Australia routs – Australia opened the Women’s T20 World Cup with a 65-run win over South Africa at Old Trafford, posting 172 for 8 after bundling the Proteas for 107. Phoebe Litchfield’s early burst and Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham’s response helped Australia recover from
For South Africa, the Women’s T20 World Cup began under pressure and ended with it only getting heavier. At Old Trafford on Saturday, Australia posted 172 for 8, then routed the Proteas for 107—winning by 65 runs in the tournament’s first heavyweight clash.
Australia came into the match chasing a seventh World Cup title in the 10th edition. South Africa arrived as runner-up in the last two tournaments. and they had beaten Australia in the 2024 semifinals when they previously met. This time, however, the result flipped decisively. After being dismissed for 107 in Manchester. South Africa now needs to top its other group rival. India. on June 21 to stay alive in semifinal contention.
Australia’s innings started with a jolt. Phoebe Litchfield. who had missed Australia’s last warmup due to a quad strain. passed fit in time for the opener and was needed immediately. Georgia Voll went out for a duck in her World Cup debut. and fellow opener Beth Mooney was gone in the fourth over. Litchfield responded anyway. charging at Marizanne Kapp and pulling Shabnim Ismail for six. then scooping and sweeping Ayabonga Khaka to reach a 23-ball 50.
She was out on the very next ball to fall at 61 for 3, and Australia wobbled again. Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham steadied the innings with a 58-run stand, both striking in their bursts to keep the scoreboard climbing.
Ismail’s day turned into something of a complicated footnote. The pacer retired after the 2023 World Cup and unretired at 37. She took a wicket but didn’t complete her overs because of a finger injury. She still batted once the result was already essentially settled.
South Africa’s fight returned briefly. Captain Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk helped the Proteas recover from 7 for 2. De Klerk was then bowled by leg-spinner Georgia Wareham. who also took part in a run out involving a slow Kapp. Wolvaardt still made South Africa dangerous, even as the required run rate rose up to 11.
But the innings finally cracked after one big moment. Wolvaardt hit opposite captain Sophie Molineux for six over long off, then was out for 44 off 39 balls the next ball—caught by Wareham in the covers. After that, South Africa folded. The last five wickets added just 11 runs.
Australia’s spinners were in control. The four spinners combined for eight wickets, with Wareham the standout at 3 for 13. Wareham also contributed in the field with a catch and a run out. and she was named player of the match. She shared praise for the captain and described the environment in the squad.
“(Captain) Soph’s been awesome, instilling a lot of freedom within the group and making the group believe we are a good team and can take on this tournament, and that’s pretty awesome,” Wareham said.
Scotland also took a major step forward at the same tournament window. In Manchester under blustery, overcast skies, Scotland earned their first World Cup win at Ireland’s expense by 40 runs. Scotland made 161 for 5 and dismissed Ireland for 121 with five balls to spare. Ireland, chasing a first win for 12 years, dropped its win-loss record to 0-18.
Defending champion New Zealand was playing the West Indies late Saturday.
Women’s T20 World Cup Australia vs South Africa Old Trafford Phoebe Litchfield Georgia Wareham Laura Wolvaardt Sophie Molineux Shabnim Ismail
65 runs?? That sounds like a lot but cricket scores confuse me half the time.
So Australia beat South Africa by 65… but South Africa “needs to top” India now? I thought you just win matches and that’s it lol. Cricket math is wild.
I swear I read somewhere Litchfield was out with a quad strain and then she’s like smashing sixes. Did they rush her back or what? Also why is it saying South Africa needs to stay alive in semifinal contention like it’s a TV show.
World Cup warning?? This is the first match and suddenly it’s a “warning.” But yeah Australia looked scary, bowling them out for 107 is nuts. South Africa losing by 65 means they’re basically done right? Like unless India messes up, they’re not getting past the group, I’m guessing.