Australia thumps SA, NZ fumbles WI in T20 WC
Australia won the first heavyweight clash of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup after routing South Africa for 107 in Manchester on Saturday.
Going for a seventh title in the 10th World Cup, Australia battled to put up 172-8 then won by 65 runs at Old Trafford. South Africa was runner-up in the last two tournaments and beat Australia when they previously met in the 2024 semifinals. But the Proteas now must top the other group rival India on June 21 to stay in semifinal contention. Another title favorite suffered a setback when titleholder New Zealand lost to the West Indies — in another 2024 semifinals rematch — by seven wickets on the second-to-last ball in Southampton.
Earlier in a blustery, overcast Manchester, Scotland earned its first World Cup win at Ireland’s expense by a comfortable 40 runs. Ireland, chasing a first win for 12 years, dropped its win-loss record to 0-18.
Litchfield and spinners thump South Africa: Phoebe Litchfield missed Australia’s last warmup due to a quad strain but passed fit in time for their opening match. She was needed in the first over.
Georgia Voll was out for a duck in her World Cup debut and fellow opener Beth Mooney was gone in the fourth over. But Litchfield, undaunted, charged at Marizanne Kapp, pulled Shabnim Ismail for six, and scooped and swept Ayabonga Khaka to raise a 23-ball 50.
Litchfield was out next ball at 61-3 and Australia wobbled again, but Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham revived charge with 30s in a 58-run stand. Ismail retired after the 2023 World Cup and unretired at 37. The pacer took wicket but didn’t complete her overs because of a finger injury. Ismail batted, though, when result was already settled.
