Australia march on; Sri Lanka, New Zealand stay alive

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It was a triple header day at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026  2026 that kicked off with New Zealand's clash with Scotland.

Sri Lanka took on Ireland in a must-win contest while the action wrapped up with Australia v Pakistan clash.

Australia v Pakistan

Scorecard

Australia maintained their unbeaten run at the tournament with a comprehensive 113-run win over Pakistan at Headingley on Tuesday.

Ellyse Perry led the power-packed batting line-up with a dazzling 71 as Australia piled on 199/7. They were just as ruthless in the field, dismissing Pakistan for 86 in 13.4 overs.

While Australia made it four in four to strengthen their grip at the top of Group A, Pakistan's winless streak continued. Already out of semi-final contention, Fatima Sana's side will look for a consolation win against the Netherlands in their last group game against the Netherlands.

Put into field, Pakistan reaped instant rewards as Sadia Iqbal struck on the very first ball. Mooney poked at the ball and Gull Feroza held on to a good catch at first slip.

Australia did not let the early setback stick. Perry and Georgia Voll (39 off 28) were straight into their groove and carted the Pakistan bowling around the park to put on 64/1 in six overs, the highest powerplay score of this World Cup edition.

They built a 100-run parternship for the second wicket, and even though Australia lost the wickets of Voll, Ash Gardner and Georgia Wareham in a clump, the scoring rate did not drop.

Perry brought up her first fifty in T20 World Cups and struck nine fours and a six during the innings. Australia pressed on with Annabel Sutherland (27) and Nicola Carey (26 not out) cameos lower down the order.

For Pakistan it was another frustrating day, as their ground fielding let down in the closing phase and the team gave away 21 extras. Nashra Sundhu, Rameen Shamim and Sadia Iqbal finished with two wickets each.

Batting has been Pakistan's weaklink in the tournament and they came undone against a confident Australian side. Opener Muneeba Ali was the only one to provide some resistance with a 25-ball 32, but there was little support from the others.

Their lack of communication while running between the wickets resurfaced yet again, as three of the batters were run out, taking their count to eight run outs for the tournament so far.

After a strong performance with the bat, Perry returned to bag two wickets, including that of Ali, in her first over. Sophie Molineux and Sutherland also chipped in with two wickets each to help Australia to another big win.

Sri Lanka v Ireland

Scorecard

Chamari Athapaththu rolled back the years to notch her first century in Women's T20 World Cup and power her team do a dominant nine-wicket win over Ireland on Tuesday.

Before the match, Athapaththu, who has played every edition of T20 World Cup, had taken the blame for Sri Lanka's below-par performance in the tournament. On Tuesday, the talismanic skipper led the charge as Sri Lanka raced past the target of 131 in just 15.3 overs.

The southpaw lit up Bristol County Ground with 17 fours and two sixes to score an unbeaten 106, the highest individual score of this World Cup edition. 

Athapaththu's onslaught also helped Sri Lanka improve their net run-rate from -1.913 to -0.973, and hold on to the slim chance of qualifying. The Asian side is currently fourth in Group B, behind England, West Indies and New Zealand, with four points in four games.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka came up with a clinical bowling show to clamp Ireland after electing to field first.

Though already out of semi-final contention, Ireland captain Gaby Lewis battled on with a half-century, her second on the trot. After they were reduced to 19/3, Lewis and Leah Paul put on 66 runs for the fourth wicket to keep the team in the contest.

While Lewis top scored for Ireland with 59, Alice Tector gave the innings a lift at the end with a cameo of 28 not out from 21 balls.

The Sri Lankan bowlers kept their rivals hemmed in by bowling within the stumps. Mithali Ayodhya, Sugandika Kumari, Nilakshika Silva and Athapaththu bagged a wicket each, but it was a team effort that saw them restrict Ireland to 130/5.

Whatever hope Ireland had of making a match of it, evaporated with Athapaththu taking charge. Stung by the narrow defeat to the West Indies in the previous match, the Sri Lankan captain left nothing to chance and kept pressing on the throttle.

Fittingly, Athapaththu knocked off the winning runs, an exquisite cover drive for four as Sri Lanka finished at 134/1 in the 16th over.

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New Zealand v Scotland

Scorecard

New Zealand stayed in the hunt for a semi-final spot at the Women's T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over Scotland at the Bristol County Ground on Tuesday.

A blazing half-century from Izzy Sharp helped the defending champions overcome a tough start and chase down the target of 132 in 18.2 overs.

The result helped New Zealand climb to No 3 in Group B and stay in contention for the final four. After losing their first two matches of the campaign, the White Ferns have clinched back-to-back wins against Ireland and Scotland, and now have four points from as many matches.

For Scotland, who kickstarted the World Cup with a fine win against Ireland, the defeat means they are out of semi-final race.

Put into bat, Scotland got off to an explosive start, motoring to 41/0 in five overs. It was opener Darcey Carter who gave her team the initial burst and went on to score 72 off just 52 balls, with the help of eight fours and a six.

However, Carter did not find enough support at the other end. Apart from her, Sarah Bryce (25) and Priyanaz Chatterji (12) were the only batters to get into double figures.

While Lea Tahuhu had given New Zealand the breakthrough by dismissing Katherine Fraser, team stalwarts Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine once again rose to the occasion.

Kerr finished with 3/17 in her four overs while Devine chipped in with the crucial wickets of Sarah Bryce and Ailsa Lister.

Chasing a modest total, the White Ferns were in a spot of bother at 26/3 inside powerplay.

Captain Kathryn Bryce led the Scottish attack, and dismissed Melie Kerr in her very first over before returning to get rid of her opening partner Isabella Gaze.

Rachel Slater joined in the action, as she got through Devine's defences and knocked back the stump.

A 101-run stand between Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday for the fourth wicket snatched the game away from Scotland. Sharp struck eight fours and a six in a brisk innings of 62 but fell with the victory within sight. Halliday saw the team home with an unbeaten 41.

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