Both India and Australia started their preparations for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in style, winning their warm-up matches in Cardiff on Monday. India also won by beating West Indies by 26 runs, while Australia made lightwork of the chase against England winning it in the end by five wickets.
Fulmali and Patil Shine as India Beat West Indies
India defeated the West Indies by 26 runs, in a match that involved a very good all round performance. Batting first, India scored 179 for the loss of 8 wickets in the 20 overs with good performance from Bharti Fulmali, Smriti Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia and Shafali Verma.
The icing on the cake was that Mandhana continued her good run of form for India, and Shafali Verma also provided a perfect launch pad by stitching together an opening stand of 59 runs in just over five overs. Shafali scored a blistering 29 off just 13 balls while Mandhana fell for a score of 39.
India were in a spot of bother following the loss of three wickets for just six runs before Yastika Bhatia and Bharti Fulmali combined to add a critical 60-run partnership. While Bhatia smashed 36 runs with six fours, Fulmali continued his form from the lower middle order and remained not out for 56. She hit 6 fours and a six to contribute to what would be an almost-competitive total for India in their innings.
Leg-spinner Afy Fletcher poked her breast instead of West Indies, whom she took four wickets and controlled India’s run-rate in the middle-over spell.
West Indies were off to a good start with a 63-run opening partnership between Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle in response. Dottin top-scored with a battling 49, while Campbelle contributed 25 but had to retire out.
But the Indian spine attack turned the match into their favour. Shreyanka Patil took 4/36, including the wickets of multiple top-order batters to be complemented beautifully by Radha Yadav who picked up 3 for 25. Together, they ended West Indies innings at 153 for 8 which gave India an impressive victory.
Perry Guides Australia Past England
Chasing a target of 157 for 6 put up by England in the second warm-up fixture Australia managed to gather five wickets and ten balls remaining.
After being put into bat in a difficult start, England fell to 19 for 3 as they struggled during the powerplay. The Australian bowlers – spearheaded by Megan Schutt and Alana King – were soon amongst the wickets with two apiece to exert early pressure on their opponents.
After falling to 39 for three, Alice Capsey made a solid 45 and Freya Kemp chipped in with 41 as part of a recovery that took England to what proved a defendable total.
The Australian chase revolved around veteran batter Ellyse Perry, who scored a classy 64 runs off 43 balls with nine boundaries. A blistering 43 from Beth Mooney at the top also helped to set up a cruise run chase.
Both teams built up name momentum into the Women’ T20 World Cup 2026, with both India and Australia notching wins.