South Africa edged a nervy match to beat New Zealand by 22 runs, joining Bangladesh and Australia as winners on the opening day of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia, on Saturday, 28 January, 2025.
One of three winners on a rain-affected opening day, the South Africans’ match was reduced to 11 overs before the start of play, but South Africa endured the conditions and a very competitive New Zealand to win an all-action match and get their campaign under way.
After losing the loss and being invited to bat first, the SA U9 openers Simoné Lourens and Jemma Botha came out guns blazing, recording the first fifty partnership of the World Cup.
New Zealand hit back as Ayaan Lambat dismissed top scorer Botha and Fay Cowling in back-to-back deliveries before Karabo Meso’s 25 pushed South Africa to 91 for seven.
Their turn to bat, Emma McLeod led the chase for New Zealand and made South Africa pay initially, scoring back-to-back fours having been dropped on 10.
She was dropped again, but a spectacular catch from Luyanda Nzuza saw the opening partnership broken at 33 runs, as Kate Irwin departed with Anika Todd following her a ball later.


McLeod was eventually dismissed for 34 and from there, South Africa stifled New Zealand as captain Kayla Reyneke took three wickets to claim the win.
The result gives the South Africans a critical advantage in Group C, with their remaining two group against Samoa and Nigeria presenting the African champions the equivalent of bankable wins, and the virtual assurance of having secured the most favourable position ahead of the following Super Sixes stage.
Bangladesh do enough against debutant Nepal
Bangladesh showed their strengths to defeat Nepal by five wickets in Kuala Lumpur as the later made their World Cup debut.


Having been put into bat, Nepal struggled to get a footing as no one was able to partner Sana Praveen.
The opener top scored with 19 off 32 and her dismissal saw Nepal slip to 30 for five from 12 overs.
Seemana KC again looked to push the scoring on, but Bangladesh were economical as Jannatul Maoua took two wickets for 11 runs from her four overs as Nepal were bowled out for 52 from 18.2 overs.
In response, Bangladesh similarly faltered as they slipped to 11 for three inside the third over. Sadia Islam and Sumaiya Akter each reached double figures to push Bangladesh closer to their modest target, with Maoua there to finish the job with the bat.
Bray and Larosa take control for Australia
Fifteen-year-old Bray announced herself on the global stage as she took three wickets for the loss of just one run, also taking a stunning diving catch in Australia’s nine-wicket win.
Eleanor Larosa had set the tone after Australia chose to bowl, dismissing Pippa Kelly in her first over as she also took three wickets.


Bray claimed the final dismissal as Scotland were bowled out for 48 with Emma Walsingham top scoring with 12.
Australia were not in the mood to hang around as Kate Pelle led the scoring charge, hitting Mollie Parker for three sixes in the first over.
The opening pair were able to restart after a brief rain delay but wobbled as Pelle was dropped on 28 before McKeon was stumped for 12 off the bowling of Nayma Sheikh.
Skipper Lucy Hamilton hit the winning runs after just 6.4 overs to complete a resounding victory for Australia in Kuala Lumpur.
England and Ireland share the spoils
England posted a strong total of 144 but Ireland’s balanced chase was halted after only 23 balls due to rain as the match was abandoned in Johor.
After being put into bat, England opener Davina Perrin set the pace with 26 runs from 19 balls before being run out going for one run too many.
Charlotte Stubbs took on the scoring impetus as she made 31 before becoming the first of Ellie McGee’s two wickets.
England were able to build strong partnerships that pushed them to 144 for seven after 20 overs as top scorer Jemima Spence departed for 37 off the final ball.
In response, Freya Sargent was run out without scoring to continue a difficult day for the all-rounder who struggled with the ball.
Sargent’s fellow opener Alice Walsh was also run out but strong scoring from Rebecca Lowe saw Ireland reach 28 for two from 3.5 overs before the heavens opened and play was abandoned.
Day 1 Results at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia
Australia v Scotland – UKM YSD Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Scotland 48 all out in 15.1 overs (Emma Walsingham 12, Charlotte Nevard 10; Caoimhe Bray 3/1, Eleanor Larosa 3/7)
Australia 49/1 in 6.4 overs (Kate Pelle 29, Ines McKeon 12; Nayma Sheikh 1/2)
Result: Australia won by nine wickets
England v Ireland – Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy and Oval, Johor, Malaysia
England 144/7 in 20 overs (Jemima Spence 37, Charlotte Stubbs 31; Ellie McGee 2/20, Kia McCartney 1/9)
Ireland 28/2 in 3.5 overs (Rebecca Lowe 16, Alice Walsh 10; Charlotte Lambert 1/4)
Result: Match abandoned
Nigeria v Samoa – Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak, Malaysia
Result: Match abandoned without a ball bowled
Bangladesh v Nepal – UKM YSD Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Nepal 52 all out in 18.2 overs (Sana Praveen 19, Seemana KC, Jannatul Maoua 2/11, Mst anisa Akter soba 1/6)
Bangladesh 53/5 in 13.2 overs (Sadia Islam 16, Sumaiya Akter 12; Seeman KC 1/10, Riya Sharma 1/10)
Result: Bangladesh won by five wickets
New Zealand v South Africa – Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak, Malaysia
South Africa 91/7 in 11 overs (Jemma Botha 32, Karabo Meso 25; Ayaan Lambat 3/6; Tash Wakelin 2/18)
New Zealand 69/5 in 11 overs (Emma McLeod 34, Eve Wolland 12; Kayla Reyneke 3/15, Monalisa Legodi 2/8)
Result: South Africa won by 22 runs
Pakistan v USA – Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy and Oval, Johor, Malaysia
Result: Match abandoned without a ball bowled
SA U19 Women Fixtures and Results for the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 (All times CAT)
Sat 18 Jan: South Africa beat New Zealand by 22 runs (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak)
Mon 20 Jan, 08h30: South Africa vs Samoa (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak)
Wed 22 Jan, 08h30: South Africa vs Nigeria (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak)
Saturday 25 to Wednesday 29, January: Super Six Stage
Fri 31 Jan, 04h30: 1st Semi-final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
Fri 31 Jan, 08h30: 2nd Semi-final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
Sunday, 2 February, 08h30: Final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa and the ICC, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: SA U19 Women openers Jemma Botha (pictured) and Simoné Lourens did the job when they recorded the tournament’s first 50-partnership to ensure South Africa’s win in their opening ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 tie against New Zealand in Sarawak, Malaysia, on Saturday, 18 January, 2025. All Photos: ICC / Cricket South Africa
Photo 2 Caption: Player of the Match Botha top-scored for SA with a quick-fire 32 (24 balls) with two fours and a six to kick-start the Proteas U19 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.
Photo 3 Caption: Opening bat partner Lourens’ equally impressive 21 in 14 deliveries set up the innings, ensuring that SA posted 91/7 in their allotted 11 rain-reduced overs.
Photo 4 Caption: Ashleigh van Wyk is pictured being congratulated by Diara Ramlakan for taking the catch that brought Monalisa Legodi her first World Cup 2025 wicket.
Photo 5 Caption: SA skipper Kayla Reyneke returned her team’s second best bowling figures of the day, taking two wickets for 15 runs in her three overs to seal the win.