Six-time champions Australia crush Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa; off to a good start in the Women’s T20 World Cup

Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa plays a shot as Beth Mooney of Australia during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match at Old Trafford on June 13, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo/Getty Images) Australia kicked off their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a 65-run victory over South Africa at Old Trafford on Saturday, riding fast bowler Phoebe Litchfield’s half-century and displaying disciplined bowling under Georgia Wareham.After being asked to bat, Australia recovered from an early wobble to post 172/8 in their 20 overs. South Africa responded with 107 in 16.4 overs, with captain Laura Wolvaardt top-scoring with 44.Australia’s innings got off to a rocky start when Marizanne Kapp dismissed Georgia Vollova for a duck in the first over. Beth Mooney also struggled and fell for seven, leaving Australia under pressure.Litchfield then shifted the tempo. She hit a boundary on her first ball and struck from the start, helping Australia reach 52/2 at the end of the over. The left-hander brought up his fifty in just 23 balls and ended up making 51 off 24 deliveries, including nine fours and a six.South Africa hit back when Ashleigh Gardner was dismissed for one, reducing Australia to 57/4. However, Georgia Wareham and Ellyse Perry added 58 runs for the fifth wicket to steady the innings. Wareham made 32 off 22 balls with six boundaries before Nadine de Klerk ended the partnership.Perry anchored in the later stages with 36 off 26 balls while Annabel Sutherland chipped in with 21 off 14 deliveries to take Australia past the 170 mark.South Africa’s bowlers shared the wickets. Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Nadine de Klerk took two wickets each, while captain Laura Wolvaardt impressed in the field with three catches.Chasing 173, South Africa lost Sune Luus lbw to Sophie Molineux in the first over before Kim Garth bowled Annerie Dercksen in the next to leave them 7/2.Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk repaired the innings with a 41-run stand. De Klerk scored 25 before Wareham broke the partnership soon after the powerplay.Marizanne Kapp countered briefly with 12, but a mix-up between the goals ended her stay. Wolvaardt continued to hold one end, reaching 44 off 39 balls, but her dismissal to Wareham effectively ended South Africa’s hopes.Alana King then removed Sinalo Jafta and Kayla Reyneke in quick succession, while Ashleigh Gardner dismissed Shabnim Ismail. Wareham ended the inning by striking out Chloe Tryon and Nonkululeko Mlaba.Wareham finished with 3/13, while Molineux and King claimed two wickets each as Australia completed a comfortable win and got their campaign off to a good start.