SOUTHAMPTON: Fifties from Beth Mooney and Ashley Gardner, followed by some decent bowling, led Australia to a resounding 98-run win over Netherlands in the 14th match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
Netherlands skipper Babet de Leed’s decision to bat first backfired as the six-time champions amassed a mammoth total of 219/6 in their 20 overs, aided by a century and third-wicket partnership between Mooney and Gardner.
Australia started their innings with a bang as Georgia Wall (17) and Mooney put on a quick 50, dismissing Iris Swilling on the fourth ball of the fifth over.
The former champions suffered another setback on the first delivery of the next over as veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry (one) was dismissed by Heather Seegers, slumping to 51/2 as a result.
Following a back-and-forth, Gardner joined Mooney in the middle and the duo restored Australia’s dominance with a 101-run third-wicket partnership that saw both batsmen bring up their respective half-centuries.
After the 14th over, Mooney’s match-defining stand earned him the man-of-the-match award as he smashed 74 off 42 balls with nine fours and a six.
Gardner, on the other hand, fell victim to Caroline de Lange in the 15th over and returned after scoring 58 off 32 balls with the help of eight fours and a six.
The exit of both set batsmen did not stop Australia’s progress towards a big total as Georgia Wareham kept the momentum going with a 41 off just 18 balls with 8 boundaries.
Iris Zwilling was the best bowler for the Netherlands, taking three wickets, but was costly, conceding 52 runs in her four overs, followed by de Lange with two wickets, while Seagers could manage one.
Chasing a tough target of 220, the Dutch managed to manage only 121/3 in the allotted overs, despite captain De Leede’s alert half-century.
The Netherlands got off to a disastrous start when Kim Garth dismissed openers Seagers (nine) and Phebe Molkenbohr (nil) for just 17 runs in four overs.
Following an early setback, captain De Leete and middle-order batsman Sterre Kallis put on a cautious 96 for the third wicket to frustrate Australia’s bowling attack, with Annabel Sutherland dismissing the latter on the first delivery of the last over.
Kallis, who was the leading run-scorer for the Netherlands with 44 off 43 balls, pulled back when the side needed 107 off five balls.
Captain De Leete, on the other hand, batted till the end and returned after scoring an unbeaten 56 off 57 balls with the help of 5 fours.
For Australia, Garth led the bowling with two wickets for just 20 runs in his four overs, while Sutherland bowled with a scalp.
The 98-run win, which marked Australia’s third consecutive victory, strengthened their command at the top of the Group 1 standings of the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the six-time champions now on six points from three games.
Instead, it was the third defeat in a row for the Netherlands.