Australia face West Indies in the first Women's T20 World Cup semi-final at Kennington Oval, London on 30 June, with a place in the final at stake. The Australians arrive as overwhelming favourites after completing an unbeaten group campaign, including a record-breaking victory over India at Lord's, but the knockout stage has a habit of rewriting form books.

Australia's Route to the Semi-Finals

Sophie Molineux's side have been the most complete team in the tournament, with their batting unit firing consistently and the bowling attack applying pressure across varying conditions. Their win over India at Lord's was the defining performance of the group stage, completing a perfect run through the preliminary rounds.

The turnaround between fixtures has been rapid. Australia relocated from their north London base on Sunday, moving closer to The Oval with just one training session available to acclimatise to a new venue before the semi-final. The Oval is expected to present a markedly different surface from Lord's, making that preparation window particularly significant.

West Indies' Nervy Qualification and What It Could Unlock

West Indies, captained by the influential Hayley Matthews, reached the last four via a far more turbulent route. An unexpected defeat to Ireland left their qualification in serious doubt on the final group-stage day, with England's victory over New Zealand ultimately securing their passage through.

That near-miss, however, could prove a psychological asset. Having already survived a crisis, the Caribbean side may arrive at The Oval playing with a freedom that a team carrying the weight of expectation cannot easily replicate. Matthews remains the side's most dangerous match-winner, capable of shaping games with both bat and ball. The experienced Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor add hard-won composure in high-pressure moments.

Australia's Semi-Final Scars

Australia's recent World Cup knockout record carries a cautionary note. At the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-finals, they arrived unbeaten before being stunned by South Africa. The following year, India produced a record chase to eliminate them at the ODI World Cup last four. Consecutive semi-final exits across ICC events have sharpened the squad's awareness that dominance in the group stage provides no insurance once the knockout rounds begin.

Notably, Australia's head-to-head record against West Indies this year is formidable — six white-ball victories during their tour earlier in 2025, followed by a further win in a pre-tournament warm-up in Cardiff. But the players themselves are the first to acknowledge that history counts for little when the stakes are this high.

Match Details and Broadcast

The semi-final is scheduled for Tuesday, 30 June, with a 7:00 PM IST start at Kennington Oval, London. The match will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on JioHotstar.

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

West Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (c), Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Jannillea Glasgow, Jahzara Claxton, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Mandy Mangru, Shawnisha Hector.

With another World Cup final within reach, Australia start as clear favourites — but after back-to-back semi-final heartbreaks, they know better than anyone that knockout cricket rarely follows the script.