Brits blasts Proteas Women past the Netherlands

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 continued with crucial Group A contests on Thursday.

While India began the day with a win over Bangladesh, South Africa put in a convincing all-round display against the Dutch.

By winning their respective matches, the teams have ensured the semi-finals race will be stretched to the final group game between India and Australia on Sunday.

South Africa maintained their winning momentum with a comprehensive 88-run victory over Netherlands in a crucial Group A clash in Bristol.

Tazmin Brits led the way with her first T20I hundred as South Africa piled on 208/1, their highest score at Women's T20 World Cup, before restricting Netherlands to 120/8.

This was South Africa's third win on the bounce, after opening the World Cup campaign with a defeat against Australia. While the two points against Netherlands were invaluable, the margin of victory also helped them improve their net run rate from -0.546 to +0.734.

After Netherlands won the toss and elected to field, South Africa put on an absolute show of power hitting. Brits led the charge as South Africa posted 66/0 in the first six overs, their highest PowerPlay score at this World Cup.

While Laura Wolvaardt punched through with her trademark cover drives, Brits, a former javelin thrower, launched into the Dutch bowling with some heavy hits. A 121-run opening partnership had laid the foundation for a big score and South Africa pressed on relentlessly even after the captain fell just short of her half-century.

Fittingly, Brits brought up her hundred with a mighty heave over mid-wicket for a maximum. In all, she struck three sixes and 15 fours against a shell-shocked Dutch attack and carried her bat through for 114 off 69 balls.

Annerie Dercksen ensured the Proteas pressed on as she quickly got into her stride and knocked off 37 runs in 16 balls, with the help of three fours and two sixes. South Africa amassed 50 runs in the last three overs to canter past 200.

Hannah Landheer bagged the sole South African wicket as she had Wolvaardt caught behind.

Though tournament debutants Netherlands are yet to score their first win, they have impressed with their spirit. Despite chasing a massive total, they came out with positive intent against South Africa.

While Sanya Khurana (36) and Phebe Molkenboer (41) put on an opening partnership of 58, Sterre Kalis contributed 26. However, with the South African total well out of their reach, the Dutch collapsed in a heap towards the end, losing their last seven wickets for 20 runs.

In a disciplined bowling effort by South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka topped the charts with 3/19 in her three overs.

Earlier, India stayed in contention for a semi-final spot at the Women's T20 World Cup with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh on a warm day in Manchester.

Left-arm spin duo of Sree Charani and Radha Yadav claimed combined tally of five wickets to restrict Bangladesh to 136/8. Shafali Verma then set up victory with a blazing half century as India responded with 139/5 with over three overs to spare.

With three wins in four matches, India have six points and are currently placed second in Group A, behind Australia.

The road to the final four has just got tougher for Bangladesh as they have to win their final match against South Africa to give themselves a fair chance.

Though Bangladesh showed the right intent as they won the toss and elected to bat first, they fell short in execution.

After losing Dilara Akter early, Sri Lanka steadied on for a while as Juairiya Ferdous (33), Sobhana Mostary (22) and Nigar Sultana (32) chipped in with vital runs. Ferdous and Mostary helped the team recover from an early wobble with a 51-run partnership for the second wicket.

While India's bowlers kept Bangladesh in check, their fielding was found wanting early on. The ODI world champions dropped four catches in the PowerPlay and Bangladesh inched to 40/1 in the first six overs.

Nandini Sharma snapped that streak as he held on to a return catch to send off Ferdous. India's spinners took control of the game from there and did not let their opponents break free.

Yadav bagged the prized scalps of Mostary and Sultana and then returned to clean bowl Ritu Moni. Meanwhile, Sree Charani claimed two wickets in the final over to finish with 2/21.

It was a landmark day for Charani who became India's highest-wicket taker in a single Women's T20 World Cup edition with 12 wickets. She got past Poonam Yadav's mark of 10 set in 2019/20. The Indian left-arm spinner, currently, leads the charts for most wickets at the 2026 edition as well.

In response, India came flying out of the blocks. Verma led the charge as the ODI world champions knocked off 63/1 in the first six overs, their highest score in PowerPlay in Women's T20 World Cups.

Verma brought up the second fastest fifty in Women's T20 World Cups as she went past the milestone in 29 balls. During her 34-ball 53, Verma struck eight fours and a six.

That early momentum provided by Verma was crucial and helped India tide over after they hit a roadblock in the middle. After Verma was stumped off Nahida Akter, India lost Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh in quick succession, giving Bangladesh a look in.

While Jemimah Rodrigues's cameo of 26 took the game away from their Asian rivals, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma took the team past the finish line.

Meanwhile, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has surpassed the 125 000-attendance mark, underlining the growing popularity of women’s cricket and the tournament’s record-breaking success across the United Kingdom.

The attendance, in what has been the highest-selling edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, registered the 125k mark after 4 129 fans turned up for the India vs Bangladesh clash.

The milestone also comes after a historic opening weekend, which saw 44 844 fans attend matches across the first three days of the competition.

The tournament also witnessed a landmark moment when the clash between India and Pakistan drew a sell-out crowd, setting a new record for the highest attendance at a group-stage match in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history.

Beyond packed stadiums, the event has also generated record-breaking broadcast figures and digital engagement, helping the tournament reach audiences across the globe and further elevating the profile of women’s cricket.

ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta hailed the achievement, describing it as a significant milestone for the tournament and the sport.

ICC Chief Executive, Sanjog Gupta, said: “Crossing 125 000 in-stadia attendees is a landmark moment, not just for this event, but for the women's game as a whole. These crowds sit alongside record-breaking broadcast and digital figures, together marking an irreversible shift in the creative, commercial and cultural standing of ICC women's events."

Since getting underway on June 12, the tournament has delivered thrilling contests across venues in Bristol, Leeds, Southampton, Manchester and Birmingham, with the race for the knockout stages intensifying as the group phase enters its final stretch.

Proteas’ ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad

Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Shabnim Ismail (DP World Lions), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions) and Dané van Niekerk (World Sports Betting Western Province).

Proteas Fixtures - ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 (All times SAST)

Saturday, 13 June at 3.30pm - Old Trafford, Manchester

South Africa v Australia (Aus won by 65 runs)

Wednesday, 17 June at 7.30pm - Edgbaston, Birmingham

South Africa v Pakistan (SA won by two wickets)

Sunday, 21 June at 3.30pm - Old Trafford, Manchester

South Africa v India (SA won by six wickets)

Thursday, 25 June at 7.30pm - Bristol County Ground, Bristol

South Africa v Netherlands (SA won by 88 runs)

Sunday, 28 June at 11.30am - Lord’s, London

South Africa v Bangladesh