By Dwayne Ferreira.
Beth Mooney’s 74 powered Australia to a record-equalling 219 before the champions beat the Netherlands by 98 runs at the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Beth Mooney led another commanding Australian batting display as the defending champions defeated the Netherlands by 98 runs in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match at Southampton. Australia amassed 219 for six, equalling the highest total in Women’s T20 World Cup history, before restricting the tournament debutants to 121 for three.
The Netherlands won the toss and elected to field, but Australia immediately imposed their preferred tempo. Georgia Voll struck 17 from nine deliveries as the champions reached 61 during the six-over powerplay. Although the Dutch attack found early breakthroughs, it could not prevent Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner from taking control of the middle overs.
Mooney blended placement with calculated aggression, repeatedly opening scoring areas through and behind the off side. Gardner supplied greater power at the other end, punishing anything short or overpitched as the pair added 101 runs for the fourth wicket from only 53 deliveries. Their partnership transformed an already positive start into the foundation for a record-threatening total.
Gardner reached 58 from 32 balls, striking eight fours and one six, before the Netherlands finally separated the pair. Mooney continued to 74 from 42 deliveries, with nine boundaries and a six, but retired hurt after experiencing stiffness in her back. Australia nevertheless had more acceleration available through Georgia Wareham.
Wareham attacked from the beginning of her innings and raced to 41 from only 18 deliveries, finding the boundary eight times. Her late assault took Australia to 219 for six from their 20 overs, drawing them level with England’s record Women’s T20 World Cup total. Iris Zwilling endured a costly afternoon but claimed three wickets for 52, while Caroline de Lange finished with two for 39.
Requiring 11 runs per over, the Netherlands needed an exceptional powerplay but instead slipped to 17 for two during the opening four overs. Kim Garth removed both openers and conceded only 20 runs across her four-over spell, ending any realistic prospect of the Dutch side matching Australia’s scoring rate. They reached 28 at the end of the powerplay and shifted their attention towards batting through the innings.
Babette de Leede and Sterre Kalis then produced the Netherlands’ most accomplished period of the match. The pair added 96 runs and denied Australia the rapid collapse that appeared possible after the early wickets. Kalis made 44 from 43 balls, including five fours and a six, before Annabel Sutherland ended the partnership.
De Leede completed an unbeaten 56 from 57 deliveries in her 100th T20 international, becoming the central figure in a respectable Dutch response. Kalis also passed 2,000 T20I runs during her innings, giving the Netherlands individual milestones to accompany a disciplined recovery against the tournament favourites. Their final total of 121 for three was never enough to challenge Australia, but it avoided a more severe defeat after the difficult opening phase.
Mooney was named Player of the Match for the innings that established Australia’s dominance. The result returned the champions to the top of Group A and strengthened their net run rate ahead of their next match against Pakistan. The Netherlands remained without a victory but could take encouragement from the composure shown by De Leede and Kalis before their meeting with South Africa.
MATCH SUMMARY
AUSTRALIA WOMEN – 219/6, 20 overs
Beth Mooney 74 retired hurt, Ashleigh Gardner 58, Georgia Wareham 41
Iris Zwilling 3/52, Caroline de Lange 2/39, Heather Siegers 1/34
NETHERLANDS WOMEN – 121/3, 20 overs
Babette de Leede 56 not out, Sterre Kalis 44, Heather Siegers 9
Kim Garth 2/20, Annabel Sutherland 1/23, Lucy Hamilton 0/13
Result: Australia Women won by 98 runs.
Player of the Match: Beth Mooney.
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