, while Jemimah Rodrigues contributed 34 from 28 deliveries before being retired out in the closing stages.
Harmanpreet’s late assault lifted India to their highest total against Australia in a Women’s T20 World Cup match, but the score proved insufficient against Australia’s strong batting line-up.
The defeat ended India’s hopes of winning their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title.
It also marked the second consecutive Women’s T20 World Cup in which India failed to reach the semi-finals, following their group-stage exit in 2024.
Semi-final line-up
Australia’s victory completed the Group A standings, with South Africa advancing as the second semi-finalist from the group after strengthening their qualification prospects with a four-wicket win over Bangladesh earlier on Sunday.
Defending champions New Zealand had already been eliminated on Saturday following a nine-wicket defeat to England.
Australia will face West Indies in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
