Argentina produced a composed chase to defeat NextGen XI by eight wickets in the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup Americas Qualifier on August 16, 2026, successfully chasing down 82 with 11 balls to spare.
The victory was built around a disciplined bowling performance followed by a steady batting effort, with Argentina reaching 82/2 in 18.2 overs after NextGen XI had been restricted to 81/10 in 17.2 overs. The result highlighted Argentina’s control in both innings, particularly during the middle and closing stages of the match.
NextGen XI’s innings began with Palak Chauhan and Evelyn Muller putting together the first meaningful partnership. Palak provided the early impetus, scoring 16 from 13 deliveries with two fours, while Muller contributed alongside her as the opening stand carried NextGen XI to 26 before Palak was dismissed at 26/1 in the 3.1st over.
Muller then added another 13-run partnership with Disha Kaveri, but the innings lost momentum when Muller departed for 3 from 13 balls at 39/2 in the 6.1st over. Disha was dismissed for a duck from just one delivery moments later, leaving the score unchanged at 39/3.
Sahasra Gorla and Saanvi Sood attempted to rebuild the innings after the quick wickets. Their partnership took the score from 39 to 49 before Sahasra was dismissed for 5 off 13 balls in the 9.3rd over. Saanvi then became the key batter for NextGen XI, holding the innings together with a patient 23 from 31 deliveries, including three fours. She shared a valuable 22-run stand with Alina Emch, taking the side from 49/4 to 72/6.
Saanvi’s dismissal at 71/5 in the 13.6th over, however, triggered another collapse. Alina remained unbeaten on 13 from 21 balls and tried to guide the lower order, but wickets continued to fall around her. Giulia de Cassia Souza Ribeiro was dismissed for a duck at 72/6, followed by Clara Valencia for 2 at 78/7. Jashe Trott was out for a duck at 80/8, while Samaya Thomi also departed without scoring at 80/9. Arya Shah was then run out for a duck as NextGen XI were bowled out for 81 in 17.2 overs.
Argentina’s bowlers shared the workload effectively. Milagros Garcia Hagen was the standout, claiming four wickets for just seven runs in two overs. Jacinta Valencia also impressed with 2/14 from four overs, while Ana Dei Castelli returned 2/16 from her four-over spell. Julia Andujar took 1/21 in four overs, and Rocio Roquel Bartellini bowled two overs for 14 without a wicket. Daria Maria Mastrangelo conceded only seven runs in 1.2 overs, completing a disciplined collective effort. Argentina’s bowling attack repeatedly broke NextGen XI’s partnerships and ensured that the batting side never established sustained momentum.
Chasing 82, Argentina began carefully through Julia Santos and Daria M Mastral. The pair added 27 runs for the opening wicket before Daria was dismissed for 13 from 14 balls, including two fours, in the 4.1st over. Julia Santos followed soon after, run out for 8 off 15 deliveries at 32/2 in the 5.6th over. With Argentina reduced to 32/2, NextGen XI briefly sensed an opportunity to apply pressure, but Maria Victoria Lehmar and captain Milagro Bestani calmly took control of the chase.
Lehmar and Bestani combined for an unbeaten 50-run partnership that carried Argentina from 32/2 to the winning score of 82/2 in 18.2 overs. Lehmar anchored the innings with an unbeaten 20 from 39 balls, while Bestani, the captain, remained not out on 23 from 43 deliveries. Bestani struck one four, and although the scoring rate was modest, the pair showed excellent patience to ensure there was no further collapse. The partnership ultimately proved decisive as Argentina reached the target with eight wickets in hand.
NextGen XI’s bowlers tried to keep the chase under control, with Jashe Trott the only wicket-taker, finishing with 1/11 from four economical overs. Disha Kaveripakam bowled three overs for eight runs, while Palak Chauhan conceded 17 from four overs without taking a wicket. Alina Emch returned 0/7 from two overs, Arya Shah conceded six from two, and Saanvi Sood gave away seven from one over. Giulia de Cassia Souza Ribeiro took the new ball and finished with 0/8 from 1.2 overs, while Clara Valencia conceded 11 from her single over. Despite several economical spells, NextGen XI could not find the breakthroughs needed after the early wickets.
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