HEADINGLEY, Leeds: Pakistan’s celebration of a wicket on the very first ball of the match proved to be a false dawn, as it gave way to a brutal 113-run annihilation that saw Australia qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Tuesday.

Gull Feroza produced a scintillating reflex catch to dismiss Beth Mooney off Sadia Iqbal inside the very first over — but it was as good as it got for Pakistan. From there, they were simply played with by the six-time champions, who racked up 199 for seven before bowling Pakistan out for a meek 86 in 13.4 overs. Pakistan’s brittle, fragile middle-order was exposed yet again as they shed their last seven wickets for just 36 runs in 7.2 overs.

This was Australia’s fourth straight victory in Group 1, with their final group match against India scheduled for 28 June at Lord’s. For Pakistan, it was a fourth defeat in a row, leaving them to chase nothing more than pride against the Netherlands in Bristol on 27 June.

Australia’s dominance over Pakistan in white-ball cricket is now total: this was their 15th T20I win over Pakistan, with two no-results, to go with an unbeaten record in 17 ODIs.

In truth, this fixture always looked a mismatch — not just on Australia’s formidable head-to-head record, but on recent form, with both sides arriving in starkly different shape. The match did nothing to challenge that expectation.

After the early shock, Australia steadied to 64 for one inside the PowerPlay, before adding 83 for the loss of three wickets between overs seven and 15. They finished with a flourish, plundering 52 runs for three wickets in the closing stages to post 199 for seven after electing to bat first.

Pakistan’s spin trio — Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu and Rameen Shamim — were genuinely impressive, conceding just 98 runs between them in 12 overs while sharing six wickets. The remaining eight overs told a different story, leaking 101 runs. Fatima Sana endured a rare off day with the ball, going for 17, 8, 11 and 9 across her four overs, while experienced Diana Baig, playing her first game in the event, conceded 20 in her two overs and Ayesha Zafar, used as a sixth bowling option, went for 16.

Australia’s brightest star, Ellyse Perry, reminded everyone why she is considered one of the finest cricketers of all time, striking nine fours and a six in a destructive 48-ball 71. She added 100 for the second wicket from just 56 balls alongside Georgia Voll, who struck seven fours in a 28-ball 39. Perry eventually fell to Fatima Sana, superbly caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali.

Australia briefly stumbled from 100 for one to 107 for four, but Perry and Annabel Sutherland steadied the innings with 44 from 33 balls before Nicola Carey finished things in style. Sutherland struck an 18-ball 27 with four fours, while Carey blazed an unbeaten 26 from just 13 balls, also with four boundaries.

If poor stroke selection and careless footwork had undone Pakistan’s batters in previous matches, this time it was their running between the wickets that betrayed them. Three batters were run-out in horror fashion — Gull Feroza (1), Ayesha Zafar (0) and Rameen Shamim (0) — with top-scorer Muneeba Ali directly involved in two of the three dismissals.

Muneeba herself top-scored with 32 from 25 balls, including four fours and a six, before falling caught at deep mid-wicket. Iram Javed (14) and Nashra Sandhu (0) were both bowled, while Aliya Riaz (7), Fatima Sana (17) and Sadia Iqbal (0) were all caught behind.

Sophie Molineux (two for six), Ellyse Perry (two for nine) and Annabel Sutherland (two for 12) shared the bowling honours as Australia wrapped up the contest with brutal efficiency. Perry was later named player of the match for her commanding all-round display.

Scores in brief:

Match 21 (Group 1) — Australia Women beat Pakistan Women by 113 runs, Leeds

AUSTRALIA WOMEN 199-7, 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 71, Georgia Voll 39, Annabel Sutherland 27, Nicola Carey 26 not out; Sadia Iqbal 2-31, Nashra Sandhu 2-33, Rameen Shamim 2-34)

PAKISTAN WOMEN 86 all out, 13.4 overs (Muneeba Ali 32, Fatima Sana 17, Iram Javed 14; Sophie Molineux 2-6, Ellyse Perry 2-9, Annabel Sutherland 2-12)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH — Ellyse Perry (Australia)

PAKISTAN’S NEXT MATCH — v Netherlands (Saturday, 27 June), Bristol