Kuala Lumpur, Jan 22: Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, England and Ireland had a day to remember by emerging victorious in the 2025 ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
The biggest development, though, was Ireland overcoming rain delays to beat Pakistan by 13 runs in a dramatic rain-affected contest and qualify for Super Six stage. Ireland posted 69/5 in a game reduced to nine overs and restricted Pakistan to 59/7 reply, ensuring they advance from Group B and pushed Pakistan to the 13th Place play-offs.
At Johor Cricket Academy Oval, Alice Walsh was the star with the bat for Ireland, by striking four fours in an innings of 31, while Ellie McGee took 2- 13. In reply, Pakistan were in the drivers’ seat at 24/0 in two overs but panic set in as three of their top four batters were run out while another four batters had their stumps uprooted.
In Sarawak, South Africa defied rain delays to make it three out of three victories in Group C with a 41-run win over Nigeria, who also qualified for Super Six stage for the first time. Simone Lourens top scored with 25 and two boundaries in the last over from Karabo Meso helped them post 49/2 in the eight overs that were possible. In reply, leg-spinner Seshnie Naidu starred with a double-wicket over as Nigeria crumbled to 23/8.
Just like the Proteas, Australia thrashed Nepal by 83 runs in Kuala Lumpur to maintain their perfect record in the tournament. Nepal have been the queens of powerplay bowling in the tournament and took a trio of early scalps for the third game in succession.
Captain Puja Mahato clean bowled Ines McKeon with an inswinger before watching Sabitri Dhami take two sublime catches at mid-on to reduce Australia to 14/3. Caoimhe Bray and Eleanor Larosa knuckled down and compiled a crucial stand of 72, before Hasrat Gill and Chloe Ainsworth took 29 runs from the last two overs.
In the chase of 140, Puja again led from the front with a stoical 18 from 42 balls but wickets fell around her with Gill, Juliette Morton and Lily Bassingthwaighte taking two apiece to wrap up victory for Australia.
Meanwhile, in Johor, a remarkable display of controlled hitting from England’s Davina Perrin helped them chase down the target of 120 set by USA and win by eight wickets. Davina cleared the boundary three times while scoring a whirlwind 75.
She put on a stand of 117 runs for the second wicket with Trudy Johnson to guide her side home with more than five overs to spare. Both England and USA have managed to enter the Super Six stage, with the latter making it for the first time after missing out in 2023.
On the other hand, New Zealand recorded a comprehensive victory over Samoa in a must-win game to qualify for the Super Six stage. New Zealand were in deep trouble when they were reduced to 12/3, as Samoan seamer Olive Lefaga Lemoe took her nation’s first-ever scalps at the event.
But Eve Wolland hit two sixes and two fours in a brilliant 48, shepherding the tail to 107/9, a total which proved way beyond Samoa who were dismissed for 40. It meant New Zealand bounced back from a shock defeat to Nigeria and advanced to Super Six, while debutants Samoa head to the play-offs.
In Bangi, Bangladesh hold their nerve to beat Scotland by 18 runs. Anisa Akter Soba’s leg-spin proved to be too tough a nut to crack for Scotland as she picked a remarkable 4-25. A good score looked out of reach as Bangladesh sunk to 50/5, with Scottish seamer Nayma Sheikh making hay. But skipper Sumaiya Akter masterminded a strong end to the innings through a composed 29.
In the chase, openers Emma Walsingham and Pippa Kelly were both bowled in the fifth over, bamboozled by the leg spin of Anisa, and next five Scottish wickets fell for 26 runs. Despite a fine 43 from keeper Pippa Sproul, they fell 18 runs short of backing up Monday’s vital victory over Nepal. Scotland’s win over Nepal still sees them through to the Super 6 stage while Bangladesh progress from Group D in second place.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 121/9 (Sumaiya Akter 29, Afia Ashima Era 21; Nayma Sheikh 2-15, Maisie Maceira 2-27) beat Scotland 103/8 (Pippa Sproul 43, Niamh Muir 22; Anisa Akter Soba 4-25, Habib Islam Pinky 1-16) by 18 runs
USA 119/5 (Anika Kolan 46, Ritu Singh 20; Prisha Thanawala 2-20, Trudy Johnson 2-17) lost to England 120/2 in 14.2 overs (Davina Perrin 74, Trudy Johnson 44; Maahi Madhavan 1-11, Pooja Shah 1-26) by eight wickets
New Zealand 107/9 in 17 overs (Eve Wolland 48, Anika Todd 27; Olive Lefaga Lemoe 3-13, Verra Farane 2-17) beat Samoa 40 all out in 14.2 overs (Angel Sootaga So 8, Norah Jade Salima 6; Rishika Jaswal 3-12, Tash Wakelin 3-3) by 67 runs
Australia 139/6 (Caoimhe Bray 45, Eleanor Larosa 31; Puja Mahato 3-31, Seemana KC 2-34) beat Nepal 56/8 (Puja Mahato 18, Alisha Yadav 9; Lily Bassingthwaighte 2-4, Hasrat Gill 2-9) by 83 runs
Ireland 69/5 (Alice Walsh 31, Annabel Squires 13; Memoona Khalid 2-6, Quratulain 1-8) beat Pakistan 59/7 (Komal Khan 12, Fatima Khan 10; Ellie McGee 2-13, Freya Sargent 1-7) by 13 runs (DLS method)
South Africa 49/2 (Simone Lourens 25, Jemma Botha 10; Piety Lucky 2-12) beat Nigeria 23/8 (Lilian Ude 6, Piety Lucky 5; Kayla Reyneke 2-13, Seshnie Naidu 2-1) by 41 runs
