Semi-final clash in London
Australia will compete against the West Indies in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final. The match is scheduled to take place at the Kennington Oval in London on Tuesday, June 30. Australia enters this contest undefeated, having finished at the top of their group, while the West Indies secured their semi-final spot after a varied group stage performance.
Australia has maintained a strong presence in Women’s T20 World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in all ten editions of the tournament. The six-time champions concluded the group stage with four decisive victories. They also achieved the highest successful chase in the tournament’s history against India, advancing with a net run rate of +3.882.
Their group stage began with a 65-run win over South Africa, followed by a nine-wicket victory against Bangladesh. Subsequent wins included a 98-run margin over the Netherlands and a 113-run triumph against Pakistan. In their final group match, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner led the team to a record chase against India.
The West Indies experienced an inconsistent group stage. They started with three consecutive wins against England, Scotland, and Sri Lanka, though the first two were hard-fought. This was followed by successive defeats to England and Ireland. However, England’s victory over New Zealand ultimately ensured the West Indies’ progression to the final four.
Team form and pitch conditions
The Kennington Oval is anticipated to offer a batting-friendly surface, characterised by consistent bounce and short straight boundaries that favour stroke play. The larger square boundaries are expected to reward precise placement and effective running between the wickets. Given that teams have experienced similar success batting first and chasing at this venue, the captain winning the toss might opt to bowl first.
Australia holds a significant advantage in their head-to-head record against the West Indies in the Women’s T20 World Cup, having won five out of six encounters. The West Indies’ sole victory against Australia in the tournament came in the final of the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup, where they secured their first ICC title.
In the overall shortest format, the West Indies have won two out of 19 matches against Australia. Australia also won all three matches in a T20I series against the West Indies earlier this year in March 2026.
Australia is considered the favourite for the semi-final, having remained unbeaten in the group stage. Their strength lies in their batting depth, experienced players, and balanced lineup, with key contributions from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner throughout the tournament. The West Indies will depend heavily on Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin, who have been central to their campaign. However, their defeats against England and Ireland highlighted inconsistencies in their middle order, an area Australia may look to exploit.
Match details and reserve day
The semi-final match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST. For viewers in India, the match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network, with live streaming available on the Jio Hotstar app and website.
While the likelihood of rain on June 30 is considered low, a reserve day has been allocated for July 1, Wednesday, for the first semi-final. Semi-final reserve days also include up to 120 minutes of additional playing time. If the match cannot be completed on both the original and reserve days, the team that finished higher in the group stage points table will advance to the final. In this scenario, Australia would progress, having topped their group.
The predicted playing eleven for Australia Women includes: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (c), Kim Garth, and Lucy Hamilton.
The predicted playing eleven for West Indies Women includes: Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Jahzara Claxton, Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, and Ashmini Munisar.
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Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter