Perry and Voll Rescue Australia After Early Blow
Australia continued their flawless ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a 113-run victory over Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds, securing their fourth consecutive win in the tournament.
Captain Sophie Molineux retained the same playing XI that defeated the Netherlands, while Pakistan introduced Diana Baig and Rameen Shamim in place of Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan.
After winning the toss, Australia elected to bat first but suffered an immediate setback. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana handed the new ball to left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, who dismissed Beth Mooney with the very first delivery of the match to leave Australia without a run on the board.
Ellyse Perry then joined Georgia Voll and immediately shifted the momentum. The pair added a superb 100-run partnership for the second wicket, attacking Pakistan’s bowlers and putting Australia firmly in control.
Pakistan fought back through Nashra Sandhu, who struck twice in the 10th over by dismissing Voll for 39 from 28 balls and Ashleigh Gardner for a duck. One over later, Australia slipped to 107/4 as Pakistan briefly regained momentum.
Perry Registers Maiden Women’s T20 World Cup Fifty
Annabel Sutherland provided valuable support after Australia’s middle-order wobble, adding 44 runs alongside Perry for the fifth wicket.
Sutherland contributed a brisk 27 from 18 deliveries before Rameen Shamim broke the partnership in the 17th over. Pakistan claimed a couple more late wickets, but Nicola Carey produced an unbeaten 26 from just 13 balls, while Alana King added useful late runs as Australia finished on an imposing 199/7.
Perry was the standout performer with a magnificent 71 from 48 deliveries, registering the first half-century of her Women’s T20 World Cup career. Her innings included nine boundaries and one six, anchoring Australia’s highest total of the tournament.
Australia also benefited from 21 extras, the third-highest extras tally in a single innings in Women’s T20 World Cup history.
For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu and Rameen Shamim each finished with two wickets.
Pakistan Collapse After Promising Start
Pakistan’s chase began with more drama than momentum.
Gull Feroza became the first victim of a costly run-out in the second over before Muneeba Ali was involved in another mix-up that resulted in Ayesha Zafar’s dismissal three overs later.
Despite the setbacks, Pakistan managed to reach 50/3 during the powerplay, becoming only the second team after India to score more than 50 runs against Australia’s bowling attack inside the first six overs during this tournament.
However, the innings quickly unraveled.
Muneeba Ali top-scored with 32 from 25 balls, while Iram Javed contributed 14 from nine deliveries during Pakistan’s highest partnership of the chase, worth just 20 runs.
Regular wickets prevented Pakistan from building any sustained momentum as they collapsed from 50/3 to 86 all out in only 13.4 overs. The visitors lost their final seven wickets for just 36 runs, falling 113 runs short of the target.
Australia Bowlers Complete Clinical Performance
Australia’s bowlers backed up the batting effort with another disciplined display.
Captain Sophie Molineux claimed 2/6 from her two overs, while Annabel Sutherland picked up 2/12. Ellyse Perry completed a memorable all-round performance by returning figures of 2/9 in a single over, striking twice during Pakistan’s collapse.
Georgia Wareham also played an important role, conceding only two runs while taking a wicket during her outstanding two-over spell.
The comprehensive victory equalled Australia’s second-largest win by runs in Women’s T20 World Cup history and strengthened their position at the top of the group standings.
Perry Earns Another Player of the Match Award
Ellyse Perry was named Player of the Match after producing one of the finest all-round performances of the tournament.
Her match-winning 71 with the bat laid the platform for Australia’s imposing total before she returned to claim two important wickets during Pakistan’s chase.
The award was Perry’s fifth Player of the Match honour in Women’s T20 World Cup history, moving her into second place on the all-time list as Australia maintained their perfect record with four victories from four matches.
