ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025: Brilliant bowling performance sees New Zealand past USA

The Kiwis looked in trouble after being bowled out for 98 in Kuala Lumpur.

Published - 25 Jan 2025, 15:47 IST | Updated - 25 Jan 2025, 16:38 IST

6 Min Read

Australia and South Africa picked up seven-wicket wins over West Indies and Ireland respectively to make the perfect start to the Super Six stage at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025. Having both come through the groups with three wins from three, the sides bowled well to set up straightforward chases to move to the brink of the semi-finals.

Australia bowled out the West Indies for 53 in Kuala Lumpur with two wickets apiece for Eleanor Larosa, Tegan Williamson and Caoimhe Bray. Despite a slight delay due to rain, Australia were able to ease home, with skipper Lucy Hamilton making 28 to anchor the chase.

In Sarawak, South Africa and Ireland had to wait for the rain to clear but were able to play a 10-over-a-side match, and the South Africans wasted no time once the action did get underway. Four wickets for Monalisa Legodi and three for Kayla Reyneke allowed them to bowl out Ireland for just 35.

They needed six overs and one ball to knock off those runs, Reyneke with a captain’s knock to steer them home after a couple of early wickets. Earlier in the day, New Zealand bowled brilliantly to earn an 18-run win over USA despite being bowled out for just 97.

Ritu Singh took five for 15 for the Americans, who looked as though they might repeat their warm-up victory over the Kiwis, but the chase stalled against the New Zealand slow bowlers, with the USA losing their last five wickets for six runs.

The other early game between England and Nigeria was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Sarawak because of rain.

Australia continue perfect start to the tournament

Australia made the perfect start after putting the West Indies into bat, with three quick wickets to reduce them to seven for three. Asabi Callender was bowled by Eleanor Larosa (2/6) for one, before Naijanni Cumberbatch was brilliantly stumped by Grace Lyons off the bowling of Hasrat Gill for a duck.

Larosa added Jahzara Claxton with Australia all over the West Indians. Skipper Samara Ramnath tried to fight back, making 14 before falling to Juliette Morton, with Tegan Williamson then taking two wickets in as many balls to leave the West Indies 31 for six.

Brianna Harricharan provided some resistance with a score of 17, but the wickets kept falling at the other end. Caoimhe Bray got two of them, including Harricharan to finish with figures of two for nine as the Windies were bowled out for 53. The chase was comfortable for Australia despite losing Ines McKeon from the second ball, bowled by Selena Ross.

Rain caused a temporary delay, but when they returned, Kate Pelle (11) and Lucy Hamilton (28) put on 38 to take Australia close. Both were dismissed, but Bray and Ella Briscoe saw out the seven-wicket win.

South Africa beat the rain to see off Ireland

The rain in Borneo abated in time for South Africa and Ireland to play a 10-over-a-side encounter, with the South Africans coming out on top by seven wickets.

Ireland won the toss and chose to bat, but soon found themselves in trouble. Freya Sargent looked good on her way to nine, but was pinned in front by Fay Cowling. Kayla Reyneke (3/2) then made inroads including two wickets in three balls to leave Ireland in trouble at 10 for three.

Monalisa Legodi’s introduction proved a masterstroke as she wreaked havoc with her inswingers, finishing with figures of four for four. Abbi Harrison and Julie McNally were both bowled by Legodi, who picked up three wickets in one over with Ireland in all sorts of trouble at 26 for seven. They were eventually bowled out for 35 with two balls left of their 10 overs.

The reply did not start brilliantly, Jemma Botha trapped LBW by Jennifer Jackson for four.

Jackson then bowled Diara Ramlakan with another inswinger as South Africa found themselves six for two after one over.

Any nerves were eased by skipper Reyneke, who scored an unbeaten 16, adding 28 with Simone Lourens (14) before the latter skied one with just two left to win. Reyneke finished the job with the first ball of the seventh over to seal another win for South Africa, who matched Australia in making it four from four.

New Zealand kept their hopes of progressing to the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2025 alive with an 18-run win over the USA in the opening match of the Super Six stage. The Kiwis looked in trouble after being bowled out for 98 in Kuala Lumpur, as Ritu Singh produced a brilliant performance to finish with fine figures of five for 15.

The chase looked in a good shape, but after Disha Dhingra fell for 30, New Zealand’s slow bowlers were able to stifle the scoring and bowled the USA out for 79.

In the other early game in Borneo, rain meant that there was no play possible between England and Nigeria, with both teams taking a point from the game.

Singh has New Zealand in a spin

After they were put in to bat by the USA, New Zealand got off to a flying start, with openers Emma McLeod and Kate Irwin hitting three boundaries apiece in an opening stand of 32. Singh broke the deadlock, removing Irwin caught and bowled off the final delivery of her first over for 15 before McLeod fell for the same score, trapped in front by Lekha Shetty.

It was Singh’s spell that changed the innings, as she dismissed Anika Todd and Eve Wolland in her next over with Maahi Madhavan then bowling a wicket maiden during which she got the prize wicket of New Zealand skipper Tash Wakelin LBW.

At 43 for five, New Zealand needed a response, and Hannah Francis provided it, even though she soon lost Anika Tauwhare. Francis and Rishika Jaswal put on a valuable partnership of 44, both playing patiently, aware of the situation of the game. That stand was broken by Chetnaa G Prasad, who had Francis stumped by Anika Kolan for 25, with Prasad then catching Jaswal off the bowling of Aditi Chudasama for 17.

Singh returned to bowl the final over of the match and wrapped up the New Zealand innings with the last two wickets to finish with stunning figures of five for 15.

Kiwis bring it back to stay alive

Dhingra set USA on their way with nine runs from the first over of the chase but a fine delivery from Sophie Court got through the defences of Chetna Reddy Pagydyala for a duck. Isani Vaghela joined Dhingra and the pair quickly added 15 runs before Vaghela was bowled by Louisa Kotkamp for six.

Dhingra showed a lot of intent, with three fours and a six in her 24-ball 30 as she threatened to take the game away from New Zealand. However, she went for one shot too many, picking out Wakelin at long off to give Tauwhare her first wicket.

Jaswal then got the crucial wicket of Kolan, caught and bowled for three, to bring Singh to the crease. After starring with the ball, she attacked with the bat, hitting a quickfire 14, but after getting a life from a dropped catch, she was run out after a mix-up in the middle, leaving USA on 66 for five.

From there, New Zealand seized control, as Jaswal and then two wickets in an over from Irwin saw the USA slump to 74 for eight with five overs remaining. Francis then bowled a maiden, with Saanvi Immadi run out to leave the final pair with a big job to do. They could not do it, Francis getting the final wicket of Madhavan to seal the win.

Also Check: U19 Women's T20 World Cup Points Table 2025