Australia will start their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 journey with a tough Group 1 match against South Africa at Old Trafford on Saturday. The six-time champions, ranked as the top T20I team globally, are set to commence the tournament led by new captain Sophie Molineux. On the other hand, South Africa, currently placed fifth in the rankings, are entering the competition with increasing confidence as they strive to solidify their position among the top teams in women’s cricket.
The Proteas, captained by Laura Wolvaardt for her second consecutive T20 World Cup, aim to maintain their recent positive momentum and challenge one of the most successful teams in the competition’s history. Historically, Australia has been dominant against South Africa in T20 internationals, winning nine out of the 11 encounters between the two sides, while South Africa has secured only two victories.
Australia’s supremacy is particularly pronounced on the World Cup stage. In Women’s T20 World Cup history, the teams have met eight times, with Australia emerging victorious in seven of those matches. South Africa’s sole win in the tournament occurred during the 2023 edition.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at 7:00 PM IST at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester. Viewers can catch the Australia vs. South Africa game on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar offering live streaming services.
