T20-LEAGUE

T20 Spring Challenge 2026 Semi-Finals: Preview, Times, Table

Published on October 19, 2026

Summary Overview: The T20 Spring Challenge 2026 semi-finals are set: unbeaten Adelaide Strikers face Perth Scorchers, and Sydney Thunder meet Sydney Sixers in a derby. Two-time champions Hobart Hurricanes are out. Times in local, IST, PKT and ET.

Who plays in the semi-finals? Semi-Final 1: Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers. Semi-Final 2: Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers.

When are they? Both on Tuesday, October 20 at Cricket Central in Sydney: 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM local time (AEDT).

When is the final? Wednesday, October 21 at 2:00 PM local time, also at Cricket Central.

What's the big story? Two-time champions Hobart Hurricanes finished 8th and are out. Brisbane Heat, the losing finalists in both previous editions, are out too. So the 2026 trophy will go to a brand-new winner.

The Story: A New Champion Guaranteed

The T20 Spring Challenge is the women's pre-season tournament played before the WBBL. Hobart Hurricanes won the first two editions, beating Brisbane Heat in both finals.

For readers new to the format: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries). In this tournament, the top four teams after the league stage reach the semi-finals, and the winners meet in the final.

This year, the old order collapsed. The Hurricanes won only one of four league games, and the Heat managed just one win plus a no result. That leaves four teams who have never won the competition: Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Thunder, Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers.

Players to Watch

Several big names are missing because they are playing for Australia against New Zealand in a T20I series at North Sydney Oval at the same time. That includes Tahlia McGrath and Megan Schutt (Strikers), Beth Mooney and Alana King (Scorchers), Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll (Thunder), and Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry (Sixers). It gives the next generation a chance to shine.

Adelaide Strikers

Eleanor Larosa: The all-round star of the league stage. She hit 52 off 43 and took 2 for 32 against the Hurricanes, and added 31 and 2 for 41 against the Scorchers.

Madeline Penna: Smashed 47 not out off 22 balls and took 2 for 19 to beat the Scorchers, then followed up with 2 for 11 against Hobart.

Emma de Broughe: A reliable opener who made 40 in both of those wins.

Amanda-Jade Wellington: The experienced leg-spinner who controls the middle overs.

Perth Scorchers

Mikayla Friday (formerly Hinkley): Top-scored with 57 off 37 against the Strikers and made 39 off 25 in the win over the Renegades.

Katie Mack: In great form, with 51 off 28 against the Strikers and 43 off 34 against the Renegades.

Ines McKeon: Hit 51 off 33 against the Strikers.

Chloe Piparo (c) leads the side, and Cricket Australia-contracted quick Chloe Ainsworth spearheads the attack.

Sydney Thunder

Heather Knight: The former England captain is the Thunder's overseas signing. She retired from international cricket in July and flew in early to join the club.

Tahlia Wilson (wk): An attacking keeper-batter at the top of the order.

Hannah Darlington: A key all-rounder with bat and ball.

Sam Bates: An experienced left-arm spinner who keeps the runs down.

Sydney Sixers

Erin Burns (c): The captain and an experienced all-rounder.

Lauren Cheatle: Left-arm swing with the new ball.

Maitlan Brown: A seam-bowling all-rounder who can hit hard late in an innings.

Sarah Coyte: A veteran seamer with years of WBBL experience.

The Talking Points

Adelaide Strikers: The Only Unbeaten Team

The Strikers won all four league games and finished top on 8 points. As the table-toppers, they face the 4th-placed side in Semi-Final 1.

Sydney Thunder: The Best Net Run Rate

The Thunder won three of four, with one no result, and lost no games. Their net run rate of +2.206 was easily the best in the league, a sign they won their games by big margins.

A Four-Way Tie for Third

The Sixers, Scorchers, Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars all finished on 4 points with two wins each. Net run rate (a measure of how quickly a team scores compared with its opponents) decided it. The Sixers (+0.246) and Scorchers (+0.016) squeezed through, and both Melbourne teams missed out.

A Sydney Derby

Semi-Final 2 is Thunder vs Sixers, the two Sydney teams, playing in Sydney for a place in the final.

Final League Table

Pos	Team	Won-Lost	Net Run Rate	Points
1	Adelaide Strikers	4-0	+1.041	8
2	Sydney Thunder	3-0 (1 no result)	+2.206	7
3	Sydney Sixers	2-2	+0.246	4
4	Perth Scorchers	2-2	+0.016	4
5	Melbourne Renegades	2-2	-0.187	4
6	Melbourne Stars	2-2	-0.885	4
7	Brisbane Heat	1-2 (1 no result)	-0.336	3
8	Hobart Hurricanes	1-3	-0.696	2
9	ACT Meteors	0-4	-1.325	0

The top four, in bold, reach the semi-finals. Each team played four league games.

Semi-Finals and Final Schedule

Match	Date	Fixture	Venue	Local (AEDT)	IST	Pakistan	ET
Semi-Final 1	Tue, Oct 20	Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers	Cricket Central, Sydney	10:00 AM	4:30 AM	4:00 AM	7:00 PM (Oct 19)
Semi-Final 2	Tue, Oct 20	Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers	Cricket Central, Sydney	2:30 PM	9:00 AM	8:30 AM	11:30 PM (Oct 19)
Final	Wed, Oct 21	Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2	Cricket Central, Sydney	2:00 PM	8:30 AM	8:00 AM	11:00 PM (Oct 20)

Local time is Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). Pakistan is on PKT (UTC+5). ET is US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). Because Sydney is so far ahead, the games start the previous evening in the US.

Start Times Back Home

City	Semi-Final 1	Semi-Final 2	Final
Adelaide (ACDT)	9:30 AM	2:00 PM	1:30 PM
Perth (AWST)	7:00 AM	11:30 AM	11:00 AM
UK (BST)	12:00 AM (midnight)	4:30 AM	4:00 AM

Stat Corner

Stat	Figure
Teams in the tournament	9
League games per team	4
Teams finishing on 4 points	4
Only unbeaten team	Adelaide Strikers
Best net run rate	Sydney Thunder, +2.206
Previous champions	Hobart Hurricanes (2024, 2025)
New champion in 2026	Guaranteed