South Africa edge past Pakistan; India, Australia continue winning run

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The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 saw a triple header on Wednesday.

While Australia scored a dominant win over Bangladesh in the first match in Headingley, India got the better of Netherlands at the same venue.

In Edgbaston, South Africa edged past Pakistan to register their first win at the World Cup.

South Africa survived a scare against Pakistan to register their first win of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026.

Chasing a modest target of 127, the 2024 finalists were tested by a spirited Pakistan side before they edged to a two-wicket win. A fighting half-century by Annerie Dercksen guided them to 127/8 in 16.5 overs.

Fatima Sana's brilliant all-round performance was in vain as Pakistan slipped to their second straight defeat in the tournament. The skipper led an incredible recovery effort with the bat with an unbeaten 55, claimed three wickets and contributed a catch.

Having lost their first two matches, Pakistan are fifth in Group A, while South Africa have recovered to third place.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Pakistan endured a nightmarish start.

A fiery opening spell from Marizanne Kapp scorched the Pakistan top order. She trapped left-hander Muneeba Ali leg before wicket on the very first ball of the innings, and sent her partner Gull Feroza back five balls later.

Kapp's first over was like a rallying cry for her team that had endured a heavy defeat at the hands of Australia in their opening game. Inspired bowling by South Africa and some woeful cricket by Pakistan saw the Asian side slip to 50/8.

But captain Sana would not let her team crumble without a fight. Fearless in the face of adversity, she did not hold back against a South Africa side brimming with confidence.

Sana found a gritty partner in Tuba Hassan and the two of them set about rebuilding the innings. They countered with a 71-run partnership, the highest ninth-wicket stand in Women's T20 World Cups.

Against all odds, Pakistan not only batted out their quota of overs but put up a fighting total. Sana struck back-to-back sixes off Nadine De Klerk in the final over to bring up her fifty and closed the innings by stepping out against the pacer and slashing it behind point for a four, mustering 19 runs off the last over.

Having led the miraculous turnaround, the 24-year-old carried the momentum into the South African innings. She dealt them the first blow, as Sune Luus chopped the ball onto the stumps.

Dercksen tilted the match in the Proteas' favour with a brisk 55 - her first fifty in T20 World Cups. She helped calm her team's early nerves with fluent stroke play, finishing with seven fours and two sixes.

Lower down the order, De Klerk kept the South African challenge intact with a vital 37 off 28.

However, playing with four spinners, Pakistan kept coming back at South Africa. They sent back Marizanne Kapp and Dercksen in quick succession to put the pressure back on South Africa.

Sana finished with 3/16 in 2.5 overs, while Sadia Iqbal and Hassan chipped in with two wickets each as Pakistan battled on right to the end. South Africa finally stumbled over the finish line as Sana conceded a wide.

While Pakistan may take heart from the fight they put up, the 2024 finalists still have a long way to go if they are to mount a serious title challenge in this edition.

India's power-packed batting line-up came to fore on Wednesday, as they set up a 95-run win over the Netherlands at Headingley.

With Smriti Mandhana leading the charge, India posted 209/5, their highest score in Women's T20 World Cups. They followed it up with a clinical bowling performance to dismiss the European side for 114 in 17.3 overs.

As the tournament debutants took on the ODI world champions, the gulf in class was obvious.

Netherlands captain Babette de Leede won the toss and elected to field. During the coin flip, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had said that India were looking to be more positive in powerplay.

Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were quick to find their range and helped India amass 59 runs in the first six overs.

While Verma powered her way through her first T20 World Cup fifty, Mandhana dismantled Netherlands with trademark elegance. They put on an opening partnership of 115, giving the team the perfect launchpad for a big total.

Heather Siegers provided the breakthrough as she had Verma loft the ball to Iris Zwilling at long on.

Though Verma departed for 55 (38b, 10x4), Mandhana continued to trouble the Dutch and stitched a 47-run stand with Jemimah Rodrigues. Picking runs all around the field, the stylish southpaw scored 74 off 47 balls, with the help of 11 fours and a six. It was her second straight half-century, following a 68 against Pakistan on Sunday, and sixth T20I fifty.

Her dismissal triggered a mid-innings wobble as India slipped from 162/2 to 168/4. They lost Mandhana and Rodrigues off successive balls and Yastika Bhatia soon followed them back to the pavilion.

Wayward at the start, the Dutch eventually found their mojo against India to push them back. Leg-spinner Caroline De Lange was at the heart of a spirited comeback, as she kept the batters guessing with flight and turn and finished with 2/32 in four overs.

Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma put the finishing touches on a dominant batting display, as India plundered 32 runs in the last two overs. Sharma helped India sign off on a high as she struck a six and four to end the innings.

In response, the Dutch top order chipped at the Indian total with some decent contributions -- while captain Babette De Leede top scored with 28, opener Heather Siegers posted 21.

Not only did India put the choke on with some disciplined bowling, they also took wickets at regular intervals. Once De Leede departed, the Netherlands crumbled from 96/4 to 114 all out.

Left-arm spinner Sree Charani was the pick of the bowlers for India as she claimed 4/19, including the wickets of Frederique Overdijk, Iris Zwilling and Myrthe van den Raad in one over. Verma proved her all-round prowess, following up her half-century with a three-wicket haul, while Nandni Sharma chipped in with two wickets.

Australia dominate Bangladesh

Scorecard

Australia continued their winning streak at the World Cup with a dominant nine-wicket win over Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Captain Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry bagged two wickets each to dismiss Bangladesh for 78 runs. The former world champions then stamped their authority, chasing down the target in just 9.3 overs.

It was second straight win for Australia after they opened the World Cup campaign with an impressive 65-run win over South Africa on Saturday.

Electing to field first, the Australian bowlers backed their captain's decision as they ran through the Bangladesh top order.

Garth led the charge with a excellent spell that saw her dismiss the openers Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous. Molineux then got into the act by dismissing Sharmin Akhter.

Ellyse Perry bagged two wickets in her very first over, sending back Sobhana Mistry with the help of a fine catch by Molineux, and trapping Shorna Akter leg before wicket.

Australia conceded just two boundaries in the powerplay and had their opponents reeling at 27/5.

Captain Nigar Sultana provided some resistance, with a 27 off 47, even as wickets kept falling at the other end. Apart from Sultana, Ritu Moni was the only other Bangladesh batter to get into double figures.

Thanks to 32-ball 45 from Georgia Voll, the six-time champions knocked off the required runs in under 10 overs, cruising to 78/1 in 9.3 overs.

With two wins in two, Australia are sitting pretty at the top of Group A. However, they were dealt injury blows ahead of the match.

Phoebe Litchfield suffered an acute quad injury while batting against South Africa. She is expected to miss Australia’s next three matches. This is a new injury. Ashleigh Gardner was also unavailable for selection following an acute ankle inversion injury (sprain).

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