Australia vs South Africa Women's T20 World Cup Predictions - Aussies to see off plucky Proteas in their World Cup opener

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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Australia Women are the overwhelming favourites to win the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The Proteas Women have lost in the last two T20 World Cup finals.
Australia are backed at 1.66 to win while South Africa are at 11.00 with the bookmakers.

Ayabonga Khaka is the Proteas' key bowler (Getty Images).

Australia vs South Africa Women Predictions

South Africa have been one of the dominant forces in T20 cricket in the last few years, including beating Australia in the 2024 semi-final. Australia’s team is simply incredible and so many players are in good form.

Australia vs South Africa Women Predictions
Head-to-Head
Australia Women Form
South Africa Women Form
Team news

The Proteas have a powerful side but the only batter firing is skipper Laura Wolvaardt. There are attractive odds for South Africa in this match, and if they click into gear they can beat Australia, but the smart money must go with Australia, although at odds of 1.27 to win the match there’s not a lot of incentive to commit your cash on their win.

Australia Women’s Beth Mooney has scored 40, 25, 43 & 34 in her last 4 matches.
Australia Women’s Phoebe Litchfield has scored 46, 68* & 31 in her last 3 knocks.
Australia Women’s Megan Schutt has figures of 2/33 and 2/20 in her last 2 matches.
South Africa Women’s Laura Wolvaardt has scored 92*, 47, 65 & 43 in five matches.
South Africa Women’s Tazmin Brits has scored 180-plus in the last 2 T20 World Cups.
South Africa Women’s Ayabonga Khaka has taken 7 wickets in her last 3 matches.

Head-to-Head

South Africa Women have won two and lost three of their last five T20 matches against Australia Women. The Proteas have won two of their last three matches.

Australia Women Form

Australia lost their T20 series 2-1 at home to India in February but bounced back with a 3-0 series win over the West Indies in March.

Beth Mooney has scored 25-plus in her last four matches, while Phoebe Litchfield has scored 31-plus in her last three innings. Georgia Voll scored 77* in their last warm-up match while Ellyse Perry has scored 33* and 64 in her last four innings.

Megan Schutt has taken 2/33 and 2/20 in her last two matches, while Sophie Molineux has been highly economical in her last three matches (2/17, 1/16 and 1/19). Alana King has taken 5/19 and 2/10 since early April, Lucy Hamilton took 2/19 in their last match against the West Indies while Georgia Wareham took 3/29 against the West Indies in March.

South Africa Women Form

The Proteas won their last T20I series 4-1 against India in April, including three big wins.

Laura Wolvaardt has scored 40-plus in four of her last five matches and was the leading run-scorer in the last two T20 World Cups. Her top-order team-mates have struggled to put runs on the board, with the only other recent substantial contributions coming from Chloe Tryon (61*) and Nadine de Klerk (46) against New Zealand in the recent warm-up, and before that Anneke Bosch scored 91 against New Zealand back at the start of April.

The Proteas bowlers have been in good form, with Shabnim Ismail taking 4/39 against Australia back at the end of May. Marizanne Kapp took 4/24 against Ireland a week ago. Their dangerous trio of bowlers that have been in superb form, with Ayabonga Khaka (2/28, 3/27 and 2/41 in her last three matches), Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/15, 2/20 and 2/25 in her last five matches) and Tumi Sekhukhune (2/23 and 2/18 in her last three matches) all starring with the ball.

Team news

Aussie top-order batter Phoebe Litchfield sat out the warm-up games through a leg injury but should be ready to take on the Proteas.

Australia Women squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Tahlia McGrath, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.

South Africa Women squad: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Shabnim Ismail, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Kayla Reyneke, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dane van Niekerk.

Verdict

Australia v South Africa Women

Australia are backed to win, with Laura Wolvaardt, Ayabonga Khaka, Megan Schutt and Beth Mooney backed to star with bat and ball.

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