Australia win sees SA into T20 World Cup semis as India exit

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 group stage concluded on Sunday with Australia and South Africa securing their semifinal spots.

Australia rallied past India in the final group game at the Women's T20 World Cup at the Lord's Cricket Ground to maintain their unbeaten run at the tournament.

Fates of three teams -- Australia, India and South Africa -- were tied to the result of this match. While Australia already had a foot in the semifinals, the six-wicket win on Sunday sent them through. 

It also helped South Africa confirm their final four spot as the second team from Group A and ended India's quest for a first T20 World Cup title.

The Women’s #T20WorldCup semi-finals are locked 🔒😍 pic.twitter.com/FrXukGLPhV — ICC (@ICC) June 28, 2026

After Harmanpreet Kaur's late charge took India to 170-4, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner led Australia's challenge, guiding the team to 172/4 in 19 overs.

It was the highest successful chase in Women's T20 World Cups.

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid the foundation with a 66-run partnership after India elected to bat first.

Verma struck three fours and two sixes and was looking dangerous at 34 off 26 when she was castled by Sophie Molineux.

Two overs later, Mandhana was run out on 38, following confusion between the wickets with Jemimah Rodrigues.

Once the openers were back in the pavilion, Rodrigues and Kaur picked up the baton and continued to build on the confident start.

They stitched a partnership of 64 off 45 balls before Rodrigues was retired out.

Though the Indian captain took some time to settle in, she launched into overdrive in the death overs. Kaur hoisted a six over long off to bring up her 50 in 25 balls and record the fastest half-century by an Indian in Women's T20 World Cups.

It was one of the three successive sixes she hit off her opposite number Molineux in the final over. India finished with a flourish, amassing 36 runs in the last two overs to post a strong total.

Molineux was the only Australian bowler to claim wickets, and finished with 2-46.

On Sunday, fielding let the team down as they spilled four catches, including three in the last two overs that ended up being boundaries.

The late charge had given India some momentum and they took it into the second innings. Renuka Singh Thakur gave the team the perfect start as she trapped Georgia Voll leg before wicket in the first over.

Australia were struggling to break free against India and with Sree Charani (2/32) and Deepti Sharma chipping in with wickets, the six-time champions were reduced to 68/3 in 9.1 overs.

Sharma finally had her milestone moment as she dismissed Beth Mooney to become the leading wicket-taker in women's international cricket, with 356 scalps.

But Australia's ace all-rounders Perry and Gardner steered them out of trouble with a 100-run partnership. Watchful at the beginning, the duo flipped the switch in the 13th over, when they garnered 17 runs off Radha Yadav.

Once they had the momentum, Australia ran away with it. Perry finished with 56 runs off 38 balls, with the help of eight boundaries.

Meanwhile, Gardner, who steamrolled India with her power, struck three sixes and three fours to finish unbeaten on 53 off 29 balls.

Lord's played host to 2️⃣ blockbuster clashes seeing India's tournament come to an end and South Africa advance to the #T20WorldCup semi-finals 💥🔝

Make sure you are part of the action 🤩 Get your tickets ➡️ https://t.co/8kyuNOXKdL pic.twitter.com/wetTwNXHCn — ICC (@ICC) June 28, 2026

INDIA: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur

AUSTRALIA: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton