Road to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final - England

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One of the most storied rivalries in cricket will resume on Sunday as England take on Australia in the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.

Both the teams arrive at the hallowed Lord's Cricket Ground for the championship clash unbeaten. While Australia defeated West Indies in the semi-finals, England got the better of South Africa on Thursday to bag their sixth win on the trot.

England have relished the opportunity of competing in a home World Cup and are now one step away from maintaining their perfect record as hosts. They have never lost a women's World Cup, T20 or ODI, at home. Their first and only T20 triumph came in the inaugural edition in 2009.

A look at their campaign so far:

Defeated Sri Lanka by 87 runs

England ensured a blockbuster start as they piled on 219/1, the highest score in Women's T20 World Cup history, against Sri Lanka in the tournament opener.

Leading the charge was Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who welcomed her first child into the world just in May. The English opener posted the first century of the 2026 edition, scoring an unbeaten 105 off just 62 balls. With Amy Jones (53) and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (46 not out) supporting her, England notched the record score.

A shell-shocked Sri Lanka could not mount a real challenge and were dismissed for 132. Freya Kemp stole the show with the ball, finishing with 4/22, while Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone claimed two wickets each.

Defeated Ireland by four wickets

If the win over Sri Lanka was set up with a batting masterclass, the hosts beat Ireland with a fine display of bowling.

Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/22 in her four overs while Charlie Dean took 2/11 in her spell as England restricted Ireland to 118/9.

There were a few hurdles along the way in the chase, especially with Nat Sciver-Brunt being retired out on 48, but England managed to get over the line with 15 balls to spare to win their second match on the trot.

Defeated Scotland by 38 runs

England were rocked onto the back foot straight away as Amy Jones was dismissed on the first ball of the innings. But the hosts absorbed the pressure and Sophia Dunkley wrested back control with 57 off 37.

Alice Capsey also played an impressive knock of 40 from 25 balls, with Freya Kemp (39 not out) and Dani Gibson (30 not out) providing a final flourish to power England to 200/5.

Scotland's chase was laboured because of the tight bowling from England, with the experienced Sophie Ecclestone once again delivering the good with 2/23, as Scotland were restricted to 162/7.

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Defeated West Indies by 38 runs

Having started the tournament with three straight wins, West Indies came undone against a solid England side. 

After electing to field first, West Indies managed to reduce the hosts to 38/2. Danni Wyatt-Hodge rallied with a half-century, while Heather Knight's quickfire 43 lower down the order helped England post a formidable 186/7 on the board.

Clinical with the ball, England never let West Indies power-packed batting off the hook and held them for 148/5 in 20 overs. Chinelle Henry, who had walked in with her team at 69/4, fought on with an unbeaten half-century but it was too little too late.

Defeated New Zealand by nine wickets

England wrapped up the group stage with a dominant win over New Zealand.

With their title defence on the line, New Zealand began well, scoring 44/0 in powerplay. But they struggled to get the acceleration they needed and ended up losing wickets in clumps. 

After a 70-run opening stand between Melie Kerr (42) and Isabella Gaze (28), the White Ferns lost three wickets in the space of four balls and zero runs. Cameos from stalwarts Sophie Devine (30 off 14), Brooke Halliday and Suzie Bates took them to 163/6.

The total wasn't enough to test England, and with Danni Wyatt-Hodge (89) taking the wheel once again, they knocked off the runs in 17.2 overs.

Defeated South Africa by 40 runs

The first 30 minutes belonged to South Africa in the second semi-final. With their pace duo Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail breathing fire, England were reduced to 23/3.

Nat Sciver-Brunt, who had returned from a calf-injury, and Heather Knight turned the tide with a 133-run stand, the highest partnership in a T20 World Cup. The captain struck 11 fours and a six to top score with 75, while Knight notched 58 off 47 balls, to lift England to 169/5.

Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave South Africa a whiff with a smart 43-run opening stand. But the English bowlers edged back into the game, starving their opponents of runs and taking wickets at regular intervals. A fighting half-century by Brits was in vain as South Africa's challenge folded for 129/8.

It was a collective effort from England's bowling unit that had managed to keep South Africa at bay, but Charlie Dean and Lauren Bell were the most successful on the day with two wickets each.

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