Women's Under-19 World Cup wrap: Bangladesh win again, Verma falls cheaply in India victory

The Cricketer reports on events at the ICC Women's Under-19 World Cup in South Africa

The inaugural edition of the Under-19s Women's T20 World Cup is underway in South Africa, two years after originally planned. Today was the fifth day of the group stage.

Sixteen teams are taking part in the 2023 edition, split across four groups of four. Following a single round-robin, the top three teams in each group will progress into the Super 6 stage, from which the top two sides in Group 1 and Group 2 will advance to the semi-finals.

The final will take place in Potchefstroom on Sunday, January 29.

^{UAE gave South Africa a scare before falling short with the bat (ICC)}

Australia 159-5, Sri Lanka 51 – Australia beat Sri Lanka by 108 runs

Australia continued their recovery from losing the opening game of the tournament, easing past Sri Lanka to finish second in Group A behind Bangladesh.

There were contributions throughout the Aussies' batting line-up, with Lucy Hamilton (22), Amy Smith (22*), Kate Pelle (27), Sianna Ginger (30) and Ella Hayward (36) all playing their part in putting together a match-winning total.

Nethmi Senarathna (11) was the only Sri Lankan player to reach double figures as their reply died a death, never recovering from losing two wickets inside the first nine balls of the innings. Hamilton and Maggie Clark picked up two wickets apiece.

USA 103-4, Bangladesh 104-5 – Bangladesh win by five wickets

Bangladesh go through to the Super Sixes as group winners after completing a clean sweep of their opponents by beating the United States in Benoni.

USA go home without a group-stage win but gave Bangladesh a run for their money, reaching three figures for the first time in the competition as Disha Dhingra (20), Snigdha Paul (26), Isani Vaghela (17*) and captain Geetika Kodali (16) all made contributions.

For the first time in the tournament, Bangladesh's reply displayed some tension, and the USA bowlers took regular wickets to give themselves half a chance of famous win, only for Rabeya Khan and Misty Shaha to calm any nerves with an unbroken 18-run stand for the sixth wicket.

^{Australia have won both games since losing their opener against Bangladesh (ICC)}

South Africa 112-7, UAE 67 – South Africa win by 45 runs

South Africa were given a test by United Arab Emirates but bowled well enough to prevent a shock, coming out on top by 45 runs to finish above the UAE in Group D.

For a while, that didn't look like a foregone conclusion, particularly when Lavanya Keny had Karabo Meso caught to reduce the host nation to 77 for 6 with 4.3 overs remaining.

Only the maturity of captain Oluhle Siyo (25*) and a 12-ball cameo from Jenna Evans (17) took them into three figures. Even then, UAE would have fancied themselves to give the target a good go.

But Miane Smit claimed 4 for 11 to run through the middle order as the associate nation fell comfortably short.

India 149-4, Scotland 66 – India win by 83 runs

Shafali Verma fell for just one to give Nayma Sheikh a wicket to remember, but India strolled to victory nevertheless over Scotland, who kept Verma's side to their lowest score of the tournament so far.

India changed up their batting order, which gave Gongadi Trisha the chance to make a half century at the top, with Shweta Sehrawat – the tournament's leading batter so far – rotated to No.6, from where she hit an unbeaten 31 off just 10 balls to drag India's total up to just short of 150.

Scotland, for whom Katherine Fraser picked up two wickets, including that of Richa Ghosh, got off to a bright start in response but fell away dramatically, losing all 10 wickets for 42 runs.

Scotland will now face USA in the fourth-place playoff.

^{Bangladesh have been one of the teams of the group stage (ICC)}

Indonesia v Ireland (Potchefstroom – 10am local time, 8am GMT)

Two teams without a win so far, but neither have done themselves any harm.

Both have faced strong sides in New Zealand and West Indies, with Ireland in particular running West Indies close.

A place in the Super Sixes is at stake, with the winner going through in third place and the loser almost certain to face Zimbabwe in the fourth-place playoff.

England v Rwanda (Potchefstroom Uni – 10am local time, 8am GMT)

On the back of a historic win over Zimbabwe, Rwanda are back in action against England, who will know not to take the ICC global tournament debutants lightly.

England are already through and have the tournament's highest net run rate, with Rwanda likely to join them in the next phase; in the very worst case, Zimbabwe would have to win and correct a diabolical net run rate to usurp them.

New Zealand v West Indies (Potchefstroom – 1.45pm local time, 11.45am GMT)

New Zealand have been mightily impressive so far, while West Indies have eased themselves into the tournament after only narrowly getting past Ireland in their opener.

The Kiwis have lost just a single wicket in two matches, restricting both Ireland and Indonesia to sub-par totals and knocking them off free of any fuss.

Pakistan v Zimbabwe (Potchefstroom Uni – 1.45pm local time, 11.45am GMT)

Pakistan challenged England for periods of their clash on Tuesday before subsiding to a 53-run defeat, while Zimbabwe were on the wrong end of history as the victims of Rwanda's maiden victory.

For Zimbabwe, this tournament has been a struggle. They will face the loser of Ireland's clash with Indonesia in a fourth-place playoff, but first have a chance to finish the group stage on a high.

Related Topics

• Women's Under-19 World Cup wrap: Rwanda create history, England, New Zealand and West Indies win again