By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GettyImages.
The ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 group stage concluded on Sunday with Australia and South Africa securing their semifinal spots.
Australia beat India by six wickets to book their semifinal spot. India’s defeat means South Africa are the second team through from Group A.
A 100-run partnership between Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner helped roar back from 68-3. In reply to India’s 170-6, Australia posted 172-4 in 19 overs.
It was the highest successful run chase in Women’s T20 World Cups.
South Africa earlier chased down 118 to beat Bangladesh, with six wickets down and four balls remaining. It was a tight low-scoring game.
Captain Laura Wolvaardt said it is match just needed to be won by the Proteas.
“We needed a win, that’s all,” said Wolvaardt, who was dismissed first ball.
South Africa will on Thursday play the second semi-final against England at The Oval, while Australia will face West Indies in Tuesday’s first semi-final, also at The Oval.
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.