England’s last game of the initial group stages was against Rwanda. With qualification for the Super 6s secured for England, the side was rotated again with Maddie Ward promoted up the batting order whilst Charis Pavely, Lizzie Scott and Sophia Smale were rested.
Grace Scrivens and Liberty Heap fired from the first ball having a productive powerplay, scoring 62 – both with impressive strike rates. Heap and Scrivens went on to make half centuries, notably Heap’s from only 25 balls which is the fastest of the competition so far. Both batters fell to the bowling of Sylvia Usabyimana, being stumped by Merveille Uwase. 16-year-old Davina Perrin came to the crease and struck a quick 20 from 16 deliveries before Gisele Ishimwe came into the attack and poorly timed shot was caught by Cynthia Tuyizere. Maddie Ward’s 18th Birthday celebrations were put on hold as she made her way to the middle for the first time in this tournament, helping England to finish on 183/5.
Worcestershire’s Ellie Anderson opened the bowling and built up the pressure, reaping the rewards with the wicket of Merveille Uwase in the third over. After a shaky start, left-arm seamer, Alexa Stonehouse, soon picked up the wicket off Gisele Ishimwe and despite a weak appeal from Stonehouse, it was given, Henriette Ishimwe coming to the crease. Wickets fell in quick succession as Stonehouse again trapped the Rwandan batter LWB – without appealing! Rwanda were 28/3 at the end of the powerplay but the leg-spin of Hannah Baker saw off Ishimwe for 12 with a high catch landing safely in the hands of Ryana MacDonald-Gay. A maiden over from the Blaze’s, Josie Groves kept Rwanda to 34/5 just after the halfway mark but it was Hannah Baker who had the breakthrough, assisted by Ward’s quick hands behind the stumps. The birthday girl was on top form as she displayed tidy keeping and some exceptional skills with her second stumping of the day – this time off the bowling of MacDonald-Gay. Rwanda’s tail end had to contend with MacDonald-Gay’s fast and straight deliveries which left them 42/8 with four overs remaining. It was Davina Perrin who concluded Rwanda’s innings on 45 with consecutive wickets leading England to an 138 run victory
England’s now progress to the Super 6s, finishing at the top of their group where they will face two of the top three teams from Group C which will be the West Indies and Ireland.
Full scorecard: https://www.u19worldcup.com/match/101665#scorecard
Kommentare