ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025: England earn semi-final spot with six-wicket win over New Zealand

England booked their place in the semi-finals for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 with a six-wicket victory over New Zealand.

Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Prisha Thanawala both starred with the ball, taking seven wickets between them as New Zealand lost all 10 wickets for just 40 runs to leave England a target of 90 for a place in the last four.

Corteen-Coleman took four for eight and Thanawala three for 19, as their spin bowling, in conjunction with impressive glovework from wicket-keeper Katie Jones, proved destructive in sparking a New Zealand collapse from 49 for one to 89 all out.

England made steady work of their total, with openers Jemima Spence and Davina Perrin doing the heavy lifting with 29 and 21 runs respectively as their side required just 11.4 overs to reach their target.

Victory ensured England will finish in the top two of Super Six Group 2 alongside South Africa.

Also Read: ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025: India seek to dominate in defence of their title

New Zealand collapse after strong start

New Zealand started their innings brightly in Borneo, with openers Kate Irwin and Emma McLeod combining for their side’s best start of the tournament.

The pair raced out to 44 without loss before a rain delay stymied their momentum with 7.3 overs.
That proved pivotal, as their progress slowed after the restart and Trudy Johnson made the breakthrough for England in the next over as Irwin was caught at mid-on by Phoebe Brett.

Johnson struck again to dismiss Anika Todd for five and Brett then got a wicket over her own, McLeod stumped after looking to hit the England spinner down the ground.

New Zealand looked to settle after the loss of three wickets for 11 runs, but Thanawala made a devastating impact with the ball to ensure the collapse continued. The spinner first had Eve Wolland out for two before Hannah Francis and Darcy-Rose Prasad fell in consecutive balls to leave New Zealand 79 for six.

Corteen-Coleman then finished off the innings for England, as New Zealand made just 10 more runs for the fall of their last four wickets. Rishika Jaswal was Corteen-Coleman’s first wicket, stumped by Katie Jones for zero – one of four stumpings by the England wicket-keeper.

Captain Tash Wakelin finally fell in the first ball of the final over, after digging in to make eight from 20 balls.

Corteen-Coleman then struck twice more in the last over, with Ayaan Lambat caught by Jones on six before Louisa Kotkamp was the fourth and final stumping with the last ball of the innings to give England a target of 90 to chase for victory.

England race to victory

With no fears of rain once again blighting their progress, England wasted no time in chasing down their target.

Opener Davina Perrin continued her fine form with the bat, punching a four off the first legal ball to make an electric start to her innings. She continued that breathless pace, with a four and a six in one over to push England out to 34 without loss from the first three overs as they looked to take control of the contest. Perrin fell for 21, caught by Irwin at mid-on as she mis-timed the shot while looking to hit Sophie Court for four.

Fellow opener Jemima Spence and new batter Trudy Johnson picked up the mantle, hitting a four each while also running strongly between the wickets. Johnson then departed for seven, as Jaiswal made an immediate impact with the ball to leave England 53 for two.

Jaiswal struck again to dismiss Abi Norgrove for two, with the England captain caught at deep mid-wicket by McLeod.

England edged towards their total but Hannah Francis took the important wicket of Spence, with the opener making 29 before being caught by Irwin at backward point.

Charlotte Stubbs and Katie Jones combined to make the required 16 runs, with Stubbs hitting a maximum as part of her impressive knock of 17 off 15 balls, to send their side through to the semi-finals for the second successive tournament.

Scores in brief

1. England v New Zealand – Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak

• New Zealand 89 all out in 20 overs (Kate Irwin 35, Emma McLeod 18; Tilly Corteen-Coleman 4/8, Prisha Thanawala 3/19)
• England 90 in 11.4 overs (Jemima Spence 29, Davina Perrin 21; Rishika Jaiswal 2/22, Francis 1/6)
• Result: England win by six wickets