Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Australia beat West Indies to qualify for eighth final

The Australian cricket team sailed into the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 final after defeating the West Indies by eight wickets in the semis at The Oval on Tuesday.World No. 1 Australia, who have won the Women’s T20 World Cup a record six times, will contest their eighth final in 10 editions at Lord’s on Sunday. They will face the winner of the other semi-final fixture between South Africa and hosts England for the crown.After electing to bowl first, Australia restricted the West Indies women’s cricket team, seventh in the T20 world rankings, to just 125/7. A Beth Mooney fifty saw the Aussies make light work of the target. Ashleigh Gardner (35 not out and 2/13) also shone with an all-round display.West Indies suffered an early blow even before the match started as their batting ace Deandra Dottin was forced off the field after sustaining an injury shortly after the national anthem.With the specialist opener in the medical room, Qiana Joseph accompanied Hayley Matthews to kick off the Windies innings.The duo made a watchful start and put on 47 for the opening stand before Georgia Wareham gave Australia the first breakthrough in the ninth over by sending Matthews back for 30.Sophie Molineux accounted for Joseph (16) in the very next over, reducing West Indies to 55/2. The wicket triggered a collapse as Ashleigh Gardner picked up both Stafanie Taylor and Jahzara Claxton for ducks in the 11th over.Shemaine Campbelle (22) and Chinelle Henry (10) briefly arrested the slide before falling to Wareham and Molineux, respectively.However, Dottin, who finally came out to bat at No. 8, scored a handy unbeaten 26 off 16 balls to lead a late recovery, as she added 42 runs with Jannillea Glasgow for the seventh wicket, pushing the Caribbean side past 120.Gardner finished with 2/13 from her four overs while Wareham conceded four more in her three overs for two scalps. Molineux bowled out for 2/30.Australia’s chase lost both Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield inside the first five overs but a marauding Beth Mooney ensured the six-time champions were well-placed at 63/2 after the powerplay ended.Ellyse Perry hobbled off the field retired hurt in the next over after sustaining an injury while running between the wickets.The loss, though, didn’t stall Australia’s momentum at the slightest. Mooney reached her 30th T20 fifty in 29 balls and found able company in Ashleigh Gardner as the duo steered their team past the finish line.Mooney stayed unbeaten on 61 off just 36 balls while Gardner was not out on 35 off 20 balls after her contributions with the ball. Brief scores: West Indies Women 125/7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 30, Deandra Dottin 26 not out; Ashleigh Gardner 2/13) lost to Australia Women 127/2 in 13 overs (Beth Mooney 61 not out; Chinelle Henry 1/20) by eight wickets.– Agencies