Clinical Australia enter T20 World Cup final for eighth time
Six-time champions Australia booked their place in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final with a clinical win over West Indies in the first semifinal at The Oval on Tuesday. Opting to bowl, Australian spinners restricted West Indies to 125 and chased down the target in 13 overs. A 12/4 collapse in the middle overs proved costly for West Indies.
West Indies managed a modest 35/0 from the powerplay. Captain Hayley Matthews was bowled by Georgia Wareham for a 28-ball 30. Wickets then fell in a heap as West Indies slipped from 47/0 to 59/4, with Ashleigh Gardner striking twice in one over to dismiss Stafanie Taylor and Jahzara Claxton for ducks. The collapse continued to 73/5 and 83/6. Deandra Dottin, batting at number eight after fainting earlier, hit four boundaries in a 16-ball 26* to take West Indies to 125/7.
Australia's chase began with Georgia Voll hitting a six off the first over. She was bowled by a brilliant yorker from Chinelle Henry for 16. Beth Mooney counterattacked, and after Phoebe Litchfield was lbw, Australia reached 63/2 at the powerplay. Ellyse Perry retired hurt with a niggle, but Gardner replaced her and kept the momentum going. Mooney raced to a 28-ball half-century, and Gardner finished the chase in the 13th over with consecutive boundaries, ensuring Australia reached their eighth final in ten editions.
Brief scores: West Indies 125/7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 30, Deandra Dottin 26*; Ash Gardner 2-13, Sophie Molineux 2-30, Georgia Wareham 2-17) lost to Australia 127/2 in 13 overs (Beth Mooney 61*, Ash Gardner 35*) by 8 wickets.
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