Review: Ireland advance ahead of Pakistan at ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup

Ireland secured a Super 6 spot at the expense of Pakistan in a dramatic rain-affected contest at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Ireland posted 69 for five in a game reduced to nine overs and restricted Pakistan to 59 for seven in reply, ensuring they advance from Group B and Pakistan head to the 13th Place play-offs. Rain also had a say in Sarawak as South Africa defeated Nigeria in an eight-over affair.

Elsewhere, Australia survived an early scare to beat debutants Nepal and emerge from Group D with a perfect record. Lucy Hamilton’s side were in disarray at 14 for three but recovered to post 139 for six and emerged as the convincing winners by 83 runs.

Earlier, England ended the group stage on a high with an emphatic eight-wicket triumph over USA in Group A. New Zealand, on the other hand, bounced back from a dramatic defeat to Nigeria with a comprehensive 67-run win over debutants Samoa, while Bangladesh beat Scotland by 18 runs.

Ireland seal the deal

Alice Walsh was the star with the bat for Ireland.

She found a perfect balance between risk and reward, striking four fours in an innings of 31, with Ireland putting the pressure on Pakistan to chase 70.

Pakistan were in the driving seat at 24 without loss from two overs but nerves soon set in and three of their top four batters were run out and another four had their stumps uprooted.

Ellie McGee took two for 13 as Ireland reached the Super 6s, just as they did in the inaugural edition in 2023.

Australia advance

Nepal have been the queens of powerplay bowling at 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 for three.

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.

Having registered totals of 52 and 73 in their first few matches, Nepal’s focus lay on keeping wickets in hand.

Mahato 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.

South Africa remain unbeaten with win over Nigeria

South Africa defied rain delays to make it three wins from three in Group C.

Simone Lourens top scored with 25 and two boundaries in the last over from Karabo Meso helped them post 49 for two from the eight overs that were possible.

Nigeria crumbled to 23 for eight but still reach the Super 6s on their first appearance at the event.

England excel

A remarkable display of controlled hitting from England’s Davina Perrin made light work of chasing down the 120-run target set by USA in Johor. Perrin cleared the boundary three times, scoring 75 and putting on 117 for the second wicket with Trudy Johnson to guide her side home with more than five overs to spare.

England are rounding into form with back-to-back wins, while USA have still achieved their aim of making the Super 6s after missing out in 2023.

New Zealand back on track

Kiwi hearts were fluttering when they sunk to 12 for three at the hands of Samoan seamer Olive Lefaga Lemoe, who took her nation’s first-ever scalps at the event. Enter Eve Wolland who hit two sixes and two fours in a brilliant 48, shepherding the tail to 107 for nine, a total which proved way beyond Samoa who were dismissed for 40.

New Zealand bounced back from a shock defeat to Nigeria to advance in third place in Group C, while debutants Samoa head to the play-offs.

Bangladesh hold their nerve

The leg spin of Anisa Akter Soba proved Scotland’s undoing as they lost wickets in clusters to go down by 18 runs in Bangi. A good score looked out of reach as Bangladesh sunk to 50 for five, with Scottish seamer Nayma Sheikh making hay, but skipper Sumaiya Akter masterminded a strong end to the innings with a composed 29.

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 as, 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.

Scores in brief

Bangladesh vs Scotland - YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi

Bangladesh 121/9 in 20 overs (Sumaiya Akter 29, Afia Ashima Era 21; Nayma Sheikh 2/15, Maisie Maceira 2/27)

Scotland 103/8 in 20 overs (Pippa Sproul 43, Niamh Muir 22; Anisa Akter Soba 4/25, Habib Islam Pinky 1/16)

Result: Bangladesh won by 18 runs

England vs USA - Johor Cricket Academy Oval, Johor

USA 119/5 in 20 overs (Anika Kolan 46, Ritu Singh 20; Prisha Thanawala 2/20, Trudy Johnson 2/17)

England 120/2 in 14.2 overs (Davina Perrin 74, Trudy Johnson 44; Maahi Madhavan 1/11, Pooja Shah 1/26)

Result: England won by eight wickets

New Zealand vs Samoa - Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak

New Zealand 107/9 in 17 overs (Eve Wolland 48, Anika Todd 27; Olive Lefaga Lemoe 3/13, Verra Farane 2/17)

Samoa 40 all out in 14.2 overs (Angel Sootaga So 8, Norah Jade Salima 6; Rishika Jaswal 3/12, Tash Wakelin 3/3)

Result: New Zealand won by 67 runs

Australia vs Nepal - YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi

Australia 139/6 in 20 overs (Caoimhe Bray 45, Eleanor Larosa 31; Puja Mahato 3/31, Seemana KC 2/34)

Nepal 56/8 in 20 overs (Puja Mahato 18, Alisha Yadav 9; Lily Bassingthwaighte 2/4, Hasrat Gill 2/9)

Result: Australia won by 83 runs

Pakistan vs Ireland - Johor Cricket Academy Oval, Johor

Ireland 69/5 in 9 overs (Alice Walsh 31, Annabel Squires 13; Memoona Khalid 2/6, Quratulain 1/8)

Pakistan 59/7 in 9 overs (Komal Khan 12, Fatima Khan 10; Ellie McGee 2/13, Freya Sargent 1/7)

Result: Ireland won by 13 runs (DLS method)

South Africa vs Nigeria - Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak

South Africa 49/2 in 8 overs (Simone Lourens 25, Jemma Botha 10; Piety Lucky 2/12, Muhibat Amusa 0/10)

Nigeria 23/8 in 8 overs (Lilian Ude 6, Piety Lucky 5; Kayla Reyneke 2/13, Seshnie Naidu 2/1)

Result: South Africa won by 41 runs