England, Australia maintain unbeaten run; Bangladesh rally past Pakistan
Three crucial games took place on Saturday as race for semi-final spot intensifies
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It was another triple-header day in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 as the chase for the four semi-final spots gets tighter.
Australia continued their dominant run, as they beat Netherlands by 98 runs, before Bangladesh trumped Pakistan.
Hosts England scored a dominant win over Scotland in the final match of the day.
All-round England stamp authority with win over Scotland | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Strong all-round performance sees England cruise to 38-run win over Scotland at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
England v Scotland
England maintained their winning momentum as they bagged their third straight win on Saturday. It was another assured performance by the hosts as they posted 200/5 on the board and then restricted Scotland to 162/7.
The 38-run win helped England maintain an iron grip at the top of Group B. Scotland, meanwhile, are placed fourth with two points in three matches.
With England and Scotland scoring 362 runs on the day, it was the highest combined total in a Women's T20 World Cup game.
England cruise to a comfortable victory | Women's T20WC 2026
England maintain their unbeaten run with a 38-run victory against Scotland at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
After Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce elected to field, Kirstie Gordon gave the team the perfect start as she snapped Amy Jones' wicket on the very first ball.
But England's power-packed batting line-up came to the fore after that. With regular captain Nat Sciver-Brunt sitting out due to injury, Sophia Dunkley was given the opportunity and she grabbed it with both hands.
Dunkley led the England charge with seven fours and a six for a 37-ball 57, her first half-century in Women's T20 World Cup. Though Scotland kept setting them back with wickets at regular intervals, every batter in England's middle-order chipped in with crucial runs.
A solid foundation in place, Freya Kemp (39*) and Danielle Gibson (30*) provided the late surge to power England to 200. They plundered 59 runs in the last three overs, with a combined tally of eight fours and three sixes.
Chasing a daunting total, Scotland came out with positive intent. Darcey Carter (29) and Katherine Fraser (23) took on the English pacers and knocked off 26 runs in the first two overs.
However, England kept hitting back with wickets. Stand-in skipper Charlie Dean gave the hosts the breakthrough, as she castled the dangerous Fraser, who had already hit two big sixes by then.
Ecclestone weaves her magic to dismiss Kathryn Bryce | Women's T20WC 2026
Sophie Ecclestone’s brilliance knocks over Kathryn Bryce at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
Seasoned star Sophie Ecclestone then landed decisive blows as she clean bowled Kathryn Bryce and Carter in successive overs. It was a spirited batting display from Scotland, who kept going for their runs even though the target looked out of reach.
Sarah Bryce's sparkled with a cameo of 34 (24 balls, 3x4, 1x6) and Pippa Sproul (27) and Gordon (23 n.o)made their rivals work right till the very end, but England's mountain of runs proved insurmountable.
For the hosts, left-arm spinner Ecclestone once again made her four overs count, claiming two wickets for just 23 runs in her four overs. Linsey Smith, Dean, Danielle Gibson and Freya Kemp chipped in with a wicket each.
Bangladesh script spirited comeback to beat Pakistan | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Bangladesh bowlers lead a spirited comeback to defeat Pakistan by 23 runs at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan v Bangladesh
An inspired performance by the spinners helped Bangladesh to a 23-run win over Pakistan in a Women's T20 World Cup Group A clash on Saturday.
Defending a modest target of 124, Bangladesh overcame a strong start from their Asian rivals to restrict them to 100/8 in 20 overs. Three-wicket hauls by Nahida Akter and Sanjida Akter Meghla left the Pakistan challenge in disarray.
This was third straight defeat for Pakistan and has seriously hampered their chances of making the semi-finals. For Bangladesh, it was a return to form after a heavy defeat against Australia in the previous match.
After being put into field, captain Fatima Sana gave Pakistan the perfect start as she bagged the wickets of opener Dilara Akter and Sharmin Akhter in the very first over.
With Pakistan dominating the proceedings early on, Bangladesh could only muster 23/3 in powerplay.
Fatima Sana removes Sharmin Akhter | Women's T20WC 2026
Captain Nigar Sultana led the recovery effort with a patient 36 and built 35-run partnership with Sobhana Mostary (22) for the fourth wicket.
It was Shorna Akter that gave her team some much-needed momentum at the end. She struck five boundaries, including one off the last ball of the innings, for a 22-ball 39 that took Bangladesh past run-a-ball mark.
Shorna Akter’s vital innings in Southampton | Aramco POTM Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Shorna Akter’s valuable knock of 39 against Pakistan earns her the Player of the Match award at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
In reply, Pakistan made a steady start with Muneeba Ali (25) and Gull Feroza (23) putting on 49 runs for the opening wicket.
Nahida Akter gave Bangladesh the breakthrough in the eighth over as she had Feroza slash straight to backward point, where Mostary held on to a good catch. In her next over, Akter struck again, this time dismissing another set batter Ali.
That opened the floodgates for Bangladesh.
Sanjida amps up the pressure | Women's T20WC 2026
The fragile Pakistan batting line-up once again crumbled at the slightest hint of pressure. While the Bangladesh spinners stuck to a tight line around the stumps, Pakistan batters were guilty of playing too many cross-batted shots, and slipped from 49/1 to 84/8.
Sanjida Akter Meghla, who dismissed Ayesha Zafar and Aliya Riaz in one over, finished with figures of 3/21. Meanwhile, Akter returned to bag the wicket of captain Sana and effectively end Pakistan's challenge in the game.
Australian batters set up big win over Netherlands | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Australia v Netherlands
Australia continued their unbeaten start to Women's T20 World Cup 2026 with a 98-run win over tournament debutants Netherlands in Southampton on Saturday.
Beth Mooney was back amongst the runs as she struck a 42-ball 74 to lead Australia to a record total of 219/6. They equalled the highest team total in tournament history, set by England against Sri Lanka in the 2026 opener.
However, Mooney retired hurt due to back stiffness and did not return for the Dutch innings.
Beth Mooney powers Australia to massive victory | Aramco POTM Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Put into bat, Australian openers Mooney and Georgia Voll made the most of the Dutch bowling tad too short. They brought up 50 inside five overs, but with Ellyse Perry and Voll falling in quick succession they ended powerplay at 61/2.
Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner (58 off 32) then stitched a partnership of 101 runs in just 55 balls, stamping their authority on the contest. Georgia Wareham provided the acceleration at the end as she struck eight fours for an 18-ball 41 to take Australia over the 200-mark.
Backed by a big total, Australian fast bowlers did not allow Netherlands batters to free their arms. Kim Garth set the Dutch back right away as she sent off the two openers -- Heather Siegers and Phebe Molkenboer -- in powerplay.
Playing a landmark 100th T20I, Babette de Leede posted a defiant unbeaten half-century. She put on a gritty 96-run partnership with Sterre Kalis, but they never mounted a serious threat against the clinical Aussies.
With their third straight win, the Aussies have one foot in the semi-finals.
Australian bowlers close out a comfortable win against Netherlands | Women's T20WC 2026