By Maksuda Lisa (Dhaka Bureau)
The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup witnessed an incredible day of high drama, thrill, and intense mathematical calculations. Within a span of just 24 hours, Asian powerhouses Bangladesh and India were knocked out of the global tournament. Following the conclusion of a nail-biting final day of the group stage at the historic Lord’s cricket ground, the top four semifinalists have been locked in.
Defending champions Australia and a mathematically surviving South Africa have qualified from Group 1, while a dominant England and the West Indies secured their spots from Group 2. The ultimate knockout battle begins tomorrow to determine who will lift the coveted trophy at Lord’s on July 5.
Record Run Chase by Aussies at Lord’s, Indian Dreams Shattered
For India, the match was practically a quarter-final; a victory against Australia was the only ticket to the semifinals for Harmanpreet Kaur’s side. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India put up a disciplined performance to post a challenging total of 170/4 in their 20 overs. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with an unbeaten 70, well-supported by Jemimah Rodrigues’ brilliant 47. This was India’s highest-ever team total against Australia in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
However, even this formidable total proved insufficient against the deep batting lineup of the Aussies. Chasing 171, the defending champions found themselves under pressure at one stage, reduced to 68/3. But the veteran duo of Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner completely snatched the game away from India. Their explosive 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket left India with no answers.
While Perry was dismissed after a vital 56, Gardner anchored the chase to the end, remaining unbeaten on 53 as Australia chased down the target in just 19 overs, finishing at 172/4 to script a 6-wicket victory. With this stellar performance, Australia also set a new record for the highest successful run chase in Women’s T20 World Cup history.
Australia has secured a spot in the semi-finals by defeating India by 6 wickets.
Brief Scores:
* India: 170/4 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet 70*, Jemimah 47)
* Australia: 172/4 in 19 overs (Perry 56, Gardner 53*)
* Result: Australia won by 6 wickets.
India Heartbroken by Net Run Rate; Jubilation in the Proteas Camp
Following the defeat, India finished level on 6 points with South Africa but was cruelly eliminated due to an inferior Net Run Rate (NRR). Consequently, Harmanpreet’s squad had to face a heartbreaking group-stage exit.
Earlier in the day, South Africa had kept their semifinal hopes alive by defeating Bangladesh by 4 wickets. However, their fate hung entirely on the outcome of the Australia-India clash. The moment Australia sealed their victory, celebrations erupted in the Proteas camp as they qualified for the final four as the second team from Group 1, courtesy of their superior NRR.
Bangladesh Exits with a Solitary Win
For Bangladesh, their final match of the tournament was merely a formality. Despite putting up a fight against South Africa, Nigar Sultana Joty’s team could not avoid defeat. The Tigresses managed only a single victory out of their five group matches. Finishing near the bottom of the table with just 2 points, Bangladesh concluded their World Cup campaign empty-handed.
A Glance at the Semifinalists’ Group Standings
Group 1: Australia was completely unstoppable in this group. Winning all 5 of their matches, they secured a perfect 10 points to comfortably cruise into the semifinals as undefeated group champions. South Africa joined them as runners-up due to a better run rate. Meanwhile, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands bowed out of the tournament.
Group 2: Hosts England asserted sheer dominance on their home turf. Reaping the home advantage, they won all 5 of their matches to top the group with 10 points. The West Indies qualified as the second team from this group. Despite finishing level on 6 points, Asia’s Sri Lanka suffered the same fate as India, missing out due to an inferior run rate. New Zealand, Scotland, and Ireland were also eliminated at the group stage.
Semifinals and Final Schedule
With all the group stage calculations put to rest, the battle for the ultimate crown now shifts to the knockouts. Here is the official schedule for the final phase:
June 30 : First Semifinal
Australia vs West Indies
July 2 : Second Semifinal
England vs South Africa
July 5 : Final
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs Winner of Semifinal 2 (Venue: Lord’s, London)
Four powerhouses from different continents are set to clash in the knockouts. Who will outperform whom, and who will eventually lift the golden trophy of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup? The final answer will unfold on the historic green grass of Lord’s on July 5.
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The Writer:
Maksuda Lisa: Staff Correspondent, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
