Australia Women produced another clinical performance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Sophie Molineux grabbing the headlines thanks to a spectacular catch that dismissed Sobhana Mostary during the Group A encounter against Bangladesh Women.
Sophie Molineux takes a superb catch to get rid of Sobhana Mostary
The moment came on the second ball of the eighth over when Ellyse Perry tempted Sobhana into playing an expansive drive outside off stump. The Bangladesh batter accepted the invitation but failed to keep the shot down, slicing it toward cover where Molineux reacted instantly. Diving sharply to her left, she completed a brilliant two-handed catch before tumbling safely to the ground, capping off one of the finest fielding efforts of the tournament so far.
The dismissal showcased Australia’s tactical awareness as much as its athleticism. Perry delivered a full ball well outside off stump, enticing Sobhana to chase a stroke that carried significant risk. The batter could not generate control, and the mistimed drive flew toward cover. Positioned perfectly, Molineux displayed excellent anticipation and balance. She moved quickly across, extended both hands, and held onto the ball despite losing her footing during the dive. The outstanding effort immediately sparked celebrations among the Australian players and drew widespread appreciation from fans watching the contest.
Here’s the video:
#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/GzY8UtL87R
— Aman (@Amanriz78249871) June 17, 2026
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Australia’s bowlers leave Bangladesh struggling
While Molineux’s catch was the standout visual of the innings, Australia’s bowlers laid the foundation for their dominance by keeping the Bangladesh batting lineup under constant pressure.
Bangladesh managed only 77/8 in their allotted 20 overs after finding boundaries hard to come by against a relentless Australian attack. Molineux backed up her fielding brilliance with the ball as well, returning impressive figures of 2 for 14 from her spell.
Veteran all-rounder Perry also made a significant impact, claiming two wickets and repeatedly forcing Bangladesh’s batters into mistakes with her disciplined lines and clever changes of pace. Kim Garth chipped in with two scalps of her own, ensuring wickets fell at regular intervals and preventing any meaningful partnerships from developing. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana fought hard amid the collapse and finished as her side’s highest scorer with 27 runs. However, she received little support from the rest of the batting order as Australia maintained complete control from start to finish.
The combined bowling effort, complemented by outstanding fielding standards, meant Bangladesh never recovered after losing early wickets and were restricted to one of the lowest totals in the competition.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
