Unbeaten South Africa finished top of Group C as their round-robin opening phase of the ICC U19 T20 Women’s World Cup concluded with a solid victory over African compatriots Nigeria at the Borneo Cricket Ground in Sarawak, Malaysia, on Wednesday, 22 January, 2025.
South Africa defied delays due to inclement weather to make it three wins from three in their first-round fixtures, managing their rain-reduced 41-run wicket win (DLS Method) after being invited to bat when Nigeria won the toss and elected to field first.
Openers Simoné Lourens (25 off 29 deliveries) and Jemma Botha (10* in 15 balls) started matters in their customary brisk fashion, and with the assistance of keeper/batter Karabo Meso, compiled a total of 49/2 before rain brought an early halt to proceedings.
Nigeria started their reply chasing a DLS method-adjusted total of 65 in the worst manner, losing opening bat Peculiar Agboya in the first over to SA pace bowler Nthabiseng Nini, and after her departure, skipper Kayla Reyneke followed the run-out with the first of her wicket, leading Nigeria three down after two overs, for the addition of 6 runs.


Nigeria didn’t manage much of a recovery from there, South Africa taking another five wickets before Nigeria ended their innings eight down for 24 runs, earning the African champs their third win in three matches.
Despite losing two of their three group-stage matches, Nigeria has done enough to qualify for the Super 6 stage in their first ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup appearance, a remarkable achievement for the African minnows in their debut world cup appearance.
Ireland Seal the Deal
Alice Walsh was the star with the bat for Ireland.
She found a perfect balance between risk and reward, striking four fours in an innings of 31, with Ireland putting the pressure on Pakistan to chase 70.


Pakistan were in the driving seat at 24 without loss from two overs but nerves soon set in and three of their top four batters were run out and another four had their stumps uprooted.
Ellie McGee took two for 13 as Ireland reached the Super 6s, just as they did in the inaugural edition in 2023.
Australia Advance
Nepal have been the queens of powerplay bowling at the tournament and took a trio of early scalps for the third game in succession.
Captain Puja Mahato clean bowled Ines McKeon with an in-swinger before watching Sabitri Dhami take two sublime catches at mid-on to reduce Australia to 14 for three.
Caoimhe Bray and Eleanor Larosa knuckled down and compiled a crucial stand of 72, before Hasrat Gill and Chloe Ainsworth took 29 runs from the last two overs.
Having registered totals of 52 and 73 in their first few matches, Nepal’s focus lay on keeping wickets in hand.
Mahato again led from the front with a stoical 18 from 42 balls but wickets fell around her with Gill, Juliette Morton and Lily Bassingthwaighte taking two apiece to wrap up victory.
England Excel
A remarkable display of controlled hitting from England’s Davina Perrin made light work of chasing down the 120-run target set by USA in Johor.

Perrin cleared the boundary three times, scoring 75 and putting on 117 for the second wicket with Trudy Johnson to guide her side home with more than five overs to spare.
England are rounding into form with back-to-back wins, while USA have still achieved their aim of making the Super 6s after missing out in 2023.
New Zealand Back on Track
Kiwi hearts were fluttering when they sunk to 12 for three at the hands of Samoan seamer Olive Lefaga Lemoe, who took her nation’s first-ever scalps at the event.
Enter Eve Wolland who hit two sixes and two fours in a brilliant 48, shepherding the tail to 107 for nine, a total which proved way beyond Samoa who were dismissed for 40.
New Zealand bounced back from a shock defeat to Nigeria to advance in third place in Group C, while debutants Samoa head to the play-offs.
Bangladesh Hold their Nerve
The leg spin of Anisa Akter Soba proved Scotland’s undoing as they lost wickets in clusters to go down by 18 runs in Bangi.
A good score looked out of reach as Bangladesh sunk to 50 for five, with Scottish seamer Nayma Sheikh making hay, but skipper Sumaiya Akter masterminded a strong end to the innings with a composed 29.
Openers Emma Walsingham and Pippa Kelly were both bowled in the fifth over, bamboozled by the leg spin of Anisa, and next five Scottish wickets fell for 26 runs as, despite a fine 43 from keeper Pippa Sproul, they fell 18 runs short of backing up Monday’s vital victory over Nepal.
Scotland’s win over Nepal still sees them through to the Super 6 stage while Bangladesh progress from Group D in second place.
Results at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia on 22 January 2025
Bangladesh vs Scotland – YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi
Bangladesh 121/9 in 20 overs (Sumaiya Akter 29, Afia Ashima Era 21; Nayma Sheikh 2/15, Maisie Maceira 2/27)
Scotland 103/8 in 20 overs (Pippa Sproul 43, Niamh Muir 22; Anisa Akter Soba 4/25, Habib Islam Pinky 1/16)
Result: Bangladesh won by 18 runs
England vs USA – Johor Cricket Academy Oval, Johor
USA 119/5 in 20 overs (Anika Kolan 46, Ritu Singh 20; Prisha Thanawala 2/20, Trudy Johnson 2/17)
England 120/2 in 14.2 overs (Davina Perrin 74, Trudy Johnson 44; Maahi Madhavan 1/11, Pooja Shah 1/26)
Result: England won by eight wickets
New Zealand vs Samoa – Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak
New Zealand 107/9 in 17 overs (Eve Wolland 48, Anika Todd 27; Olive Lefaga Lemoe 3/13, Verra Farane 2/17)
Samoa 40 all out in 14.2 overs (Angel Sootaga So 8, Norah Jade Salima 6; Rishika Jaswal 3/12, Tash Wakelin 3/3)
Result: New Zealand won by 67 runs
Australia vs Nepal – YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi
Australia 139/6 in 20 overs (Caoimhe Bray 45, Eleanor Larosa 31; Puja Mahato 3/31, Seemana KC 2/34)
Nepal 56/8 in 20 overs (Puja Mahato 18, Alisha Yadav 9; Lily Bassingthwaighte 2/4, Hasrat Gill 2/9)
Result: Australia won by 83 runs
Pakistan vs Ireland – Johor Cricket Academy Oval, Johor
Ireland 69/5 in 9 overs (Alice Walsh 31, Annabel Squires 13; Memoona Khalid 2/6, Quratulain 1/8)
Pakistan 59/7 in 9 overs (Komal Khan 12, Fatima Khan 10; Ellie McGee 2/13, Freya Sargent 1/7)
Result: Ireland won by 13 runs (DLS method)
South Africa vs Nigeria – Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak
South Africa 49/2 in 8 overs (Simoné Lourens 25, Jemma Botha 10; Piety Lucky 2/12, Muhibat Amusa 0/10)
Nigeria 23/8 in 8 overs (Lilian Ude 6, Piety Lucky 5; Kayla Reyneke 2/13, Seshnie Naidu 2/1)
Result: South Africa won by 41 runs (DRS Method)
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: South Africa beat Samoa by 10 wickets (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak)
Wed 22 Jan: South Africa beat Nigeria by 41 runs (DLS) (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: The ICC, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Unbeaten South Africa finished top of Group C as their round-robin opening phase of the ICC U19 T20 Women’s World Cup concluded with a solid 41-run victory over African compatriots, Nigeria, at the Borneo Cricket Ground in Sarawak, Malaysia, on Wednesday, 22 January, 2025. All Photos: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Photo 2 Caption: Openers Jemma Botha (pictured) and Simoné Lourens combined for yet another succesful opening stand of 41 after being invited to bat first.
Photo 3 Caption: Player of the Match Seshnie Naidu brought two Nigerian wickets in her single over costing just a single run.
Photo 4 Caption: Karabo Meso celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Victory Igbinedion for the first of skipper Kayla Reyneke’s two wickets with the ball.