While four teams progress to the semi-finals of the inaugural U19 Women’s World Cup, eight teams leave the tournament at this stage. It’s been a competitive tournament so far and there have been some surprises. Here’s a summary of all the teams’ performances across the competition
These are the teams from Group 1 who are leaving the tournament. South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the UAE
South Africa
South Africa performed quite well in their home tournament. They were quite unlucky to not make the semi finals as they were put in a group with India and Australia.
India was the first team that they faced and it was by no means a poor performance. South Africa scored 166/5 with 15-year-old Simone Lourens making her statement on the tournament, scoring 61 from 44 deliveries. Madison Landsman wracked up a quick 32 from 17 placing her team in a prime position. Little did South Africa know that Shweta Sehrawat would strike 92* from 57 and fellow opener, Shafali Verma would hit a speedy 45 from 16. India swept past South Africa, winning by 7 wickets.
After a tough introduction, their next opponent was Scotland. Kayla Reyneke stepped up with the bat, hitting a half century. Scotland’s bowling was tight an restricted South Africa to 112/7. South Africa made their winning intentions clear as Landsman took 4/16 while off-spinner, Jemma Botha and leg-spinner Seshnie Naidu ended the game with two wickets each.
The UAE were up next and South Africa steadily batted to 112 with respectable scores for Elandri Janse van Rensburg, Simone Lourens and Oluhle Siyo who all finished in the 20s. It proved to be a very defendable total as Miane Smit took 4/11. Her economy was matched by Botha who took a wicket and it was Ayanda Hlubi who was the other standout bowler taking 2/6.
Off-spinner, Kayla Reyneke, shone again as they faced Bangladesh in the first Super 6 game, taking 4/19. South Africa’s successful bowling plans left Bangladesh on a very under-par 106/6. In reply, it was Madison Landsman and Karabo Meso who put in the match winning knocks of 37 and 32*.
Sri Lanka was South Africa’s final task and their hopes for the semi finals were extremely slim. Reyneke excelled with the bat, scoring 43 while Landsman and Jenna Evans both scored quick 20s to take the side to 134/7. Reyneke’s tournament finished on a high taking 2/16 and Miane Smit built the pressure, bowling a maiden. South Africa grasped the win by just one run, just missing out on a semi final spot.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka met USA for their first game of the U19 World Cup. Some economic bowling from Dewmi Vihanga and Chilaw Marians Cricket Club’s Vidushika Perera prevented the USA from reaching the 100 mark and they finished on 96/9. With the bat, captain Vishmi Gunaratne and Manudi Nanayakkara held a steady partnership striking innings of 34 and 32 respectively. Sri Lanka were successful in the final over and sought their second win of the tournament.
Bangladesh, who had shown their strength beating India and Australia, we Sri Lanka’s next fixture. The bowlers were punished as Bangladesh had two half centurions, setting 166 to win. Gunaratne collected runs again as she scored 60 and Dewmi Vihanga also made a half-century. Dulanga Dissanayake’s rapid 12* from 3 came too late as the team fell short by 10 runs.
Sri Lanka’s final group game was against Australia where they were showed the true depth of the Aussie team. Australia posted a total of 159/5, Ella Hayward top scoring with 36. It was a clinical bowling display from the Aussies as they cheaply bowled Sri Lanka out for 51.
In the Super 6s, Sri Lanka played India who absolutely dominated them. It was skipper, Gunaratne who scored almost half the runs but Sri Lanka batted for all 20 overs only managing to score 59, losing 9 wickets.
South Africa were Sri Lanka’s final chance to impress. Vidushika Perera’s left-arm spin challenged the hosts, taking 3/25 but some expensive overs meant that South Africa reached 134/7. Opener, Nethmi Senarathna plodded to 36 from 49 and Dewmi Vihanga’s firey 37 from 23 — including three 6s — were important contributions but the team fell short of the win.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh have had an outstanding tournament! They caused upset as the beat Australia by 7 wickets. The Aussies managed to score 130/5, restricted by Bangladesh’s tidy bowling. Wicket-keeper, Dilara Akter provided the largest contribution of 40 from 42 but it was Shorna Akter and Sumaiya Akter’s unbeaten 23* and 31* that led the team to victory with 12 balls remaining.
Bangladesh stayed undefeated as Afia Prottasha and Shorna Akter made half centuries against Sri Lanka — Akter coming from only 28 deliveries. Marufa Akter helped Sri Lanka from preventing Bangladesh successfully chasing 156 as she took 2/19. Sri Lanka fell short by 10 runs and Bangladesh succeeded once again.
The USA were one of Bangladesh’s easier opponents as some all-round economical bowling and the wicket takers of Marufa Akter and Disha Biswas meant that the USA only posted 104 to win. Bangladesh comfortably took the win in the 18th over with no major contributions.
Defeat came for Bangladesh as they were rocked by hosts, South Africa. A low total of 106/6 gave South Africa the upper hand and despite Rabeya Khan’s 3/18, South Africa won the match with 7 balls to spare.
As a result of their loss to South Africa, qualification chances were very slim. Bangladesh faced the UAE in what would be their final game of the U19 World Cup. It was another dominant performance as the UAE slumped to 69/9, with figures of 3/14 for Rabeya Khan and a tight display of bowling by Dipa Khatun, recording figures of 1/5. It was 16-year-old Shorna Akter who made up half the runs in Bangladesh’s chase, making 38 from 19 balls. Bangladesh secured the win in the 10th over as Unnoti Akter sent the ball all the way to the boundary.
UAE
The UAE were one of the four teams to qualify for the tournament by winning their regional qualifier. In the Asian qualifier, which was hosted by Malaysia in June 2022, the UAE faced Thailand, Bhutan, Qatar, Malaysia and Nepal, beating all the teams by significant margins.
Their World Cup start was strong as they comfortably beat Scotland by 6 wickets. With consistent bowling by the UAE, the Scots finished on 99/9 which the UAE chased down with just under four overs to spare. Bowling all-rounder, Mahika Gaur, who has spent time playing with Hundred team, Manchester Originals, hit an unbeaten 33* aided by contributions from Theertha Satish and Samaira Dharnidharka.
An 122 run defeat lay ahead for the squad as India’s Shweta Sehrawat hit 74* from 49 balls and the senior capped Shafali Verma struck a speedy 78 from 34. Their bowlers had no answer and their batters followed suit. Lavanya Keny’s slow innings of 24 from 54 and Gaur’s attempt to rescue the side, scoring 26 at a run a ball were futile as the the team fell short by 122 runs.
South Africa was next and the UAE’s bowling restricted South Africa to an under-par score. Indhuja Nandakumar, Vaishnave Mahesh and Lavanya Keny all took two wickets each and South Africa finished on 112/7. They struggled to build any partnerships and the UAE were all out for 67.
Coming up against giants, Australia, opening batter, Theertha Satish thrived! Scoring 58 from 48 deliveries, her innings was one of the UAE’s best all tournament. Frustratingly, nobody else stuck with her and the UAE struggled to 107/8. Australia showed their class however, Mumbai-born, Lavanya Keny took two important wickets. This was in vain as Australia coasted to victory in the 16th over.
Bangladesh ensured the UAE finished last in their group as they thrashed them, winning by 5 wickets, with 65 balls remaining. All-rounder, Lavanya Keny, top scored with 29 from 46 however, a quick succession of wickets meant the UAE found themselves on 69/9. Indhuja Nandakumar and Samaira Dharnidharka both took two wickets, however, it was pointless at the game was finished in the 10th over.
These are the teams from Group 2 who are leaving the tournament: Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland and Rwanda
Pakistan
Pakistan were led by Karachi-born all-rounder, Syeda Aroob Shah. Their first match was against underdogs, Rwanda who they beat by 8 wickets. It was Areesha Noor Bhatti who starred with the ball, taking 2/19, including the wicket of Rwandan opener, Merveille Uwase. Zaib-un-Nisa also played an important role with the ball, taking 1/14 being Pakistan’s most economical bowler. 18-year-old Eyman Fatima started her tournament well hitting an undefeated knock of 65* (60).
Against England, Areesha Noor Bhatti featured with the ball again, silencing any potential destruction from Liberty Heap as she was out for 4. However, it was left-arm spinner, Anosha Nasir, who took the key wicket of captain Grace Scrivens and finished with figures of 2/20. Pakistan fell 53 runs short of England’s total but Syeda Aroob Shah’s 34 from 36 balls and Shawaal Zulfiqar’s 25 from 32 were both valuable contributions.
In their final group game, Pakistan sailed past Zimbabwe in a 10 wicket triumph. Areesha Noor took 2/21 whilst it was Laiba Nasir who got the vital wicket of Kelis Ndhlovu on 42. Eyman Fatima scored a swift 62* from 25 assisted by Shawaal Zulfiqar who scored 32* to surpass Zimbabwe’s total just after the half-way point.
Pakistan progressed to the Super 6s where they had fixtures against Ireland and New Zealand. First up was Ireland who struggled against Areesha Noor and Anosha Nasir. This enabled Pakistan to restrict the Girls in Green to 113/7. In reply, in-form batter, Eyman Fatima scored 25 from 17 balls followed by the skipper Syeda Aroob Shah, stepping up striking 35 from 25, getting the team across the line with 15 balls remaining.
The final match for Pakistan was against stand-out team New Zealand. The Kiwis struck a huge 178/7 leaving Pakistan stunned as both their openers fell for ducks. Areesha Noor’s innings was the most positive, being run out on 24, however, it was a sluggish innings and Pakistan ended their tournament 75/7.
West Indies
The West Indies commenced their campaign against Ireland where Zaida James showed skill and flair, scoring 52 from 57 deliveries. This helped the side to a total of 125/3. James starred again as she took 4/20, leaving Ireland 7 runs short of victory.
The success was flowing for the West Indies as they faced Indonesia. Yet again, it was Saint Lucian cricketer, Zaida James who performed with the bat, scoring her second half century, finishing on 55 from 37 balls. Barbados’ Trishan Holder had a quick cameo of 35* from 14 meaning the side wracked up 176 runs. Djenaba Joseph took three wickets while it was the Guyanese off-spinner, Ashmini Munisar, who was the most economical, registering figures of 1/5.
Their toughest challenge of the group stage was against New Zealand. With their star batter falling for 5, and it was their number 10 batter, Earnisha Fontaine who top scored with 11*. New Zealand’s experienced opening batters Georgia Plimmer and Anna Browning displayed their talent and the West Indies failed to get a breakthrough.
The West Indies crumbled as they took on Rwanda in their final fixture of the Super 6s. Realeanna Grimmond’s innings of 18 was the highest for the team and they suffered being bowled out for 70. Rwanda’s batting outsmarted their bowlers as Rwanda chased down their total with 10 balls to spare.
In their closing game against England, off-spinner, Ashmini Munisar, took two wickets in quick succession but England’s batting was defiant and they set 180 to win. Djenaba Joseph hit an unbeaten 44* however, Worcestershire’s Ellie Anderson recorded the tournament’s best figures as the took 5/12, the West Indies concluding on 84/8–95 runs short.
Ireland
Ireland had a very varied tournament. They were 7 runs short of victory against the West Indies as off-spinner, Freya Sargent, displayed excellent bowling with figures of 2/9 and Annabel Squires hit 42 from 28 balls. Captain Amy Hunter contributed 21 runs but the team did not get over the line.
There was a huge blow for the team as Captain and senior player, Amy Hunter was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a broken thumb. Nevertheless, the team pushed on with Siuin Louise stepping into the captaincy role. Against New Zealand, Zara Craig top scored but the Kiwis’ bowling experience showed and Ireland were bowled out for 74. Ireland witnessed an incredible display of batting as New Zealand chased down the total in 6.5 overs.
The luck for the Girls in Green came against Indonesia in a game which they won by 49 runs. Rebecca Gough started strongly scoring a quick 27 from 17. Then, Georgina Dempsey scored her half century from 38 balls but it was Zara Craig who top scored with 52* from 45, Ireland finishing on 156/5. Craig was the standout bowler taking 2/4 and Ellie McGee and Georgina Dempsey were cheap bowling options.
Ireland’s greatest challenge was against England. With England’s skipper scoring 93 from 56 balls, Ireland’s bowling figures were always going to suffer. However, Aimee Maguire provided the breakthrough, removing Liberty Heap on 42 and Freya Sargent prevented Scrivens from reaching her century, bowling her out on 93. England set a huge total of 207 which Ireland were far from chasing down being bowled out for 86.
Against Pakistan, Ireland built a strong innings with the most prominent performance by Annabel Squire of Merrion Cricket Club who hit an unbeaten half century. Zara Craig was the prime of the bowlers, bowling a maiden and taking a wicket. Despite the efforts, it was defeat for the Irish as Pakistan took the win in the 18th over.
Rwanda
Rwanda qualified for the inaugural U19 World Cup by winning the Africa Qualifier in September 2020 becoming the first Rwandan team to qualify for an ICC tournament. Facing Pakistan, Gisele Ishimwe started her tournament positively scoring 40 from 45 balls. Despite the bowling efforts of Rwanda, especially Henriette Ishimwe and Geovanis Uwase, Pakistan won the game with 13 balls to spare.
Rwanda’s first triumph was against Zimbabwe, a team who, unlike Rwanda, automatically qualified. Cynthia Tuyizere hit a steady 30 but it was Gisele Ishimwe who had the more explosive innings of 34 from 23. Rwanda set 120 to win and headed out to back up their performance with the ball. It was an all-round team effort however, the stand out star was Henriette Ishimwe who took a double hat-trick to bowl Zimbabwe out for 80.
It would be fair to say that Rwanda were thrashed by England. There were still moments of strength for the side as leg-spinner, Sylvia Usabyimana took 3/39. England’s bowling plans got the better of Rwanda and there were more extras than runs scored by an individual. The team in yellow and blue were bowled out for 45, suffering a 138 run loss.
The in-form New Zealand were up next and Rwanda batted first again. Henriette Ishimwe performed with the bat and scored 20 from 46 balls. Her name sake Giselle Ishimwe also starred as she scored 27 from 28, Rwanda concluding on 96/7. Rwanda’s off-spinner Rosine Irera, put in a shift taking three wickets however, New Zealand’s Emma McLeod hit 59 from 39 and the Kiwis succeeded in the 17th over.
An outstanding performance from Rwanda saw them steam past the West Indies in the Super 6s. Displaying their broad leg-spin options, Sylvia Usabyimana and Marie Tumukunde took four wickets each and Zurufat Ishimwe contributed two. Managing to bowl the West Indies out for 70, Rwanda responded by winning the game in what would have been a tight finish but Gisele Ishimwe’s unbeaten 31* guided the team over the line.
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