Australia and South Africa Continue Perfect Campaigns

Australia and South Africa picked up seven-wicket wins over West Indies and Ireland respectively to make the perfect start to the Super Six stage at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025.

Having both come through the groups with three wins from three, the sides bowled well to set up straightforward chases to move to the brink of the semi-finals.

Australia bowled out the West Indies for 53 in Kuala Lumpur with two wickets apiece for Eleanor Larosa, Tegan Williamson and Caoimhe Bray.

Despite a slight delay due to rain, Australia were able to ease home, with skipper Lucy Hamilton making 28 to anchor the chase.

In Sarawak, South Africa and Ireland had to wait for the rain to clear but were able to play a 10-over-a-side match, and the South Africans wasted no time once the action did get underway. Four wickets for Monalisa Legodi and three for Kayla Reyneke allowed them to bowl out Ireland for just 35.

They needed six overs and one ball to knock off those runs, Reyneke with a captain’s knock to steer them home after a couple of early wickets.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand bowled brilliantly to earn an 18-run win over USA despite being bowled out for just 97.

Ritu Singh took five for 15 for the Americans, who looked as though they might repeat their warm-up victory over the Kiwis, but the chase stalled against the New Zealand slow bowlers, with the USA losing their last five wickets for six runs.

The other early game between England and Nigeria was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Sarawak because of rain.

Australia continue perfect start to the tournament

Australia made the perfect start after putting the West Indies into bat, with three quick wickets to reduce them to seven for three.

Asabi Callender was bowled by Eleanor Larosa (2/6) for one, before Naijanni Cumberbatch was brilliantly stumped by Grace Lyons off the bowling of Hasrat Gill for a duck.

Larosa added Jahzara Claxton with Australia all over the West Indians. Skipper Samara Ramnath tried to fight back, making 14 before falling to Juliette Morton, with Tegan Williamson then taking two wickets in as many balls to leave the West Indies 31 for six.

Brianna Harricharan provided some resistance with a score of 17, but the wickets kept falling at the other end.

Caoimhe Bray got two of them, including Harricharan to finish with figures of two for nine as the Windies were bowled out for 53.

The chase was comfortable for Australia despite losing Ines McKeon from the second ball, bowled by Selena Ross.

Rain caused a temporary delay, but when they returned, Kate Pelle (11) and Lucy Hamilton (28) put on 38 to take Australia close.

Both were dismissed, but Bray and Ella Briscoe saw out the seven-wicket win.

South Africa beat the rain to see off Ireland

The rain in Borneo abated in time for South Africa and Ireland to play a 10-over-a-side encounter, with the South Africans coming out on top by seven wickets.

Ireland won the toss and chose to bat, but soon found themselves in trouble. Freya Sargent looked good on her way to nine, but was pinned in front by Fay Cowling.

Kayla Reyneke (3/2) then made inroads including two wickets in three balls to leave Ireland in trouble at 10 for three.

Monalisa Legodi’s introduction proved a masterstroke as she wreaked havoc with her inswingers, finishing with figures of four for four.

Abbi Harrison and Julie McNally were both bowled by Legodi, who picked up three wickets in one over with Ireland in all sorts of trouble at 26 for seven.

They were eventually bowled out for 35 with two balls left of their 10 overs.

The reply did not start brilliantly, Jemma Botha trapped LBW by Jennifer Jackson for four.

Jackson then bowled Diara Ramlakan with another inswinger as South Africa found themselves six for two after one over.

Any nerves were eased by skipper Reyneke, who scored an unbeaten 16, adding 28 with Simone Lourens (14) before the latter skied one with just two left to win.

Reyneke finished the job with the first ball of the seventh over to seal another win for South Africa, who matched Australia in making it four from four.

New Zealand stay alive thanks to stellar bowling

In the first game in Kuala Lumpur, New Zealand fought back to see off the USA by 18 runs after a thrilling encounter.

The Kiwis looked in a lot of trouble after being bowled out for 97 with Ritu Singh taking five wickets after breaking a promising opening stand of 32.

The chase looked in a good shape but after Disha Dhingra fell for 30, New Zealand’s slow bowlers were able to stifle the scoring and bowl out the USA for 79.

In the other early game in Sarawak, rain meant that there was no play possible between England and Nigeria, with both teams taking a point from the game.

Scores in brief

New Zealand v USA – UKM YSD Oval, Kuala Lumpur

New Zealand 97 all out in 19.5 overs (Hannah Francis 25, Rishka Jaswal 17; Ritu Singh 5/15, Maahi Madhavan 1/1)

USA 79 all out in 17 overs (Disha Dhingra 30, Aditi Chadusama 15; Rishka Jaswal 2/14, Kate Irwin 2/15)

Result – New Zealand won by 18 runs

England v Nigeria – Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak

Result: Match abandoned without a ball bowled

Australia v West Indies – UKM YSD Oval, Kuala Lumpur

West Indies 53 all out in 16.3 overs (Brianna Harricharan 17, Samara Ramnath 14; Eleanor Larosa 2/6, Caoimhe Bray 2/9, Tegan Williamson 2/10)

Australia 57 for 3 in 10.5 overs (Lucy Hamilton 28, Caoimhe Bray 11 not out; Erin Deane 1/5, Naijanni Cumberbatch 1/14)

Result – Australia won by seven wickets

Ireland v South Africa – Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak

Ireland 35 all out in 9.4 overs (Freya Sargent 9, Julie McNally 8; Monalisa Legodi 4/4, Kayle Reyneke 3/2)

South Africa 36 for three in 6.1 overs (Kayla Reyneke 16 not out, Simone Lourens 14; Jennifer Jackson 2/6, Lara McBride 1/6)

Result – South Africa won by seven wickets