Ellyse Perry Shines as All-Rounder in Women's T20 World Cup Victory Over Bangladesh Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry delivered a standout performance in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, helping her side defeat Bangladesh with a disciplined bowling display on June 17. The 35-year-old took 2 wickets for 14 runs in three overs, restricting the opposition to a total of 77 runs in the first innings. Perry’s contribution was pivotal as Australia secured a crucial win, showcasing her ability to adapt and excel across multiple facets of the game. Perry expressed her enthusiasm for continuing to develop her bowling skills, emphasizing her dedication to staying engaged and evolving as a player. After the match, she reflected on the importance of contributing whenever possible, highlighting her enjoyment of the challenge. “Any opportunity I get to contribute, I really enjoy doing that with this wonderful group of players,” Perry said. She noted her ongoing efforts to refine her bowling techniques, stating, “I’ve been chipping away with my bowling, I love doing it, it keeps me interested at training to have a trundle. There’s bits and pieces you’ve always got to learn and try and develop.” Perry’s all-round capabilities have long been a cornerstone of her career, but her role as a bowler has diminished in recent years. Over the past 32 T20 Internationals (T20Is) Australia has played, Perry has bowled only eight times, focusing more on her batting contributions. However, her performance against Bangladesh reaffirmed her value as a key all-rounder. Her ability to step up when needed has made her an indispensable asset to the team, even as her bowling role has become less frequent. Australia captain Sophie Molineux praised Perry’s consistency and readiness to contribute, despite her reduced bowling workload.#australia #bangladesh #sophie_molineux #ellyse_perry #women_t20_world_cup
The ‘Game-Changing’ Women’s T20 World Cup: Record Ticket Sales, a Lionesses Moment, and West End Witches The opening day of the Women’s T20 World Cup, held at Edgbaston, marked a historic milestone for the sport, with record ticket sales and a dramatic victory for England over Sri Lanka setting the stage for what is expected to be the largest women’s cricket tournament in history. The event, which aims to elevate the profile of women’s cricket globally, featured a unique opening ceremony that included a performance of the West End musical Wicked, symbolizing the intersection of entertainment and sport. England’s emphatic 87-run win over Sri Lanka, a thumping display of power and precision, was celebrated as a potential “Lionesses moment” for the team, drawing parallels to the iconic 2017 Women’s World Cup victory. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has set ambitious targets for the tournament, predicting it could surpass previous attendance records for women’s World Cups and achieve second-highest TV viewership figures among female sporting events, trailing only the 2023 football World Cup. Sanjog Gupta, ICC chief executive, emphasized the tournament’s potential to accelerate the growth of women’s sports worldwide. “This is a big moment of acceleration for women’s sport,” Gupta told The Athletic on the opening night. “We believe this tournament has the potential to be one of the two biggest women’s sporting events ever. The initial signs are good—this edition has sold more tickets than any previous women’s T20 World Cup.” While factors like team performance and weather remain unpredictable, the ICC aims to surpass 250,000 attendees and approach 300,000.#nasser_hussain #international_cricinfo #edgbaston #women_t20_world_cup #west_end_witches
Scotland Names Hannah Rainey as Replacement for Injured Abtaha Maqsood in Women's T20 World Cup A fractured hand has forced Scotland legspinner Abtaha Maqsood out of the Women’s T20 World Cup, with the injury sustained during the team’s final warm-up match against Pakistan on Tuesday. The 26-year-old, who has been a key figure in Scotland’s Women’s T20 International (WT20I) squad, will miss the tournament after undergoing medical evaluation. Her absence marks a significant setback for the team, as she holds the record for most wickets in the format with 73 at an average of 17.72 and an economy rate of 5.63. Hannah Rainey, a medium-pacer currently playing for Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast, has been named as Maqsood’s replacement. The 28-year-old will join the squad ahead of Scotland’s opening match against Ireland on Saturday. Rainey, who last played a T20I in 2025, brings experience to the team with 25 wickets at an economy rate of 5.39. Scotland head coach Craig Wallace expressed confidence in her inclusion, stating, “Hannah now comes into the squad, and we are delighted to welcome her into the group. She obviously has plenty of experience, and this is a great opportunity for her as we head into an exciting few weeks.” Wallace also acknowledged the emotional impact of Maqsood’s injury, calling her “such an important member of our squad” and emphasizing her value both on and off the field. “The whole playing squad and coaching staff are absolutely gutted for Abtaha,” he said. “She will be a great loss to us during this tournament. We wish her all the very best in her recovery and hope to see her back on the field soon.” Scotland seamer Chloe Abel echoed the sentiment, describing Maqsood’s injury as “pretty shocking news for the whole team to take.#scotland #abtaha_maqsood #hannah_rainey #women_t20_world_cup #craig_wallace
