The Australian cricket team began its Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing 65-run victory over South Africa at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester on Saturday.
Phoebe Litchfield top-scored for Australia with a 24-ball 50, while Georgia Wareham was the pick of their bowlers after finishing with figures of 3/13. Laura Wolvaardt (44 off 39) was the Proteas’ best batter.
Chasing 173 to win, the Proteas were rocked early, losing opener Sune Luus and Annerie Dercksen with just 24 on the board.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk led a brief rebuilding job, putting on 41 runs for the third wicket before Georgia Wareham rattled the South African all-rounder’s stumps.
Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt added 34 runs for the next wicket to keep the fight going but both batters fell in quick succession, reducing the Proteas to 96/5.
The South African innings then unravelled after Kapp and Wolvaardt’s dismissal as they went on to lose their next five wickets for just 11 more runs.
Georgia Wareham emerged as the wrecker-in-chief for Australia as she picked up a couple of wickets in succession in the 17th over to end South Africa’s chase.
Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, Australia were put under pressure following the loss of both their openers in the first four overs.
Phoebe Litchfield then played a counter-attacking knock, smashing a 23-ball fifty – her third half-century in the format – before perishing at the hands of Ayabonga Khaka, leaving Australia at 61/3.
Ashleigh Gardner followed Litchfield back to the dugout moments later, leaving Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham to rebuild the innings for the six-time champions.
The duo managed to get the innings back on course with a 58-run stand off 38 balls before the latter’s departure left Australia at 120/5 in the 14th over.
Australia struggled to build meaningful partnerships in the final five overs, losing Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland and Alana King as the most successful team in Women’s T20 World Cup history managed just 41 runs in the closing stages.
Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk each picked up two wickets for the Proteas.
Meanwhile, Shabnim Ismail, playing her first T20 since the 2023 World Cup final against the Aussies, marked her return to international cricket after rolling back her retirement by dismissing opposition lynchpin Beth Mooney.
The 37-year-old pacer, however, was a tad expensive as she conceded 33 in her three overs.
Australia’s next Women’s T20 World Cup match will be against Bangladesh at the Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds, on Wednesday.
South Africa will also be in action on the same day, taking on Pakistan in their second match of the tournament.
AUS-W vs SA-W, Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 brief scores: Australia Women 172/8 in 20 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 50; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/22) beat South Africa Women 107/10 in 16.4 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 44; Georgia Wareham 3/13) by 65 runs.
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