Women's T20 World Cup draws record crowds as England reaches semi-final

England will play South Africa in a T20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday after Australia meets West Indies on Tuesday. The pairings were set by results from a double-header at Lord's on Sunday that drew a crowd of 27,000. South Africa advanced past Bangladesh while Australia eliminated India by six wickets.

Tournament director Beth Barrett-Wild said the event has produced record crowds despite hot weather.

Attendance and competition Total attendance has reached about 160,000, twice the figure from the 2017 tournament hosted by England and Wales. Record single-day crowds were recorded at Edgbaston and the Oval, and the final at Lord's is sold out. Three centuries have been scored so far, and several teams have posted totals above 170 runs.

Ireland secured its first World Cup win in 12 years by defeating West Indies, and Scotland nearly upset Sri Lanka.

Revenue and participation gaps Barrett-Wild noted that Indian broadcasters determine the timing of some matches. Teams from Scotland and the Netherlands operate without sponsors or with players who hold other jobs. The International Cricket Council expanded the field from 10 to 12 teams for this edition. Organizers have not announced further changes to revenue distribution.