Dubai, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia's dominant march to a record-extending seventh ICC Women's T20 World Cup title was reflected in the ICC's Team of the Tournament, with champions Australia contributing five players to the star-studded XI, while England, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Ireland, and Sri Lanka also earned representation after an action-packed tournament.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Mooney, Charani, and Wyatt-Hodge feature in ICC Team of the Tournament appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Fresh from leading Australia to an unprecedented seventh ICC Women's T20 World Cup title, skipper Sophie Molineux said she has set her sights on scaling greater heights and securing more silverware glory for her team, which is currently in a transition phase.

Source: IANS

The post After Women’s T20 WC win, Molineux sets sight on more silverware glory for Australia appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia captain Sophie Molineux hailed the unity and selfless attitude within her squad after leading the team to a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup title, saying the triumph was the reward for months of hard work, trust and preparation.

Australia defeated England by seven wickets in the final at Lord's on Sunday, comfortably chasing 151 in 17.1 overs after Beth Mooney's match-winning 64 and Phoebe Litchfield's fluent 48 laid the foundation for another memorable World Cup triumph.

An emotional Molineux described the victory as a special moment, especially with her family present to witness Australia's latest success.

"It's too good to be true. Dad's here as well. It's a special day. It took a lot of thought, effort, and hard work. And a group of people willing to do anything for each other. That's invaluable," Molineux said after lifting the trophy.

Molineux reserved special praise for senior all-rounder Ellyse Perry, saying her influence on the team extends well beyond her performances on the field.

"Having the likes of Pez to calm the team down after that first innings was so important. She's incredible. What she brings to the team isn't just on the field. Her nature and what she is, she's the heartbeat of the group really. An absolute legend of the game. She deserves so much," she said.

The captain also applauded young fast bowler Lucy Hamilton, who claimed an early wicket in the final and impressed with her composure on the biggest stage.

"Lucy Hamilton was so calm and had so much clarity. That's a testament to her and the group around her," Molineux said.

Reflecting on Australia's approach throughout the tournament, Molineux said consistency in mindset and trust in the team's preparation were the biggest factors behind their success.

"I think it's just being able to trust each other, trust our processes. We did a lot of work leading up to it and it's just nice to see it come to fruition. In tournament play you have to have the same mentality no matter the situation you are in," she said.

Molineux also paid tribute to England, who reached the final after an impressive campaign, before thanking Australia's families, support staff and the fans for their role in the team's journey.

"Firstly, just a massive congratulations to England. You guys have played such an amazing brand of cricket all tournament. To our beautiful families, partners and friends, you guys are so special to us. It's amazing to share this with you all. To our support staff, thank you for everything you do. And to the fans, it's been an incredible tournament. Every match there has been a massive crowd," she said.

The Australia captain ended by praising her teammates for embracing the team's vision throughout the competition.

"Finally, to the girls, I'm just so incredibly proud. Thank you for having an open mind and being willing to come on the journey. You should be incredibly proud," she added.

Australia's victory marked their seventh Women's T20 World Cup title, adding to their triumphs in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023, further cementing their status as the most successful team in the tournament's history.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: ‘Trusting each other was the key,’ says Molineux after Australia’s record win appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt admitted her side was outplayed by a more experienced Australian team after the hosts went down by seven wickets in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final at Lord's on Sunday, but said there was still plenty for England to be proud of after an impressive tournament.

Sciver-Brunt led from the front with an unbeaten 58 off 53 balls to help England post 150/4 after being put into bat. However, Australia chased down the target comfortably in 17.1 overs, with Beth Mooney scoring a match-winning 64 and sharing a 100-run partnership with Phoebe Litchfield to secure a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup title.

"Hugely disappointed. We've had such a great competition up to this point. We were outplayed today by a class Australian side that used their experience in a huge final," Sciver-Brunt said after the match.

The England skipper felt the toss played a role but admitted her team fell short of a competitive total on a surface that was not easy for batting.

"Ideally I'd have won the toss, and we'd be bowling first. But we were short of a par score on that wicket. It felt tricky to gain momentum with the bat. I guess when the pressure's on, their bowlers hit their areas," she said.

Sciver-Brunt was also full of praise for Australia's Player of the Match Beth Mooney, whose 64 off 49 balls took the game away from England.

"Beth Mooney was superb, a brilliant innings today as well," she added.

Asked whether she expected Australia to attack from the outset during the chase, Sciver-Brunt said it was always part of the defending champions' approach.

"Yeah, absolutely. They've got a powerful lineup with the bat," she said.

Despite the disappointment of losing the final, Sciver-Brunt praised the effort and unity shown by the England squad throughout the tournament.

"We've got so much to be proud of. We've done so much work pre-tournament. The energy throughout the group... we played some brilliant matches. It's a proper group of players that care about each other," she said.

England finished runners-up after an impressive campaign, while Sciver-Brunt ended the tournament on a personal high with a half-century in the final after also scoring a fifty in the semifinal, becoming the first England player to achieve the feat in both knockout matches of a Women's T20 World Cup.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: ‘We were outplayed by a class Australian side,’ says Sciver-Brunt after England loss appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Beth Mooney credited Australia's positive approach in the powerplay and the support from Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll after her match-winning knock guided the team to a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup title with a seven-wicket victory over England at Lord's on Sunday.

Mooney was named both the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament after finishing as the competition's leading run-scorer with 259 runs. In the final, the experienced opener struck a composed 64 off 49 balls, hitting 10 fours, as Australia comfortably chased down England's target of 151 in 17.1 overs.

Reflecting on Australia's latest World Cup triumph, Mooney said the team was grateful simply to have reached the final after falling short in the previous two ICC tournaments.

"Just happy to be here. I think it's been pretty well documented we haven't quite made it this far in the last two ICC events. I just woke up this morning pretty grateful we made it this far," she said.

Mooney also made important contributions behind the stumps, including the stumping of England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge. She acknowledged the role of Australia's coaching staff in helping her regain confidence with the gloves during the tournament.

"I warmed up into the tournament. At the start I was a bit rusty, but I got some great support from our coaching staff with Dan Kiley, Shell, the boys and Sean McLeod. I've had plenty of help along the way. I can't take too much credit. It's been really nice to have some consistency with the gloves and to play a role in the field as well," she said.

Speaking about standing up to the stumps for the bowlers, Mooney said it was a tactical decision taken together with the bowling group.

"It's obviously a conversation that happens between me and the bowlers. I'm more than happy to do what they tell me to. It's their plans and their job to execute, and thankfully they back me to clean up anything that goes a bit awry. We were umming and ahing about that review off Dan, but we got there in the end," she added.

Mooney also explained the batting approach that helped Australia dominate the chase. After Georgia Voll's quick start, Phoebe Litchfield's aggressive innings of 48 from 33 balls ensured Australia stayed ahead of the required rate before the pair added a decisive 100-run partnership.

"It was really important to settle the innings in the powerplay in a big game. Voll got us off to a really good start, hit the ball really well and then had an unfortunate dismissal. Phoebe came out and nailed it from ball one. I just kept going and tried to make sure we got ahead of the game as early as possible," she said.

Earlier, England posted 150/4 after captain Nat Sciver-Brunt remained unbeaten on 58 and Freya Kemp made an unbeaten 44. However, Mooney's ninth Women's T20 World Cup fifty, coupled with Litchfield's fluent innings, ensured Australia chased down the target with 17 balls to spare to lift the trophy for a record seventh time.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: ‘I’m grateful we made it this far,’ says Mooney after powering Australia to seventh title appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia underlined their dominance in women's cricket once again as opener Beth Mooney and youngster Phoebe Litchfield shared a match-winning 100-run partnership to guide the six-time champions to a commanding seven-wicket victory over England in the final of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday. Chasing 151, Australia reached the target in just 17.1 overs to lift a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup title.

The triumph added to Australia's previous title-winning campaigns in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023, giving them two separate hat-tricks of consecutive championships and further strengthening their position as the most successful team in the history of the tournament.

Chasing a competitive target of 151, Australia began cautiously, managing only six runs in the opening over with just one boundary.

Opener Georgia Voll then looked to change the momentum in the second over, striking a couple of boundaries before Lauren Bell struck back on the fifth ball of the over. Voll was clean bowled after scoring nine off six deliveries, giving England an early breakthrough.

Phoebe Litchfield walked in at No. 3 and immediately looked comfortable at the crease, hitting a boundary off the very first ball she faced. At the other end, Beth Mooney settled quickly before launching the counterattack. She found the boundary once in the third over and followed it up with three fours in the fourth over to put England's bowlers under pressure.

Litchfield matched her senior partner's intent by smashing a four and a six in the fifth over as Australia quickly shifted the momentum in their favour. Although Linsey Smith bowled an economical sixth over, Australia still raced to 62/1 at the end of the powerplay.

The scoring rate did not slow after the fielding restrictions. Mooney and Litchfield continued to rotate the strike smartly while ensuring at least one boundary came almost every over. Their positive approach steadily took Australia closer to another world title.

The 10th over proved particularly costly for England as Lauren Bell conceded 11 runs, allowing Australia to move to 98/1 at the halfway mark of the chase with the target firmly within reach.

Mooney brought up her half-century with a single in the 13th over, registering her ninth score of fifty or more in Women's T20 World Cup history to equal Nat Sciver-Brunt's record.

England finally ended the century partnership on the last ball of the 13th over when Charlie Dean clean bowled Litchfield. The young batter narrowly missed out on a deserved half-century, departing for 48 after striking four fours and two sixes. Their 100-run stand became the second-highest partnership in the history of a Women's T20 World Cup final, behind the partnership between Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor in the 2016 final in Kolkata.

Despite losing her partner, Mooney ensured there would be no late twist. She struck three boundaries in the following over as Australia's victory became a mere formality, with only 22 runs required from the final six overs.

Ellyse Perry, after a quiet start, joined the party by hitting a boundary in the 15th over as Australia closed in on the target. England managed one final breakthrough when Sophie Ecclestone trapped Mooney leg before wicket after a successful review. Mooney's outstanding knock of 64 from 49 balls included 10 boundaries and had already taken the game away from the hosts.

Perry then received a reprieve in the next over when Ecclestone was unable to complete a difficult catch cleanly. The experienced all-rounder remained unbeaten on 13 as Australia crossed the finish line with 17 balls to spare to seal another memorable World Cup triumph.

Earlier, England recovered well after a difficult start to post 150/4, thanks to an unbeaten 58 from captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and an equally important unbeaten 44 from Freya Kemp.

After being asked to bat first, England lost Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge inside the powerplay before Alice Capsey briefly counterattacked with 23 from 20 balls. Australia continued to strike at regular intervals, with Heather Knight also falling cheaply.

Sciver-Brunt then anchored the innings with a composed knock, rotating the strike effectively before accelerating in the closing overs. Kemp provided the perfect support, adding quick runs during the death overs as the unbeaten pair lifted England to what appeared to be a competitive total.

Sciver-Brunt's 58 not out from 53 balls, featuring five boundaries, also made her the first England player to score a half-century in both the semifinal and the final of a Women's T20 World Cup. Kemp remained unbeaten on 44 from 28 deliveries, hitting four fours and a six.

For Australia, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Annabel Sutherland and captain Sophie Molineux claimed one wicket each before their batters completed a clinical chase to crown Australia Women's T20 World Cup champions for a record seventh time.

Brief Scores: England 150/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 58*, Freya Kemp 44*, Alice Capsey 23; Lucy Hamilton 1-19, Kim Garth 1-20) lost to Australia in 153/5 in 17.1 overs (Beth Mooney 64, Phoebe Litchfield 48; Sophie Ecclestone 1-24, Charlotte Dean 1-28) by 7 wickets.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Mooney stars as Australia crush England to lift record-extending seventh title appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) England batter Alice Capsey believes her side's total of 150/4 is a brilliant score in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final against Australia at Lord's, crediting captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Freya Kemp for showing exactly how to bat on a challenging surface.

England recovered well after early setbacks to post 150/4 in their 20 overs, thanks to an unbeaten 58 off 53 balls from Sciver-Brunt and a quickfire 44 not out off 28 deliveries from Kemp. The pair stitched together an unbeaten stand to guide the hosts to what Capsey felt was a highly competitive total under the pressure of a World Cup final.

"I think that score of 150 is brilliant. The way Nat and Kempy went about their business there at the end was outstanding. And I think it showed how to play on that pitch. To do that under the high pressure of the final was great," Capsey said after England completed their innings.

Capsey herself contributed 23 off 20 balls after England had slipped to 39/2 in the powerplay. She struck two fours and a six before being clean bowled by Australia captain Sophie Molineux while attempting a reverse sweep.

The right-hander also expressed confidence in England's bowling attack, saying disciplined bowling would be the key to defending the total.

"I think when you bowl good lines and lengths, it was pretty tricky. The bowlers all have their plans and already had their plans for their match-ups. We look forward to watching our bowlers go out there and do their thing today," she said.

Capsey also spoke about the atmosphere at a packed Lord's for the title clash, describing it as a special occasion while insisting England's focus remained on completing the job.

"It's amazing. Just trying to take it all in, I guess. Half of the job is done now, and we're just looking forward to getting out there as a group and putting on hopefully a show for that second half. Then we can really enjoy this Lord's crowd hopefully at the end," she added.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: ‘Nat and Kempy showed how to bat on this wicket,’ says Capsey appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt produced a calm and composed unbeaten half-century, while Freya Kemp played a valuable late innings of 44 not out to help England recover from early setbacks and post a competitive 150/4 in 20 overs against Australia in the final of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday.

After Australia won the toss and opted to bowl, England found it difficult to get going. Kim Garth bowled with excellent control in the opening over, conceding just seven runs and keeping the batters under pressure.

Australia struck early in the second over when youngster Lucy Hamilton made an immediate impact. Amy Jones tried to guide the ball but only managed to edge it to Georgia Voll at short third. Jones departed for six off six deliveries, giving Australia an early breakthrough.

Following the early wicket, captain Sciver-Brunt joined Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the middle and focused on rebuilding the innings. The England skipper rotated the strike well and found the boundary twice in the fifth over to ease some of the pressure.

However, just as the partnership was beginning to settle, Australia struck again. Annabel Sutherland induced a faint edge from Wyatt-Hodge, who was caught after scoring eight runs from nine balls. England were once again pushed on the back foot.

With two wickets down, England finished the powerplay at 39/2 after six overs.

Alice Capsey then joined her captain and began cautiously before shifting gears. She took on Ashleigh Gardner in the ninth over, striking two boundaries and a six to inject momentum into the innings.

The partnership looked promising, but Australia broke through again in the 10th over. Captain Sophie Molineux clean bowled Capsey, who attempted a reverse sweep but completely missed the ball. Capsey made 23 from 20 deliveries, leaving England at 68/3 after 10 overs.

England suffered another setback in the following over when Kim Garth trapped the experienced Heather Knight in front of the stumps. Knight managed just two runs from six balls as Australia tightened their grip on the contest.

Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Sciver-Brunt remained composed and continued to anchor the innings. She rotated the strike effectively and ensured England did not lose further momentum. At the other end, Freya Kemp played the perfect supporting role before accelerating in the closing overs.

Kemp hit her first boundary in the 13th over and added another at the start of the 16th. She then found the fence once again in the same over as England crossed 100 and reached 105/4 after 15 overs.

Sciver-Brunt also stepped up the scoring rate, striking a boundary off the very first ball of the 16th over against Molineux. She reached her half-century in 45 balls with a single in the 18th over. In the process, she became the first England player to score a fifty in both the semifinal and the final of a Women's T20 World Cup.

The England captain remained unbeaten on 58 from 53 balls, an innings that included five boundaries. Kemp provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 44 off just 28 deliveries, hitting four fours and a six as the pair guided England to 150/4 from their 20 overs.

For Australia, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Annabel Sutherland and captain Sophie Molineux claimed one wicket each.

Brief Scores: England 150/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 58*, Freya Kemp 44*, Alice Capsey 23;Lucy Hamilton 1-19, Kim Garth 1-20) against Australia

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Sciver-Brunt’s fifty, Kemp’s late flourish lift England to 150/4 against Australia in final appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first against England in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final at Lord's Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Both teams have not made any changes to their playing XI.

The high-stakes encounter marks the fourth time these two cricketing powerhouses will contest the tournament's summit clash, having previously met in the 2012, 2014, and 2018 finals – all won by Australia.

Six-time champions Australia enter the title decider as firm favourites after maintaining a flawless tournament record with six consecutive victories. Led by Sophie Molineux, who took over the captaincy following Alyssa Healy’s retirement in March, Australia entered the final with a commanding eight-wicket win over the West Indies at The Oval.

The Nat Sciver-Brunt-led side are aiming to capture their second T20 World Cup crown, and repeat their historic triumph from the inaugural edition at this very venue back in 2009. Under a revamped coaching setup led by Charlotte Edwards, this refreshed England lineup looks to break a three-year jinx against Australia, who have dominated recent head-to-head encounters with eight successive wins across formats.

After winning the toss, Australia skipper Sophie Molineux said, "We're going to have a bowl. Beautiful day, want to put pressure on them early. Don't think the pitch will change too much. No changes. Pez (Perry) pulled up well after the training yesterday. Special day. The girls got a couple of days off. Started training the last couple of days."

After losing the toss, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt said, "Was going to bowl as well. It's a fresh wicket - runs on the board in the final is no bad thing. We're unchanged. Will be silly on me not to lean on that experience. One more run than the opposition, I suppose."

Playing XIs:

England: Amy Jones(wk), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt(c), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell

Australia: Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney(wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux(c), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Unchanged Australia opt to bowl against England in final appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ahead of the high-octane final between England and Australia, International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah has hailed the ongoing 2026 Women's T20 World Cup as a record-shattering success, saying that it has emerged as the biggest edition of the tournament in on-ground attendance and viewership.

The title clash between the two cricketing powerhouses is scheduled to take place at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday. “We had ambitions for this #T20WorldCup to be the biggest ever, and with record-breaking crowds and huge viewership across the globe on TV and digital, we have achieved that,” wrote Shah on his ‘X’ account.

Looking forward to the blockbuster finale, Shah extended his greetings to both teams. “Best of luck to England and Australia, who will no doubt put on a great contest in the Final at Lord's,” he added.

The high-stakes encounter marks the fourth time Australia and England have contested in the tournament's summit clash, having previously met in the 2012, 2014, and 2018 finals, which were all won by Australia.

Six-time champions Australia enter the title decider as firm favourites after having a run of six consecutive victories. Led by Sophie Molineux, who took over the captaincy following Alyssa Healy’s retirement in March, Australia entered the final with a commanding eight-wicket win over the West Indies at The Oval.

Meanwhile, hosts England earned their place in the final after defeating South Africa by 40 runs in their semi-final fixture at The Oval. The Nat Sciver-Brunt-led side are aiming to capture their second T20 World Cup crown and repeat their historic triumph from the inaugural edition, achieved at this very venue back in 2009.

At the title clash, global music icons Rita Ora and Clean Bandit will perform in a star-studded closing ceremony of the tenth edition of the tournament.

Source: IANS

The post Ahead of England-Australia final, Jay Shah hails record-shattering success of Women’s T20 WC appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Dubai, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia's Ellyse Perry, England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge, India's Smriti Mandhana, and South Africa all-rounder Marizanne Kapp have been shortlisted for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament award after standout campaigns across the competition.

The four nominees have been instrumental in their respective teams' fortunes, with finalists Australia and England accounting for two of the contenders, while Mandhana and Kapp earned recognition despite their sides falling short of the title clash.

Ellyse Perry (Australia)

Perry has enjoyed another stellar ICC event, scoring 185 runs at an average of 46.25 and claiming four wickets at 7.50. The veteran all-rounder collected three Player of the Match awards during Australia's unbeaten march to the final, beginning with an all-round display against Bangladesh, where she picked up two wickets before finishing unbeaten on 19.

The 35-year-old followed that with successive half-centuries against Pakistan and India, helping Australia maintain a perfect record and secure a place in Sunday's final.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England)

England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge heads into the final as the tournament's leading run-scorer, amassing 294 runs at an impressive average of 73.5. Her campaign began spectacularly with a century against Sri Lanka in the opening match before she added two more half-centuries to power England into the title decider.

Wyatt-Hodge has also provided consistently brisk starts for the hosts, striking at 152.33 throughout the tournament.

Smriti Mandhana (India)

India's Smriti Mandhana is the lone nominee from a side that failed to reach the semi-finals. The left-handed opener scored 205 runs at an average of 41, including back-to-back fifties against Pakistan and the Netherlands to launch India's campaign in style.

Mandhana also contributed a fluent 38 against Australia in a must-win final group-stage fixture, though India eventually fell short of securing a semi-final berth.

Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)

Completing the shortlist is South Africa's Marizanne Kapp, whose all-round contributions once again proved invaluable for the Proteas. Kapp scored 124 runs at 31 and claimed eight wickets at an average of 14.37 during South Africa's run to the semi-finals.

Her defining performance came against India, where she claimed two wickets before steering South Africa's chase with an unbeaten 81 to keep her side's knockout hopes alive. The experienced all-rounder also showcased remarkable consistency with the ball, taking at least one wicket in every match except South Africa's group-stage fixture against the Netherlands.

The winner of the Player of the Tournament award will be announced following Sunday's Women's T20 World Cup final between England and Australia at Lord's.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Mandhana, Perry among Player of the Tournament nominees appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former New Zealand captain Sophie Devine reflected on her 20-year international career with an emotional message after bringing the curtain down on her time with the White Ferns following the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.

The veteran all-rounder, whose final international appearance came in New Zealand's tournament-ending defeat, thanked teammates, support staff, fans, and her family while looking back on a journey that spanned two decades in the silver fern.

Devine, who retired alongside long-time teammates Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu after the White Ferns bowed out of the competition, admitted that the magnitude of the moment had only begun to sink in.

"Well…not too sure where the last twenty years have gone, but to walk off the park one final time, with my two great mates, is a pretty fitting farewell to the international game,” Devine wrote while sharing pictures with her teammates on Instagram.

The 35-year-old paid tribute to the countless people who shaped her international journey, acknowledging that her career was built on the efforts of far more people than she could individually name.

"Don’t think I’ll be able to thank all the people that have played a part in my journey, because otherwise I’ll name half of NZ, but to the coaches, physios, trainers, officials, fans, and media, thank you. Thank you for supporting me, pushing me, and, most importantly, putting up with my shit,” she said.

While Devine's career featured numerous individual milestones—including leading New Zealand to the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup title—she said it was representing her country alongside her teammates that remained her greatest source of pride.

"To my White Fern teammates (there’s probably about a hundred of ya!), you are the reason I played the game…to represent our beautiful Aotearoa on the world stage, side by side…there’s nothing that filled me with more pride,” she added.

Devine also reserved special words for her family, who were present to witness her final walk off the international stage after supporting her throughout the highs and lows of her career.

"And last but not least…to my family. To have you watch me walk off the field for the last time is one of the most special moments of my career. You’ve seen it all. The good days. The bad days (there were a few), you have always had my back, and I’ve never forgotten that when I pulled on the Silver Fern,” Devine penned.

She concluded the message with a Māori proverb that encapsulated how she viewed her achievements—not as individual accomplishments, but as the product of collective support.

"Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini (My success is not mine alone, but the strength of many),” she expressed.

Devine leaves international cricket as one of New Zealand's finest all-rounders, ending a career that spanned two decades and concluded alongside fellow White Ferns stalwarts Bates and Tahuhu, bringing to a close one of the most celebrated eras in the team's history.

Source: IANS

The post ‘My success is not mine alone…: Sophie Devine pens emotional note on retirement appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia captain Sophie Molineux says a final decision on Ellyse Perry's availability for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final against hosts England will be taken on match day, but remains confident the veteran all-rounder can still make a significant impact even if she is unable to bowl.

Australia and England will reignite one of women's cricket's biggest rivalries when they meet in the title match at Lord's on Sunday. Both teams have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, leading their groups before winning convincingly in the semi-finals, setting up an exciting finale.

Perry suffered a quad injury during Australia's eight-wicket semi-final win over West Indies and had to retire hurt, raising concerns about her fitness for the final. However, Molineux confirmed that the 35-year-old completed a full training session on Saturday.

"She (Perry) went through a bit of a test for the final. She trained really well today, batted, and bowled. We'll check tomorrow and see how she feels," Molineux said.

The Australian captain mentioned that Perry's batting alone could justify her spot even if she can't bowl.

"It’d be great if she could bowl for us, but with our bowling depth, we feel covered in that area. Her T20 World Cup performance with the bat has been incredible; she's won a couple of games for us. I think her batting, even if she's not bowling, will still be a huge plus for us."

Australia returns to the Women's T20 World Cup final for the first time since 2023 after missing out in 2024. Despite having a team full of experienced players, Molineux believes the team's improvement since last year's ODI World Cup semi-final loss to India has driven their success.

"The group has grown over the last three to four months," she said. "We’ve freed ourselves up a bit to play openly and showcase our skills. It's a very smart cricket team."

Standing between Australia and a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup title is an unbeaten England side playing in front of a large home crowd at the Home of Cricket. Molineux acknowledged the challenge but feels her team is prepared.

"They've played some excellent cricket lately, and they seem full of confidence with 30,000 English fans here at Lord's," she said.

"We know it’s going to be an incredible challenge, but it will also be a really special day. We match up well against them."

History adds another interesting element to Sunday's final. Australia leads England 5-2 in Women's T20 World Cup matchups and has won all three previous T20 World Cup finals between the two rivals. However, England has never lost a Women's World Cup final - ODI or T20 - on home soil.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Ellyse Perry’s fitness to be decided on match day, says Sophie Molineux ahead of final appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ahead of the high-octane ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final against arch-rivals Australia, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt on Saturday stated that her side is entering the title clash with far greater composure and confidence, adding that they have improved a lot since making an early exit in the 2024 edition.

The iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground holds fond memories for England, who clinched the 2017 ODI World Cup title here under Heather Knight's leadership with a tense nine-run victory over India. It was a high-pressure match where Nat top-scored for England with a vital 51 off 68 deliveries.

Now leading the side herself, Nat is on the precipice of securing England’s first T20 World Cup crown since their inaugural tournament triumph at home in 2009. However, England face a monumental task against six-time champions Australia, a team that has held complete psychological dominance over them with eight consecutive victories across formats over a three-year undefeated streak.

“I guess a lot of cricket has happened between 2024 and now. Initially there was a lot of disbelief that we'd sort of lost one game and didn't quite make it to the semis. I suppose that game (defeat to West Indies) was, chaotic for all sorts of reasons. But I think where we are now is as a much more sort of composed and confident team.

“We have been put under pressure and been able to come out the other side and our batting coach calls it nitty-gritty moments, and there are those in every game that we play. But I suppose so far in this one we've shown that we can get through those moments and come out the other side. So we're a very different team to 2024,” said Nat in the pre-match press conference.

The ‘Home of Cricket’ is no longer an unfamiliar territory for England, who have gained significant exposure to the ground in recent years via The Hundred. Additionally, England will carry fond recent memories of the venue, having registered a comfortable 38-run victory over the West Indies during their group stage encounter here on June 24.

“It is going to be a big occasion. But it's why we've done everything that we've done so far. Everything that we've worked on and everything was to try and get us to this point. So, I suppose acknowledging that and try and take in as much of the day as you can.

“I mean, being part of the 2017 final, we sort of spoke in a similar way about how special a day it was going to be and try and, I guess, be really present during the day and try and enjoy yourself as much as you can. So, that was what I've been trying to instill in everybody.”

“Everyone has done so much hard work, I suppose, to get ourselves into this position. But I guess we would always work hard before a tournament. But I think the levels of confidence that people have in their own ability to be able to put their skills on display regardless of who we're playing, that's probably the bit that I'm most proud of and most pleased about really.

“There's been so many different people during the tournament who have had their moment to shine and to show what they could do. So as a team we're really well balanced in that everyone has had success throughout the tournament and can draw on that moment, and feeling to help us tomorrow,” she added.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: England are much more composed and confident, says Nat Sciver-Brunt appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia's pursuit of another global title has followed a familiar script: clinical, composed and ruthlessly efficient.

The six-time champions have once again underlined why they remain the benchmark in women's T20 cricket, navigating the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 without a defeat to book their place in an eighth final. Whether it has been explosive batting, relentless bowling or experienced campaigners delivering under pressure, Australia have found different match-winners at every turn.

Now, with England standing between them and a seventh Women's T20 World Cup crown, Australia arrive at Lord's carrying the momentum of six successive victories and a squad that has looked increasingly formidable as the tournament has progressed.

A commanding start against South Africa

Australia opened their campaign with an emphatic statement against the 2024 runners-up, overpowering South Africa in all three departments. Phoebe Litchfield injected early momentum with a blistering half-century off just 24 balls, while Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham chipped in with valuable contributions to lift Australia to 172/8.

The bowlers then took complete control. Georgia Wareham starred with figures of 3/13, while Sophie Molineux and Alana King struck twice each as South Africa were bundled out for just 107, despite Laura Wolvaardt's fighting 44.

Bowlers dismantle Bangladesh

Australia barely eased off in their second outing. Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux ripped through Bangladesh's top order, ensuring the Asian side never recovered from the early blows. Restricted to just 77/8, Bangladesh offered little resistance, with only captain Nigar Sultana and Ritu Moni reaching double figures.

The chase proved little more than a formality. Georgia Voll's unbeaten 45 guided Australia home inside 10 overs, while Perry's all-round contribution earned her the Player of the Match award.

Batters rewrite the record books against Netherlands

Against tournament debutants Netherlands, Australia's batting unit shifted into top gear. Beth Mooney produced a classy 74, Ashleigh Gardner added a powerful 58 and Wareham supplied the finishing flourish as Australia amassed 219/6—the joint-highest total in Women's T20 World Cup history, matching England's record set earlier in the tournament.

The Dutch showed admirable resilience through Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis, whose century partnership prevented a collapse, but the target proved well beyond reach as Australia secured another convincing victory.

Perry powers another dominant win

Pakistan briefly sensed an opening after removing Beth Mooney from the very first ball of the innings. Australia responded in trademark fashion.

Ellyse Perry steadied the innings with a commanding 71, sharing a century stand with Georgia Voll to put Australia firmly back in control before Nicola Carey and Annabel Sutherland accelerated late to push the total close to 200.

The bowlers ensured there would be no contest. Perry, Sutherland and Sophie Molineux collected three wickets apiece as Pakistan folded for just 86, handing Australia a comprehensive 113-run victory.

Experience shines through against India

Australia finally encountered genuine resistance in their final league fixture. India, needing victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive, posted a competitive 170/4 after valuable contributions from Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and a late assault from Harmanpreet Kaur.

Australia's reply was equally challenging. Reduced to 68/3 midway through the innings, the six-time champions briefly found themselves under pressure.

That was when experience took over. Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner stitched together a match-winning century partnership, calmly dismantling India's hopes as Australia completed the chase with six wickets in hand. The result not only secured a perfect group-stage record but also eliminated India from the tournament.

Clinical in the semi-final challenger against West Indies

Australia raised their standards once more in the semi-final against West Indies. After opting to bowl, they never allowed the Caribbean batters to dictate terms. Hayley Matthews top-scored with 30, while Deandra Dottin provided late impetus despite an injury concern, but Australia's disciplined attack restricted West Indies to 125/7

Gardner broke the backbone of the innings with a decisive two-wicket over, while Wareham and Molineux chipped in with two wickets each. The chase reflected Australia's authority. Beth Mooney anchored proceedings with an unbeaten 61 before Gardner's brisk cameo ensured the target was overhauled with ease, sealing an eight-wicket victory and another place in a World Cup final.

A campaign built on collective excellence

Australia's unbeaten run has been driven less by individual brilliance than by the remarkable depth within their squad.

Perry has repeatedly delivered when the team has needed stability, Gardner has influenced games with both bat and ball, Mooney has anchored crucial chases, Wareham and Molineux have spearheaded the bowling attack, while Litchfield, Voll, Garth, Sutherland and King have all stepped up at key moments.

It is that ability to produce a new match-winner almost every game that has kept Australia's title defence on course.

Now, only England remain. At Lord's, the tournament's most successful side will chase yet another chapter in an already glittering legacy, aiming to lift a record-extending seventh Women's T20 World Cup trophy.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Australia’s road to final, dominant and destructive appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) England’s unbeaten march has carried them to the doorstep of history. On Sunday at Lord’s, the inaugural champions will face six-time title winners Australia in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 final, seeking to preserve a remarkable record that stretches across every women’s World Cup they have hosted.

What makes England’s campaign stand out is not simply the six victories on the bounce, but the variety with which they have arrived at the title clash. Record-breaking batting displays, disciplined bowling performances, recoveries from difficult positions and contributions from almost every corner of the squad have underlined a tournament in which they have rarely looked out of control.

A statement on opening night against Sri Lanka

England wasted no time announcing themselves as contenders. In the tournament opener against Sri Lanka, they rewrote the record books by posting 219/1, the highest team total in Women's T20 World Cup history.

The innings belonged to Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who produced an unbeaten 105 from 62 deliveries to register the first century of the tournament. Amy Jones added a fluent half-century, while captain Nat Sciver-Brunt provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 46.

Sri Lanka never recovered from the assault. Freya Kemp ripped through the batting order with figures of 4/22 as England wrapped up an emphatic 87-run victory to begin their campaign in ideal fashion.

Bowlers take charge against Ireland

England's second win came through a different route. Rather than overpowering opponents with the bat, they strangled Ireland through disciplined bowling.

Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean dictated the contest by limiting Ireland to 118/9. Ecclestone claimed three wickets while Dean's economical spell ensured there was never any sustained momentum for the Irish batting unit.

The chase briefly threatened to become complicated after England lost regular wickets, with Sciver-Brunt even being retired out on 48. Nevertheless, the hosts completed the chase comfortably with four wickets in hand and more than two overs remaining.

Responding under pressure versus Scotland

For the first time in the tournament, England suffered an early setback when Amy Jones departed off the opening delivery against Scotland. The wobble barely lasted.

Sophia Dunkley counter-attacked with a sparkling 57 from just 37 balls, while Alice Capsey's aggressive 40 shifted the momentum completely. Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson then added valuable late runs to carry England to 200/5.

Scotland never truly threatened the target as Ecclestone once again showcased her consistency, helping restrict them to 162/7 and sealing another comfortable victory.

Middle order answers West Indies challenge

West Indies posed one of England's sternest tests in the group stage after reducing the hosts to 38/2. Once again, England found solutions. Wyatt-Hodge anchored the recovery with another half-century before Heather Knight accelerated in the closing overs with an enterprising 43 to push the total to 186/7.

England's bowlers ensured the chase never gathered momentum. Despite Chinelle Henry's unbeaten fifty, West Indies were kept to 148/5, giving England a fourth successive win and virtually confirming their place in the knockout stage.

Clinical finish against New Zealand

With New Zealand needing victory to keep their title defence alive, England produced arguably their most complete performance of the league phase.

The White Ferns began brightly through Melie Kerr and Isabella Gaze before England's bowlers triggered a dramatic collapse, removing three batters in the space of four deliveries without conceding a run.

Set 164, England made the chase look routine. Wyatt-Hodge continued her outstanding tournament with a commanding 89 as the hosts romped home by nine wickets with 16 balls remaining, completing a flawless group stage.

Character on display in the semi-final against South Africa

England's toughest examination arrived in the semi-final against South Africa. The innings could hardly have begun worse. Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail dismantled the top order, reducing England to 23/3 inside the opening exchanges. What followed was the defining partnership of their campaign.

Returning from a calf injury, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt joined forces with Heather Knight to produce a magnificent 133-run stand, the highest partnership in Women's T20 World Cup history. Sciver-Brunt led from the front with 75, while Knight's composed 58 transformed England from early trouble to a competitive 169/5.

South Africa made a positive start through Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, but England's bowling unit steadily tightened the screws. Charlie Dean and Lauren Bell struck twice apiece, while the attack collectively denied South Africa any sustained momentum, restricting them to 129/8 and securing a 40-run victory.

A campaign built on depth

While Wyatt-Hodge has emerged as England's standout performer with a century and multiple match-winning knocks, the journey to the final has been far from a one-player show.

Sciver-Brunt has delivered captain's innings under pressure, Knight has rescued England when required, Ecclestone has remained the leader of the bowling attack, while Dean, Kemp, Bell, Dunkley, Capsey and Gibson have all made decisive contributions at different stages.

That collective strength has allowed England to adapt to every challenge, whether posting tournament-record totals, defending modest scores or recovering from difficult starts.

Now only Australia stand between the hosts and a second Women's T20 World Cup crown. England arrive at Lord's unbeaten, confident and carrying the weight of an extraordinary home record that has survived every Women's World Cup played on English soil. One final victory would make this campaign one of their finest yet.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: England’s march to final, unbeaten and unshaken appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Arch-rivals Australia and England will lock horns in a clash of unbeaten teams when cricket's most celebrated rivalry takes centrestage in the final of the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The title clash has all the ingredients to deliver a blockbuster finale and decide the winner of the 12-team tournament. Six-time champions Australia are gunning for their seventh title and standing on the cusp of a milestone 150th women’s T20I victory.

They have historically dominated England in global tournament finals, emerging victorious in all three of their previous T20 World Cup final encounters in 2012, 2014, and 2018. Australia have won six of their last eight T20Is against England, including in their last three consecutive meetings.

But England, the hosts and 2009 winners, will lean on their immaculate record at the 'Home of Cricket'. England boast a perfect four-from-four T20I record at Lord's, a streak that includes their maiden T20 World Cup triumph back in 2009.

Australia's primary concern revolves around the fitness of veteran seam-bowling all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who sustained a quad injury during their semi-final victory over the West Indies. Head coach Shelley Nitschke hinted that the management's tolerance for playing a partially fit Ellyse remains high given what is at stake.

Australia will also rely heavily on leg-spin bowling all-rounder Georgia Wareham, who has been their standout impact player in the tournament with a blistering batting strike rate of 182.22 alongside picking seven crucial wickets.

England look equally formidable following the successful return of skipper Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who smashed a match-winning 75 in the semi-final against South Africa after recovering from a calf issue. Opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge is in roaring form, having amassed 294 runs so far, the most for any player in a single edition of the tournament.

With both in peak form, Sunday's clash promises to be a thrilling tactical battle at a venue where England previously scored 186 against the West Indies and emerged victorious, while Australia pulled off a record run-chase against India here last week.

Squads-

Australia: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham and Tahlia Wilson (travelling reserve).

England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Unbeaten heavyweights Australia and England clash for ultimate glory at Lord’s appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Dubai, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the match officials for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 final, with experienced umpires Jacquline Williams and India's Vrinda Rathi set to take charge of the title clash between England and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The final, set to start at 8:00 PM IST, will feature unbeaten hosts England facing six-time champions Australia. This match revisits one of the greatest rivalries in women's cricket.

Williams, who is officiating her fifth ICC Women's T20 World Cup, has had another strong tournament. She was on the field for the opening match on June 12, where England defeated Sri Lanka at Edgbaston. She also oversaw England's 40-run semi-final win over South Africa and Australia's important six-wicket Group A victory against India.

Sunday's final will be Williams' second ICC Women's T20 World Cup final as an on-field umpire. She previously officiated Australia's 19-run win over South Africa in the 2023 final. For Rathi, this appointment marks a significant milestone as she prepares to officiate her first Women's T20 World Cup final. During the tournament, she has overseen victories for both finalists, including Australia's strong semi-final win over the West Indies and England's four-wicket victory over Ireland.

New Zealand's Kim Cotton is the third umpire, while Sri Lanka's Nimali Perera will serve as the fourth umpire. Experienced Indian official GS Lakshmi has been named the match referee for this major event. Lakshmi also officiated the tournament opener between England and Sri Lanka, as well as Sri Lanka's memorable five-wicket victory over New Zealand in Southampton.

Tournament hosts England will face six-time champions Australia in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday. This matchup will renew one of the biggest rivalries in women's cricket. It will be the fourth time these two teams have met in a Women's T20 World Cup final, following past encounters in 2012, 2014, and 2018. The match will start at 3:30 PM local time on July 5.

Australia reached the final with a strong eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first semi-final at The Oval. Meanwhile, unbeaten hosts England secured their spot with a convincing 40-run win over South Africa. England will be chasing their second Women's T20 World Cup crown, having won the first tournament at Lord's in 2009. Australia, on the other hand, aims to add a record-extending seventh title to their impressive collection, following wins in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Jacquline Williams, Vrinda Rathi to officiate final between England and Australia at Lord’s appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) England must shed the psychological scars of recent defeats to Australia and embrace a fresh mindset if they are to end their rivals' dominance in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final, former England captain Nasser Hussain has said.

England, unbeaten alongside Australia throughout the tournament, booked their place in Sunday's title clash at Lord's with a commanding semifinal victory over South Africa. But standing between the hosts and a first Women's T20 World Cup title since 2009 are the six-time champions, who whitewashed England 16-0 in the 2025 Ashes and also defeated them in a warm-up game before the tournament.

Hussain believes England's biggest challenge lies in overcoming the mental hurdle. "The first thing is the mind games with themselves. Do they really believe they can beat Australia? That is the first hurdle to get over," Hussain said on Sky Sports. "No mental baggage, no scarring. It needs to be, 'we are a new England, under a new coach [Charlotte Edwards took over after The Ashes], we are coming at you, Australia.'

While acknowledging Australia's formidable strength, Hussain pointed to one potential vulnerability. "I don't see many weaknesses in that Australia side, to be honest, and their biggest strength is a long batting line-up that keeps coming at you.

"The only thing is that maybe sometimes, because they have such a long batting line-up, they occasionally may think, 'I can leave it to the next batter, then the next batter,' and then all of a sudden they find themselves in a bit of trouble."

Despite Australia's overwhelming record, Hussain insisted England have every chance in a one-off final at a packed Lord's. "In a one-off final at Lord's, with a massive home crowd behind them, can England beat Australia? Of course they can. But Australia are favourites."

England's semifinal against South Africa briefly threatened to derail after they slumped to 23-3 inside four overs, losing Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones, and Alice Capsey cheaply.

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, returning after missing the final three group-stage matches with a calf injury, steadied the innings alongside former captain Heather Knight. The experienced pair shared a match-defining 133-run partnership from 90 balls, both scoring half-centuries to lift England to 169-5.

England then produced a clinical all-round display with the ball and in the field to restrict South Africa to 129-8. Sophie Ecclestone starred with figures of 1-21 and pulled off two outstanding catches as the hosts sealed a comprehensive 40-run victory.

Hussain praised Knight's experience and Sciver-Brunt's brilliance after their rescue. "I remember doing a women's game at the start of the summer and was asked about Knight as she was struggling a little bit with her form. "I said England would need a little bit of experience and realise that even in a 20-over you can give the opposition five overs and catch up.

"Her partnership with Sciver-Brunt in the semi-final was outstanding, and Sciver-Brunt was brilliant. She picks up length really well, like all great players."

He also highlighted England's sharp fielding display under pressure as a key reason behind their convincing semifinal victory.

"In terms of the fielding, this was always going to be the big test. It is one thing to put on a display in group stage games when there will be a tomorrow, but if you mess up in a semifinal, there is no tomorrow. There was a lot of energy in the field, and I think that will have pleased (head coach) Charlotte Edwards the most. Their fielding has gone missing under pressure before, but under pressure here it really came to the fore," he said.

Source: IANS

The post ‘No mental baggage’: Hussain urges fearless England ahead of T20 World Cup final against Australia appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Africa head coach Mandla Mashimbyi believes the Proteas will emerge stronger from their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign despite their semi-final defeat to England, insisting the team will use the disappointment as motivation to improve ahead of future global tournaments.

South Africa's run ended at The Oval on Thursday after England secured a strong 40-run victory, earning a place in Sunday’s final against Australia.

The Proteas started well by eliminating three England batters early on. However, a crucial century partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight shifted the game in England’s favor.

Despite the loss, Mashimbyi remained positive about his team's growth and the lessons they learned during the tournament.

"You just lose and you learn," Mashimbyi said after the semi-final. "We've learned a lot in this World Cup. We'll go back to the drawing board and put in place things that will make us even more dangerous and better as a team.

"We know where our gaps are, and that’s all we can do really. We can't change the results. It’s about the work we put in going forward. We want to ensure that when we get another chance to play in a World Cup or ICC Trophy tournament, we are competing with other teams."

South Africa had a strong tournament, even though they did not reach the final. Opener Tazmin Brits was the team's top run-scorer with 225 runs. Experienced bowlers Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail each took eight wickets in six matches.

Mashimbyi also supported veteran bowler Ismail, who came out of retirement for the tournament, to continue representing South Africa.

"I think she's still in for the long haul," he said. "She'll have to make a decision. But right now, she's still a Proteas player."

The South Africa coach dismissed claims that his side relied too much on Kapp and Ismail with the new ball. He admitted, however, that the bowling attack lacked variety and needed better support for frontline spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba.

"I think we had too many similar types of bowlers, and teams could figure out what we were trying to do," Mashimbyi said. "Shabnim and Kapp can put any team under pressure with a new ball, and that’s what we’ve been doing.

"The main goal now is to return to the drawing board and ensure we create processes to bring in players who can perform, if not the same, then better."

While South Africa's World Cup journey ended just short of the final, Mashimbyi believes the campaign has laid out a clear plan for the Proteas to become an even stronger presence in future ICC tournaments.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Head coach Mashimbyi vows stronger South Africa after semi-final exit appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nat Sciver-Brunt proved pivotal as all-round England eased South Africa by 40 runs in the semifinal here at The Oval to set up a date with Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup final.

Sciver-Brunt helped England rally from a shaky start and post 169/5. Despite a defiant fifty by Tazmin Brits, South Africa crumbled to 129/8 in their 20 overs.

Sunday's final at the Lord's Cricket Ground pits the two unbeaten teams of the tournament, England and Australia. England will also be looking to maintain their perfect record at home -- they have never lost a women's World Cup, T20 or ODI, as hosts.

After electing to field first, Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail gave South Africa a fiery start as the latter was the first to have delivered the first blow, claiming the wicket of Amy Jones while Kapp castled Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

Ismail returned to attack and trapped Alice Capsey leg before the wicket to reduce England to 23/3 in 3.2 overs. In the process, Ismail also became the first bowler to cross the milestone of 50 wickets at the tournament, ICC reports.

In the hunt for another key wicket, South Africa bowled out Kapp early, and the pacer finished with outstanding figures of 1/16 in four overs.

After early blows, Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight led the England fightback with a 133-run stand for the third wicket, which is the highest partnership in knockouts in the tournament.

Sciver-Brunt dazzled with her footwork and ran hard between the wickets, hitting 11 fours and a six en route to her eighth half-century in Women's T20 World Cup. It drew her level with the game's greats Suzie Bates (New Zealand) and Beth Mooney (Australia).

At the other end, Knight also kept the runs ticking. She brought up her fifty with a heave over deep mid-wicket for six. When it looked like England were about to switch gears, Nonkululeko Mlaba landed decisive blows in the 19th over. She had the England captain caught in the deep while trying to sweep, bringing an end to the partnership. Two balls later, Knight lofted the ball straight to Laura Wolvaardt at extra-cover.

Though England didn't quite get the acceleration at the death, they finished at a challenging 169/5.

In response, South Africa made a steady start as Wolvaardt and Brits put on an opening partnership of 43 runs. Wolvaardt stay at the wicket was cut short as Sophie Ecclestone grabbed a leaping catch near mid-on off Linsey Smith. Freya Kemp then removed Annerie Dercksen cheaply for 3. The hammer blow was the loss of Kapp, who, having added just five, tried to flick the ball into the leg side but got a leading edge, leaving Sciver-Brunt with the simplest of catches. That left the South Africans on 68-3 in 10.4 overs.

Even as South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals, Brits waged a lone battle, getting to 50. However, she was dismissed on the very next ball, as she got a leading edge off Charlie Dean that flew to Sciver-Brunt. Once Brits departed, the South African challenge fell apart and England walked away with the win.

Lauren Bell and Dean were the most effective bowlers on the day and claimed two wickets each. Smith, Freya Kemp and Eccelestone also chipped in with a wicket each.

The result also helped England avenge two straight semi-final defeats to South Africa at the 2025 ODI World Cup and the 2023 T20 World Cup.

Brief scores: England Women 169/5 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 75, Heather Knight 58; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-25, Shabnim Ismail 2-31) beat South Africa Women 129/8 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 51, Laura Wolvaardt 17; Lauren Bell 2-28, Charlie Dean 2-32) by 40 runs

Source: IANS

The post England ease past SA to set up Women’s T20 WC final with Australia appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said the side head into their Women’s T20 World Cup semi‑final against England, to be played in front of a packed crowd at The Oval on Thursday, buoyed by past knockout wins over the hosts, as they chase a third successive final appearance.

“We've been able to beat England twice in knockout phases in World Cups, so it's not foreign territory for us. We can beat anyone on the day. So, trying to think back to those tournaments, what we did well in those semi‑finals, what sort of mindset we were in. But I think this is a team that really is able to rise to the big occasions, so, hopefully everyone's at their best tomorrow,” said Laura in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

South Africa, runners‑up in 2024 and 2023 editions, qualified as the second‑placed team from Group A, while England have dominated the competition with five straight wins. The Proteas’ batting faltered against Australia and looked shaky against Pakistan, but Tazmin Brits and Marizanne Kapp held firm in a crunch six‑wicket win over India.

"I think our bowling has been pretty good. I think different phases and different games, but I think having Kapp and Shabnim up early in the powerplay have been a big boost for us. I think we had a number of games where even if they did get off to a decent start, we were able to bring it back nicely.

“With the bat, we probably haven't been at 100%. I think all of our batters will admit they'd like to score a bit more runs, but I think it's a good thing and a pretty exciting thing because when they do come off, hopefully in the next game, it'll be a pretty good game," added Laura.

She also stressed on the need to harness South Africa’s power hitters in the big clash. “A big focus of ours is that power game. We have a lot of young talent that is just really good at it. Maybe we need to stack them throughout the innings so that we're able to keep going in all the different phases.”

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Have beaten England twice in knockouts, not foreign territory for us, says Wolvaardt appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) England cricket team has been handed a big boost ahead of their crucial Women's T20 World Cup semi-final clash against South Africa as their captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been passed fit to return from injury for Thursday's match at Kennington Oval.

Sciver-Brunt got retired hurt during England's clash against Ireland in Southampton. That was a recurrence of an injury she suffered while playing domestic cricket in late April, due to which the all-rounder was out of the crucial preparation series against India and New Zealand.

Skipper played both warm-up games ahead of the tournament, scoring 3 against Australia and 57 against India before scores of 46 not out and 48 against Sri Lanka and Ireland respectively at the World Cup.

"We literally threw everything at it, I'm really happy with where I am at physically. Myself and the medical team are really happy with where we're at. Physically I'm able to take part in all of the game, so from that point of view I'm really happy," Sciver-Brunt said in the pre-match press conference at The Oval on Wednesday, confirming her return to the playing XI.

England enters the semi-final with a perfect record, having won all five of their group matches. The return of captain Nat Sciver-Brunt makes an already strong team even better. They have posted scores of 164, 186, and 219 in the tournament, showcasing the depth of their batting lineup.

England's greatest strength lies in their top order, led by the tournament's top run-scorer, Danni Wyatt-Hodge. The experienced opener has scored 282 runs in five innings at an average of 94. This includes an unbeaten 89 against New Zealand at The Oval, and she has already received three Player of the Match awards.

Sciver-Brunt's return, following a significant improvement in her calf injury after a positive MRI scan, gives England their strongest XI for the first time in three matches. Her presence also adds another quality seam-bowling option, restoring balance to the team.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: England handed Nat Sciver-Brunt boost ahead of semi-final against South Africa appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Africa aims to continue their impressive run as they face unbeaten hosts England in the second semi-final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at The Kennington Oval on Thursday. A spot in Sunday's final against Australia is on the line.

The Proteas head into this knockout match with strong confidence after bouncing back from an early loss to Australia. They won four of their next five games. Their campaign peaked against India, where Marizanne Kapp delivered a standout performance, scoring an unbeaten 81 and taking 2/27 to help South Africa secure a place in the last four.

In contrast, England has appeared to be the most well-rounded team in the tournament, winning all five of their group matches. The return of captain Nat Sciver-Brunt from injury provides a significant boost. Opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge has shone as the top batter with 282 runs in five innings at an average of 94, including an unbeaten 89 at The Oval.

South Africa's hopes will once again rely heavily on Kapp, supported by experienced pace bowlers Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka, along with left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba. Captain Laura Wolvaardt, who was out for a duck against Bangladesh in the final group match, will seek to lead strongly.

England's batting depth has been a key factor in their success, achieving totals of 164, 186, and 219. Alice Capsey has contributed to explosive finishes, while Sophie Ecclestone has effectively controlled the middle overs with her reliable left-arm spin.

The Oval has mostly favoured teams chasing during this tournament. Australia easily chased down the West Indies' 125 in the first semi-final at the same venue. The conditions provide early support for seamers, and evening dew may make bowling first a preferred choice.

Though England will be the favourites to reach their first Women's T20 World Cup final since 2018, South Africa has already proven they can challenge the tournament's top teams. Another inspired performance from Kapp could lead the Proteas to a second consecutive global final.

Match details:

When: Thursday, July 2 at 7:00 PM IST

Where: The Oval, London

Where to watch: The second semifinal between South Africa and England will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on JioStar

Squads:

England:

Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge

South Africa:

Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dane van Niekerk

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: When and where to watch South Africa vs England semis clash, know all details appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former India pacer Shikha Pandey expects a tightly contested battle when England take on South Africa in the second semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, saying both sides possess the quality and experience to thrive under knockout pressure.

Assessing the contest ahead of the winner earning a place in the final against Australia, Shikha highlighted South Africa’s familiarity with English conditions but believes England’s batting depth could prove to be the decisive factor.

Pandey began by explaining why South Africa remain one of the most dangerous teams in global tournaments, pointing to their temperament and experience of playing in English conditions.

"South Africa are ruthless when it comes to World Cups. They have a strong bowling attack and batters who can handle pressure. Many of their players have also played a lot of cricket in England. Marizanne Kapp herself has had about three to four seasons in the Hundred here on these surfaces. So they are quite well-drilled. They are fighters who don't give up easily,” Shikha told JioStar.

Despite acknowledging South Africa's strengths, Shikha believes England will enter the semifinal with a batting line-up that is stronger and more balanced than in previous years.

“But one thing I will say about England is that I have watched them for a long time, and I haven't seen their batting this organised and this deep. They have power, they have experience, and they have players who can finish games,” she added.

Shikha expects the contest to be decided by the smallest of margins and drew comparisons with another closely fought knockout fixture from the tournament before making her prediction. “So, we could be looking at a game like the South Africa-India one that goes right down to the wire. It's tough to call, but I am going to say that England might just pip South Africa,” she said.

With Australia already through to the final after defeating the West Indies in the first semi-final, the spotlight now shifts to England and South Africa as they battle for the remaining place in the title decider.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Shikha Pandey predicts a close fight in SF2, says ‘England might just pip South Africa’ appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia captain Sophie Molineux praised her team's composure and all-round performance after the six-time champions stormed into their eighth ICC Women's T20 World Cup final with a commanding eight-wicket win over West Indies at The Oval on Tuesday.

Australia once again underlined why they remain the benchmark in women's cricket, restricting West Indies to 125/7 before chasing down the target with 42 balls to spare. Beth Mooney (61 not out) and Ashleigh Gardner (35 not out) combined for an unbroken stand of 84 for the third wicket to see the chase through. Earlier, Molineux, Gardner, and Georgia Wareham claimed two wickets apiece to set up the crushing win.

Reflecting on Australia’s unbeaten run to the final, Molineux said the team had focused on enjoying the tournament, rather than looking too far ahead.

"Umm, you just have to ride it in the T20 World Cups. It's full of momentum and swings. I have really enjoyed it. The group has really enjoyed it. That's probably the biggest thing for us. We have helped and stopped ourselves from thinking too far ahead, and now we can think about the final, which is pretty cool," she said.

The Australian captain also explained her decision to persist with the seamers during the powerplay, a move that eventually paid dividends after Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph made a steady start.

"Kimmy (Kim Garth) shapes the ball beautifully both ways and bowls beautifully in the Power-play. Lucy did a really good job as well. I just thought it was the best matchup between those two (Matthews & Joseph). I thought we bowled really well. Hayley and Joseph tried to go hard at us, but we managed to hold our nerve, which was pretty cool," Molineux said.

Australia never allowed the modest target to become complicated despite early wickets, with Mooney and Gardner ensuring there were no late nerves.

"No. We just wanted to get it done as quickly as possible. Moons and Ash were clinical. Volly played a good hand to get us away and just calmed our nerves in the change room. It was really good to see," she said.

There was a brief concern when Ellyse Perry walked off during the chase with quad awareness, but Molineux played down fears over the veteran all-rounder's availability for Sunday's final.

"Yeah, bit of that again (precaution). It was just quad awareness. Sounds like she will be more than okay to go on Sunday," she said.

With five days before the title clash, Molineux said the squad would first enjoy the achievement before shifting its focus to the championship match.

"Sleep (laughs). I am looking forward to a good night of sleep tonight. We will make sure that we celebrate what's been a pretty cool two weeks for the girls. We will make sure we do that. We will rest and recover for a little bit and then build up without thinking too much. We will play the game over and over in our heads. We will make the most of the week and ensure we enjoy every part of it," she added.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Molineux hails Australia’s clinical display after crushing WI to reach eighth final appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) West Indies captain Hayley Matthews admitted her side never produced their best cricket during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 but insisted there were enough positives to build on after Australia outclassed them by eight wickets in the first semi-final at The Oval on Tuesday.

Chasing just 126, Australia rode on an unbeaten 61 from Beth Mooney and 35 not out from Ashleigh Gardner to cruise home with 42 balls to spare, reaching their eighth Women's T20 World Cup final. The defending champions earlier restricted West Indies to 125/7 with skipper Sophie Molineux, Ashleigh Gardner, and Georgia Wareham picking up two wickets each.

Reflecting on the defeat, Matthews felt it was a combination of an off day and an inconsistent tournament for the Caribbean side.

"Maybe a bit of both. We didn't have our best game, nor did we play to our potential for the entire tournament. Our great game could have been far better than that. We couldn't put an entire game throughout the tournament," Matthews said.

West Indies were given an early scare even before the first ball was bowled when star all-rounder Deandra Dottin had to be escorted off the field shortly after the national anthems following a medical emergency. Matthews said the incident had a big emotional effect on the squad.

"I think it was a bit scary for some of us. She's a massive player for us. To see her pass that like that after the anthem, it was scary. Just a medical emergency. Nice to see her get back and throw a few punches, which shows a lot about her character," she said.

Matthews herself made a fluent 30 during a 47-run opening partnership, but West Indies collapsed from 47/0 to 83/6, leaving Dottin's unbeaten 26 off 16 balls to help them post a competitive-looking total.

The skipper admitted Australia squeezed them from the outset and that the uncertainty surrounding Dottin's availability also influenced their batting plans.

"I wanted to get off to a good start. Australia put us under pressure in the first six overs. We weren't sure whether she (Dottin) was going to bat. So, we wanted to take it deep. It was hard for me to assess. We wanted to get the run rate up," Matthews explained.

Despite the heavy defeat ending West Indies' title hopes, Matthews believes the campaign showed the depth developing within the squad and expects the team to emerge stronger.

"As a group, we can still hold our heads high. Aaliyah Alleyne and Stafanie Taylor were good. Even Chinnele Henry, after getting out of the injury. When you speak of the West Indies team, you take only a few names. We didn't have any super stand-up performances from anyone. Everyone had to chip in. To get to this stage, it was good. We have players who play different roles, and we will only get better," she said.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Skipper Matthews says WI ‘can still hold heads high’ despite semis defeat to Australia appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Beth Mooney produced another masterclass in an ICC knockout match while Ashleigh Gardner capped an outstanding all-round performance as six-time champions Australia crushed West Indies by eight wickets with 42 balls to spare in the first semifinal of the Women's T20 World Cup at The Oval on Tuesday, booking their place in the tournament final for the eighth time.

Australia's chase of 126 runs finished with seven overs to spare, marking the biggest victory by balls remaining in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup knockout history for targets over 100. The previous record was 29 balls remaining, set by Australia against England in the 2014 and 2018 finals.

Mooney stayed unbeaten at 61 off 36 balls, achieving the fourth-highest individual score by an Australian in a Women's T20 World Cup knockout match. Only her own 78 against India in the 2020 final, Alyssa Healy's 75 against India in the 2020 final, and her 74 against South Africa in the 2023 final rank higher.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and chose to field in the important semi-final. Even before the match began, West Indies faced a setback when star all-rounder Deandra Dottin was taken to the medical room shortly after the national anthems. The West Indies head coach confirmed during the innings break that Dottin experienced a minor medical issue.

West Indies started steadily, with captain Hayley Matthews leading the effort. She looked in good form and hit some impressive boundaries, while Qiana Joseph had trouble rotating the strike at the other end. As dot balls piled up, Australia found the breakthrough they needed when Georgia Wareham took a wicket with her first delivery, getting Matthews out for 30 off 28 balls and ending the 47-run opening partnership. Joseph's tough innings ended when she scored 16 off 22 balls.

The innings quickly fell apart as West Indies went from 47/1 to 83/6, with Australia's disciplined bowling taking charge. Shemaine Campbelle tried to rebuild with 22 off 25 balls, but wickets kept falling around her.

A vital 42-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Jannillea Glasgow, who scored 15, and the returning Dottin, who finished not out on 26 off just 16 balls, lifted West Indies to 125/7 after 20 overs. However, this total seemed low against Australia's strong batting lineup.

Australia began their chase aggressively. Georgia Voll scored regularly until Chinelle Henry dismissed her for 16 off 11 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield managed just 4 before getting out cheaply.

From that point on, Mooney took control. The left-hander kept the scoreboard moving with sharp shot selection, reaching a fantastic half-century off just 29 deliveries, ensuring Australia remained in command throughout the chase.

There was a minor injury concern in the seventh over when Ellyse Perry left the field with a quad issue for assessment. Australia hopes the experienced all-rounder recovers in time for Sunday’s final.

Any worries with the batting soon faded as Mooney and Gardner formed a strong partnership. Gardner, who had earlier excelled with the ball, contributed an unbeaten 35, while Mooney remained not out on 61. The pair added an unbroken 84-run partnership for the third wicket, leading Australia to a confident eight-wicket victory and another appearance in the Women’s T20 World Cup final.

Earlier, Gardner also shone with the ball, finishing with figures of 2/13. Captain Sophie Molineux took 2/30, Georgia Wareham had 2/17, and Annabel Sutherland contributed with 1/26, as Australia delivered another strong all-around performance that highlighted why they are a top team in women's cricket.

Brief scores:

West Indies 125/7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 30, Deandra Dottin 26; Ashleigh Gardner 2-13, Georgia Wareham 2-17) lost to Australia 127/2 in 13 overs (Beth Mooney 61 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 35 not out; Chinelle Henry 1-20) by eight wickets.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Mooney’s unbeaten 61 and Gardner’s all-round show guide Australia to eighth final appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Captain Sophie Molineux, Ashleigh Gardner, and Georgia Wareham claimed two wickets each as six-time champions Australia produced a disciplined bowling display to restrict West Indies to 125/7 in 20 overs in the first semifinal of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at The Oval, London, on Tuesday.

After choosing to bowl on a green-top surface, Australia proved their decision right from the first over by putting constant pressure on the West Indies batters. The Windies only found relief through Deandra Dottin's unbeaten 26 off 16 balls, which helped them reach a respectable total after a middle-order collapse.

Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph opened the innings for the West Indies. Matthews had a strong start, while Joseph struggled to get going. Australia kept their lines and lengths tight, preventing the scoring rate from accelerating. The Windies ended the powerplay at 35/0.

The pressure finally took its toll in the ninth over when Matthews was bowled for 30, ending their 47-run opening partnership. Her dismissal marked the beginning of a dramatic collapse, as the Southern Stars quickly dismantled the middle order. Joseph managed 16, but Stafanie Taylor and Jahzara Claxton both fell for 0. The Windies went from 47/0 to 59/4 in just a few overs.

Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry tried to stabilise the innings with a steady partnership. However, Henry was dismissed for 10, caught deep in the 15th over. Campbelle added 22 before falling in the next over, leaving the West Indies struggling for momentum.

Dottin, who had been forced off the field shortly after the national anthems but returned to bat, brought some energy back. The seasoned all-rounder hit regular boundaries in her 16-ball innings, scoring 26 not out and helping the Windies cross the 120-run mark.

Glasgow contributed 15 before getting out on the last ball of the innings. Molineux finished with 2/30, with Ashleigh Gardner (2/13) and Georgia Wareham (2/17) taking two wickets apiece to cut through the middle order after Hayley Matthews was dismissed. Annabel Sutherland also picked up a wicket, returning figures of 1/26 as West Indies were restricted to 125/7 in their 20 overs.

Brief scores:

West Indies 125/7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 30, Deandra Dottin 26; Ashleigh Gardner 2-13, Georgia Wareham 2-17) against Australia

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Molineux, Gardner, Wareham lead clinical effort, restrict West Indies to 125/7 in semis appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia won the toss and elected to bowl against West Indies in the first semifinal of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, here at The Oval.

Australia captain Sophie Molineux said her side opted to bowl first after assessing the pitch, believing the surface offered enough assistance early on to put West Indies under pressure. She noted that the grass covering had increased overnight and wanted her bowlers to exploit the conditions first up. Molineux confirmed Australia were unchanged for the semi-final and acknowledged the challenge posed by the West Indies, insisting her team would stick to its plans regardless of the opposition.

She also shared a light-hearted moment while speaking about Hayley Matthews, saying: "We are going to have a bowl. Looks like a good pitch here, and want to put early pressure. It does look like it has got some on it. It has grown overnight. Just get out of here and have a run first. We have the same team. I feel like the West Indies are an incredible team, and we have to bring our best. We have to stick to our plan, no matter who we are playing. We were just talking about the Renegades before (laughs). She's always good to play against."

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews said she was happy to bat first after losing the toss, backing the surface at The Oval to remain consistent throughout the match. Although the Windies had initially wanted to bowl, Matthews stressed that her side had nothing to lose and would approach the Women's T20 World Cup semi-final with an aggressive, fearless mindset. "Yeah. I think it's a good wicket here at The Oval. It's not going to change too much. We were looking to bowl first as well, but we have nothing to lose. We will go out there and play a fearless brand of cricket," she said.

Playing XIs:

West Indies Women: Qiana Joseph, Hayley Kristen Matthews (c), Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Jahzara Claxton, Jannillea Glasgow, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack

Australia Women: Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux (c), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Unchanged Australia elect to bowl against WI in first semis appeared first on Social News XYZ.

Durham, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) India begins the second leg of its United Kingdom tour with a challenging five-match T20I series against England, hoping to leave behind the disappointment of a winless trip to Ireland. The opening fixture at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street offers Shreyas Iyer's side an immediate chance to rebuild confidence against one of the format's strongest teams.

The visitors struggled to find consistency during the Ireland series, where batting failures ultimately proved costly. As a result, team selection has become a major talking point ahead of Wednesday's encounter.

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains firmly in the spotlight after watching both Ireland matches from the dugout. Whether India opts for continuity or introduces fresh energy at the top of the order could become one of the defining decisions of the evening.

Captain Shreyas Iyer also enters the contest under scrutiny following his first series in charge. While his leadership credentials are well established from franchise cricket, England presents a far sterner examination. Beyond tactical decisions, India will also need meaningful contributions from Iyer with the bat to stabilise an inconsistent middle order.

England, led by Harry Brook, returns home after another impressive World Cup campaign that ended in the semi-finals. Their batting depth and familiarity with local conditions make them favourites heading into the series opener, although they will be wary of an Indian side capable of responding strongly after recent setbacks.

India's bowling attack has received a timely boost with the return of Varun Chakaravarthy, whose variations could prove vital against England's attacking batters. Early wickets with the new ball and disciplined middle-over bowling will be essential if the visitors are to put pressure on the hosts.

With four matches still to follow, neither side will define its campaign in Durham. However, a winning start would provide valuable momentum, making the opening clash an important opportunity for both teams to set the tone for what promises to be a highly competitive series.

When: Wednesday, July 1, 10:00 PM IST

Where: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, Durham

Where to watch: The India vs England T20I series will be broadcast on the Sony Sports Network, while the games will be live-streamed on the SonyLiv app.

Squads:

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton (wk), Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), James Coles, Jordan Cox (wk), Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt (wk), Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

India: Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi

Source: IANS

The post 1st T20I: When and where to watch ENG vs IND, know all details appeared first on Social News XYZ.

London, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) West Indies captain Hayley Matthews believes her side still has another level to reach as they prepare to face World No. 1 Australia in the semifinals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, insisting the Caribbean side will need their biggest stars to deliver if they are to upset the tournament favourites.

Australia head into Tuesday's match at The Oval in strong form, having won all four of their group-stage games. They finished the group with a record run chase in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup against India at Lord's.

West Indies took a much more dramatic path to reach the semifinals. They started the tournament with three straight wins, but then lost to England and Ireland. This left their future uncertain until England's win over New Zealand secured their place in the semi-finals.

Matthews has scored 115 runs in five innings so far. She acknowledged that she has not yet played her best cricket but believes the Windies still have a lot of potential.

"We need big performances from our top players. A standout individual effort will be important," she said. "However, to beat a team like Australia, we need more than one player stepping up. Our best players need to rise to the occasion tomorrow.

"I feel like players like Aliyah Alleyne and Jahzara Claxton have been excellent role players throughout the tournament. With our stars alongside them stepping up, we'll need a complete team performance.

"We haven’t played our best match yet. Neither I nor Deandra Dottin nor I have scored enough runs, which gives us plenty of room to improve as a team. Hopefully, some of us can step up more and challenge the Aussies."

Matthews has had memorable success against Australia in the past. Three years ago, she scored 132 runs off just 64 balls, helping the West Indies achieve the highest successful chase in women's T20 international history by chasing down 213 runs with one ball left. Earlier in that series, she also scored an unbeaten 99, and in Kolkata a decade ago, her 45-ball 66 helped the West Indies win the Women's T20 World Cup.

Australia's Ellyse Perry, one of the few players still around from the side that lost that 2016 final, chose not to focus on the past, despite entering the semi-final on the back of two consecutive half-centuries.

"We don't want to think about past losses. That was 10 years ago. The game has changed a lot since then. You can't even relate things to our last match because sports can be unpredictable," she said.

"We've played against each other quite a lot in the past couple of months. Earlier this year, we toured the West Indies and had a warm-up match, so we know each other fairly well right now.

"They have tremendously talented and dangerous players with a lot of experience. This will be a great challenge for us. The quick turnaround and the change of venue make it even more interesting. We're really looking forward to it."

Australia's Ash Gardner also recognised the challenge posed by Matthews and Deandra Dottin. They previously played together at the Gujarat Giants.

"The West Indies present a different threat. They have a lot of talent and power within their team. They also have plenty of experience, led expertly by Hayley Matthews, who can change a game quickly. Then you have Deandra Dottin, who is a threat in every aspect of the game.

"She’s an excellent player, and I've had the chance to play alongside her. I admire her fearless approach to cricket, which can be intimidating because she can turn a game around in an instant.

"They definitely offer a unique challenge. Fortunately, we just played a series against them. We can prepare quickly for this new venue, which is great for batting.

"We need to do our homework fast since we only have one day before the match. Then we can get excited about the occasion."

Source: IANS

The post ‘We haven’t had our best match yet’: Matthews backs WI to rise against Australia in T20 World Cup semis appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop firmly believes that women’s cricket has now established itself as a standalone product capable of drawing massive crowds despite competing with major global sporting events.

Bishop's observations come at a historic juncture for the tournament which has been competing for attention alongside the FIFA World Cup, men's Test series against New Zealand, and Wimbledon. The group stage attendance record at an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup group stage match was broken for the second time in 24 hours, as a total of 27,163 fans were in attendance at Lord's for India-Australia Group A game.

That tally went past the total of 21,018 recorded in the match between England and New Zealand at The Oval. The attendance on the final day of the group stage comes on the back of the tournament crossing the 125,000 mark in on-ground attendance, making it the highest-selling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in history.

"The women's game is a standalone thing. I think we've talked about that for a couple of years now. Even just as the pandemic started, it has grown where my little girl, just as an example close to me, now loves the game. She wants to play cricket every day. She's a teenager. She never used to play. She wasn't interested.

“Now at school, she wants to play every cricket game every day of the week and I'm sure that is reflected across other nations. I have been to a lot more age group games in Trinidad in the last couple of years because of my daughter, and I have seen the love and passion for the game.

“So the gospel has been spreading more and more, and that is reflected also in the attendance. I still think that there's a lot going on - football World Cup, Test series with the men, Wimbledon starting, and that the numbers could have been better otherwise. So I think the women's game is growing," Bishop, an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup expert, told IANS on JioStar's Media Day on Monday.

Questioned about the tournament being heavily batting-friendly with five 200-plus scores recorded and batting records broken, Bishop credited the evolution of the game and the pitches maintained by ground staff members, despite a heatwave coming in the later phase of the competition.

"I think batting form is proven. What's the example that I can use? Obviously, England have been, with Australia, the two of the highest scoring teams in the tournament. It's no surprise that they are two out of four in the semi-finals, as it stands. If I may take the team from the region where I emanate the West Indies, and some of their struggles from a batting perspective have been critical to their faltering in the last couple of matches that they've played.

"The dominant forces have been Australia and England, who have scored runs, but who also have bowling lineups that are able to hold their own against most other competitors. Maybe in a semi-final clash or final clash, it could come down to that, because they both bat deep, England and Australia.

“South Africa, when they have been good? We saw Marizanne Kapp with that match-winning innings. But in addition to that, they've got good variety in their bowling. So the top teams in the world now, as in any facet of T20 cricket, you more or less have to have a dynamic batting team," he explained.

Bishop expanded on the technical aspects driving these big totals, adding that lower-ranked sides are being left behind in power-hitting and that modern bowlers must adapt now. "I just think the evolution of the game. The evolution of the game where the women with each passing World Cup, the better teams are being more dynamic and you find the lower-ranked teams are getting left. It's a similar story, have been left behind with regards to the power in their batting – Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We've had some really good batting conditions as well.

"I think the grounds staffs and the grounds where we've played, these are some kudos for leaving enough grass on the pitch for the ball to come on. The ball hasn't ragged square on too many of the pitches. But I think it's the evolution and the advancement of the women's game. This is where bowlers now have to catch up.

“One of the big things that I feel going forward is that we have to give more autonomy to organizations to find some more fast bowling and seam bowling options in the women's game. I think the women's game has got to a point now where it stands on its own.

“But I want to see more fast bowling, seam bowling options come through because we have a lot of spin. That's a good thing, but we need to put a search on to get some more dynamic fast bowling. We know Shabnam Ismail has been excellent in the past, one or two of the Australians," he elaborated.

When asked to evaluate the performances of teams that came through the qualifiers like Scotland, the Netherlands, and Ireland, Bishop lauded their spirit while calling for greater administrative focus and professionalization. "I love the Netherlands, for example. I love what Babette de Leede has brought and Sterre Kallis being the two players that have been very professional in their lineup.

“I think they've won a lot of plaudits because so many of the other players have lives outside of the game and are very, are not professionals, they're amateurs with careers, with university degrees and qualifications. I love the energy that they brought, but you saw the shortcomings where some of their fielding. Bowling under pressure against the better teams is still a work in progress.

“I love what Darcey Carter of Scotland brought and for Netherlands, Iris Zwilling is another one that I can put my hand up. I love the way she bowled in the final game, hitting her lengths and her lines. Katherine Fraser is another one from Scotland and so I really have enjoyed, even with Ireland, but we've known about Ireland for a while, right? We've known about Orla Prendergast and Amy Hunter for a while, but they showed and they reminded us, and not forget that match against the West Indies some time ago, that they have quality," he detailed.

Bishop further stressed that closing the gap between top-tier sides and developing nations requires structured exposure and dedicated governing arms for the women's game. "If we give them more exposure, and of course Ireland is a full member nation, and not an associate nation as such, they've shown us hope. I love the Netherlands and I hope the Netherlands get more help.

“I hope that they find another coach who is able to take them to another level. I hope they get to professionalise the game. I hope that Scotland will see much more of what they can bring, because I'm big on having the lower-ranked nations elevate themselves, because they bring a lot to the game.

“Where we see them falling short is only because they have not had the opportunity to play against more high-level competition, to play professionally and rub shoulders apart from a few players with the other great players in the game. If we can get the balance of that, we will see much more of a challenging situation from these teams.

“If I may just say one more thing, even with Sri Lanka, who is kind of one of the lower-ranked members, I saw one or two things with their seam bowling that are promising. If we give more autonomy to the women's game, I don't know if it's right to say this or not, but I feel that we can specialise in the administrations that run the women's game.

“Give them autonomy so that they have all the attention at the local, territorial, country boards, and maybe at the top governing body, to pour more into the women's game, and it will get even better. So that would be my cry from here on. A lot of work has gone into that, but I still want to see more," Bishop concluded.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: The women’s game is a standalone thing and is growing, says Ian Bishop appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has termed heavyweights Australia and England as the two standout form teams heading into the high-stakes semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, adding that adaptability to varying conditions for the knockouts will be the ultimate differentiator for any side looking to stop them from lifting the trophy.

Six-time champions Australia, the Group A toppers, will take on West Indies, the 2016 champions, who finished second in Group B at The Oval, London, on Tuesday. Hosts and 2009 champions England will take on two-time runners-up South Africa at the same venue on Thursday. The winners of the two semifinals will square off in the title clash at Lord's on July 5.

“Adapting to conditions is always critical - for example, in this World Cup. As with most tournaments, you find teams playing at different venues, and a lot of teams have had to play - for example, down in Southampton, then go all the way up to Leeds, back down to Manchester, and down to Lord’s.

So, adapting to those varying conditions without much practice time, sometimes a team would have gotten to a new venue a day or two before. It's not new in the international game, and it's not an excuse, but it is critical to adapt. But you have some form teams, and we can get into that a little bit later. Obviously, Australia and England are the two form teams in the tournament,” Bishop, an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup expert, told IANS on JioStar's Media Day on Monday.

Asked what it would take for the West Indies to stop the Australian juggernaut, Bishop admitted that the Caribbean side must lift their game in the big clash. “Given the number of titles Australia has had, it's self-evident that they have been far ahead of many of us in the world game. They've lost in the finals to the West Indies, former champions in 2016, and England have had their day.

“New Zealand won the last T20 World Cup. But if you talk about consistency over time, Australia have obviously have been ahead more consistently. How can they stop them? The West Indies are going to have to lift their game significantly, and they're capable of Hayley Matthews, who hasn't really fired yet, and Deandra Dottin, who hasn't really fired yet.

“We've seen some good things from Stafanie Taylor, so hopefully she's fit, healthy, firing and ready to go. Shemaine Campbell had a good outing. Those big players, I think one or two or some of them are going to have to stand tall, simply because Australia have decent enough bowling resources, very experienced in the spin department, and their batting depth and power is amongst the best in the game, certainly in the top two.

“So whatever happens at the toss, the West Indies are going to have to bat a lot better than they've batted before in this tournament. The batting has been shaky, and they have to hope their bowling group is on target. Chinelle Henry is a vital piece of the puzzle, and she had injuries in the last game, so hopefully she is fit. That, to me, is another big thing.

“West Indies have to be fit, and they have to bowl to the best of their ability because that Australian machine is very, very good all round. So I'm not saying it can't be done. For it to be done, the West Indies have to be on top of their game, bat well with the big three or four they have, and hope that Chinelle, amongst the other bowlers, is fit,” he elaborated.

Analysing the second semi-final between South Africa and hosts England, Bishop warned against discounting the Proteas, despite England's formidable record in tournaments held on home soil. “You never write off South Africa. South Africa have been plugging away in every format and genre of the game, men's and women's, over the last few years, and the women's team in particular have been knocking at the door.

“Their win yesterday was a little bit shaky in that run chase, but I think they have enough soldiers in their leader, in Marizanne Kapp and several other players, Tasmin Brits, etc., who can win a game on the day. So I would never write them off at all. I hope that one day they push all the way to lifting one of these trophies in the female game.

“However, England's record of never having lost a Women's World Cup of any kind at home is a strong one. If Nat Sciver-Brunt is running and available and running at 100 percent, then I think they are one of the favourites. With Australia battling there in that form, I wouldn't say they are runaway favourites. They're going to be tough to beat. But Australia are also a strong team and, on their day, South Africa can surprise you.”

Lauding the impact of England head coach Charlotte Edwards, Bishop stated that her aggressive philosophy has transformed the host nation into a self-assured, structure-driven side, as seen from their ending in Group B as an unbeaten side.

“Everything takes time. WPL takes time to get things better. IPL would have taken time to get things better. In the Caribbean, we have our own systems and leagues that took time. In Australia, I'm sure the privatisation or the professionalisation of the game took time to advance the women's game, as in England. So look, I've known Charlotte for a while and known about her and spoken to her on a couple of occasions.

“I think I said it on social media that she would do a good job a couple of years ago, before she got the job. What she has them doing is playing an aggressive brand of cricket with great self-belief, which I think England needed. She's given them a good structure.

“Being at home now for this World Cup, I think we've seen her philosophy coming to pass through Danny Wyatt-Hodge, obviously, Sophia Dunkley, and at times Amy Jones. So again, I don't know the news on Nat Sciver-Brunt, and I don't know if you guys have probably heard a lot more than I have. That's a big miss if they get to the final, and let's say in front of them is an Australian team if they can get past South Africa.”

Watch ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals, Australia vs West Indies on June 30, and England vs South Africa on July 2, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

Source: IANS

The post Women’s T20 WC: Australia and England are the two form teams in the tournament, says Ian Bishop appeared first on Social News XYZ.

New Delhi, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop believes that India must aggressively unearth more fast bowlers and inject more power into their batting lineup if they want to bridge the gap with six-time champions Australia, who sent them crashing out of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.

India’s campaign in the ongoing tournament ended in another league-stage exit after losing to Australia by six wickets at Lord’s on Sunday. In a tournament with very little margin for error, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led India paid the price of not knowing their best playing eleven and all departments not being in sync, as they suffered crucial defeats to South Africa and Australia.

"From India's point of view, I wouldn't say that I call myself the most knowledgeable person on it, but I just felt from a bowling perspective, there needs to be (more penetration). They were unfortunate with injuries, Shreyanka Patil going out, and they need some pace additions, I believe.

"Not just being a former fast bowler, but I think generally, and I asked Charlie Dean about this - I've been talking about the Australians and how they have managed to win six T20 World Cups -- with a little bit more balance in the bowling attack, with a little bit more pace, cutting edge in addition to the spinners is one thing and in T20 cricket now, where Australia have been very good in winning six titles, is the power in their batting.

"India does have a little bit of that, but they need more, and looking back at the game yesterday, I wonder if Richa Ghosh could have come in a little bit earlier, when Jemimah Rodrigues was struggling to get the ball away. So those are little points to look back on,” Bishop, an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup expert, told IANS on JioStar's Media Day on Monday.

As per statistics from CricViz, India had a few positives – Shafali Verma having a Power-play strike-rate of 171 and evolving as an all-rounder, while Sree Charani has been the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps. But what stood out as a concern was the misfiring middle-order and constant changes in batting positions.

It meant key mainstays like Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma struggled to find a consistent rhythm. India were also forced to field a different bowling combination in all five matches, including a pace bowling attack and new ball takers. Injuries to Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam, and Shreyanka Patil also upset the balance.

In fielding, India dropped 12 catches across the tournament, including shelling four chances against Bangladesh and giving veteran Marizanne Kapp twin reprieves.

When questioned on whether a target of 170 was a par score against Australia at Lord’s and whether bringing Kranti Gaud in place of Nandni Sharma was a good move, Bishop noted that India needed to aim significantly higher to put the six-time champions under pressure.

"If 170 was par, it was a better total. I think that you had to aim for that sort of total. That's where I suppose the discussions will be around Jemimah's knock. She eventually had to retire out, and Richa Ghosh came in and didn't have the chance, apart from a ball or two, to flex her muscles.

"But that's the sort of power that you wanted to utilise a little bit more of in hindsight. So I think that total would have been about par if I had just gone back to the result of it. You want to be above those given the power of Australia's batting, and the other point about it. So I would agree with you, India needed to be above that 170, right?

"What I will say is that even for the injuries that India have had with their bowling pre-tournament and with Shreyanka Patil being injured in the tournament, India still need to find a couple of seamers before the next T20 WC comes and through the phase until then, a couple of potent seamers (need to be unearthed). There has to be a deliberate hunt to get those effective seamers to go with their spinners."

Responding to queries about why India still lacks format-specific players despite the Women's Premier League (WPL) being around for four years, Bishop defended the tournament, explaining that it is still in its infancy and needs time to yield full results.

“I think you're starting to see some of the benefits of the WPL. It's still a very young tournament. A handful of years ago, it was still very young, but you're starting to see some spin-offs of that, where young women in India are starting to see more and more cricket as a career option. Not just internationally, but on the domestic front, and I think that stretches across the world as well.

"A lot of players across the world want to play the WPL in addition to the WBBL, in addition to playing professionally in England, for example. We get several players now coming out to the WCPL in the Caribbean. So, WPL, given the vastness of the nation, is a great thing. But you're still going to have to wait a little bit longer to see the full impact of that.”

Drawing a parallel with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and citing the WCPL’s example, Bishop pointed out that the evolution of domestic talent takes time, and the WPL must be structured to groom Indian players for high-stakes roles.

"If I may just draw, and now may not be a good time for it, given that India lost a couple of games to Ireland in the last couple of T20s, but those are blips. I believe those are blips, right? What we've seen with the IPL is that initially, in the IPL, several finishers with the bat and a number of excellent all-rounders were drafted in from across the cricketing globe to franchises to take up key positions to try to win games.

"Now we're starting to see a little bit of an evolution in that where India are starting to produce their own all-rounders who are finishing games with the bat and who can bowl a bit of seam, and that still needs growth. So I think in the WCPL, you still have to position teams in a way where you want the overseas players coming in, but also ensure that, as T20 internationals demand, a number of your key positions still have to be influenced by Indian selections.

"It's because when you go on to the world stage, you don't have that foreign assistance. It's your national team. So you want your fast bowling group to be developed in the WCPL more and more. You want your wrist-spin bowling to be found. I still think India will need a couple of wrist spinners, something that Australia have going for them very well. Your power-hitting dynamics still need to grow. So that will come in time, but we're already seeing the benefits of WCPL," he concluded.

Watch ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals, Australia vs West Indies on June 30, and England vs South Africa on July 2, LIVE on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.

Source: IANS

The post India were unfortunate with injuries, but need more pacers, power hitters after T20 WC exit, says Bishop appeared first on Social News XYZ.