South Africa beat Bangladesh: What India need now to reach Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals
The battle for the two semi-final spots from Group A came down to the final league match of the Women’s T20 World Cup. India vs Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground will determine which two teams from India, Australia and South Africa will advance to the semi-finals.
Ahead of the India-Australia contest, South Africa beat Bangladesh by four wickets at Lord’s. The win moved the Proteas to eight points level with Australia, while India slipped to third in the table. So what does India need to do to qualify?
India vs Australia Women’s World Cup T20: Update | Scorecard
The equation is simple: India must beat Australia. A win will move India to eight points, level with South Africa, but India will progress on the basis of higher net rate. However, the defeat leaves India with six points, knocking them out of the tournament.
Australia are virtually assured of advancing to the semi-finals thanks to an excellent net rating of +4.724. South Africa, meanwhile, no longer have their qualification fate in their own hands.
WHO CAME TO INDIA?
India made one change to the side that beat Bangladesh, bringing in fast bowler Kranti Gaud in place of Nandini Sharma. Kranti has endured a tough tournament so far and has been goalless in two appearances.
Meanwhile, Australia welcomed back Phoebe Litchfield after recovering from a quad injury. The left-hander returned to the playing XI at No.3, replacing leg-spinner Alan King.
Litchfield will bring fond memories into the competition when she scored a brilliant century against India in the semi-final of the Women’s ODI World Cup in Navi Mumbai last year. He will be hoping for another winning game.
India have won only two of the seven Women’s World T20 matches against Australia. Their last win came in Sydney in 2020 when Poonam Yadav took four wickets to lead them to a memorable victory.
India Women’s Playing XI Vs. Australia women
Australia Women (Playing XI): Beth Mooney(w), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux(c), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton
India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud
More to follow…
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
28 Jun 2026 18:44 IST