India, June 9 -- What wins women's T20 matches in 2026? Ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup, data from the three biggest franchise leagues offers an intriguing answer.

While PowerPlays and death overs continue to grab attention -- especially in men's T20 cricket -- the most influential players in the game are increasingly making their mark in the middle overs.

From England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt's run-scoring to New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr's wicket-taking, the numbers point towards a middle-overs revolution that could shape the tournament that begins on June 12.

Numbers point towards a clear trend: the teams that control the middle overs, with both bat and ball, are the ones most likely to succeed. The middle overs were once treat...