England, Australia finish T20 World Cup warm-ups strongly
England edged India in a thriller before Australia cruised to victory against West Indies as the warm-up matches concluded.
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Hosts England wound down their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 preparations with a thrilling five-run win over India in their final warm-up game in Cardiff on Wednesday while Australia eased to a victory over the West Indies in the final warm-up match before the T20 World Cup.
England vs India
Half-centuries from Amy Jones and Nat Sciver-Brunt lifted England to 171/6 in their 20 overs. Despite Richa Ghosh’s late heroics, India were dismissed for 166 in 19.5 overs.
India won the toss and elected to field first in overcast conditions. Though England lost an early wicket, Jones and Sciver-Brunt steadied the innings with a 70-run partnership. Playing with caution and composure, they kept the scoreboard ticking without taking too many risks.
England overcome valiant India | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
England overcame the Indian fight by five runs.
Opener Jones struck eight fours during her innings of 64. Sciver-Brunt, the seasoned star who will be key to England’s fortunes at the home World Cup, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 57 off 45 balls.
The breakthrough was provided by off-spinner Shafali Verma, who is proving her all-round chops. Verma dismissed Jones with a delivery that stayed low and skidded onto the stumps.
Even though the England innings was interrupted by rain in the 15th over, Sciver-Brunt made sure they did not lose momentum. Danielle Gibson provided the acceleration right at the end, scoring 30 from 12, as England picked 19 in the last over.
Late fireworks from Gibson | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
Danielle Gibson provided the late flourish for England against India at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up.
Shreyanka Patil followed up her four-wicket haul against West Indies with 2/29 against England. Meanwhile, Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani and Radha Yadav claimed one wicket each.
Chasing a healthy total, India had a wobbly start as they lost both the openers inside the first three overs. While Smriti Mandhana fell to a brilliant diving catch from Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Verma swung at a Issy Wong delivery only to see it crash into the stumps.
All of India’s middle-order batters got off to a start but could not capitalise on it. It was Ghosh’s gritty knock that kept India in the game. She came into bat after India lost captain Harmanpreet Kaur and looked in a spot of bother at 63/4. However, the wicket-keeper batter rallied with the lower order, scoring 68 off 36, to take India within touching distance.
Ghosh brought up her half-century with a heave over deep square leg fence and followed it up with a four. With India requiring 17 runs in the last over, Ghosh turned up the pressure, hitting a boundary and then dancing down the track for another big one.
She tried to skip down the pitch on the next ball off Linsey Smith as well but was beaten in the air, and Alice Capsey completed the stumping.
Richa Ghosh keeps the fight on | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
Richa Ghosh brings up a half-century in style as India take the chase deep against England at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up.
With that England had stomped out the last ember of hope for India. Renuka Singh followed her back into the pavilion on the very next ball as India folded for 166.
Smith was the most successful English bowler with 3/42, while Charlie Dean, Corteen-Coleman and Gibson all claimed two wickets.
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 starts on June 12, with England taking on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener. India will begin their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14.
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Australia tick all boxes as they up the Windies | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Dominant Australia breeze past West Indies by 6 wickets in their final ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up fixture.
West Indies v Australia
A spectacular half-century from opener Georgia Voll lifted Australia as they chased down the West Indies' total of 131, reaching 132/4 in exactly 15 overs. Despite late resurgence from West Indies, Australia cruised to their second victory in the warm-up matches ahead of the T20 World Cup.
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first at Sophia Gardens. Though they hoped to lay a solid foundation, they lost an early wicket when opener Qiana Joseph was caught by Beth Mooney off the bowling of young pacer Lucy Hamilton. Playing with clinical discipline and control, the Australian bowlers kept the scoring in check and regularly chipped away at the West Indian lineup.
Molineux strikes off her very first ball | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
Skipper's magic in the air as Sophie Molineux knocks over Aaliyah Alleyne at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up.
Veteran star Deandra Dottin struck six boundaries during her fighting innings of 46 off 38 balls to anchor the West Indies' innings. Skipper Hayley Matthews and Jahzara Claxton chipped in with 15 runs each, but a lack of substantial partnerships hurt the team's chances of posting a massive total.
Even though the middle order tried to build, Australia's multi-pronged bowling attack ensured they never lost control. Young quick Lucy Hamilton led the attack with excellent figures of 2/19, while star all-rounder Ash Gardner claimed 2/17.
Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Kim Garth, and Nicola Carey all claimed one wicket each to dismantle the rest of the West Indies batting unit.
Mooney's picture-perfect six | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
Beth Mooney goes straight down the ground against Hayley Matthews at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up.
Chasing a modest target of 132, Australia got off to a flying start courtesy of openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney. Playing freely and with aggressive intent, Mooney blazed her way to a rapid 34 off just 18 deliveries, hitting three fours and a towering six before being dismissed.
However, it was Georgia Voll's explosive performance that completely put the game beyond reach. Coming out firing, Voll brought up a magnificent 77 off just 48 balls, peppered with 10 boundaries and two sixes, ensuring Australia stayed well ahead of the required run rate.
Qiana cleans up Gardner | Women's T20WC 2026 warm-ups
Qiana Joseph does the damage to remove Ash Gardner as the West Indies fight back at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up.
Voll dominated the West Indian bowlers before she was eventually dismissed, but by then Australia were within touching distance of victory.
With that, Australia had stomped out any hopes of a West Indian comeback. Though Qiana Joseph, Karishma Ramharack, and Hayley Matthews claimed one wicket each to give the Caribbean side late breakthroughs, Australia cruised home with 30 balls to spare.
Joseph was the most economical bowler for the West Indies, finishing with figures of 1/6 from her two overs.
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 officially starts on June 12, with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener. Australia will begin their chase for a seventh title against South Africa on Saturday, June 13, while West Indies will look to finalize their plans before their opening group encounter against defending champions New Zealand on the same day.