Australia defeated Scotland led by skipper Niamh Muir by 9 wickets in the first game of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2025 on January 18 (Saturday). Bangladesh defeated Nepal led by skipper Puja Mahato by 5 wickets in the 4th match of the tournament.
Bangladesh led by skipper Sumaiya Akter were up against Australia led by skipper Lucy Hamilton in the 3rd match of the group and the 9th match of the tournament at YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi. Nepal led by skipper Puja Mahato were against Scotland led by skipper Niamh Muir in the 4th match of the group and the 12th match of the tournament at the same venue.

Ella Briscoe and Tegan Williamson held their nerve to secure a thriller
The Bangladesh openers Fahomida Choya and Sumaiya Akther got their side off to a positive start with a crucial 16-run opening partnership. Chloe Ainsworth picked up the wicket of Sumaiya Akther (13 off 13 balls) to provide the first breakthrough for Australia in the 3rd over of the innings.
The 21-run partnership for the 7th wicket between Sadia Akter and Afia Ashima (29 off 34 balls) was the highest partnership of the innings with the bat for Bangladesh. They eventually posted a decent total of 91/9 in their quota of 20 overs. Tegan Williamson (4-0-12-2), Caoimhe Bray (4-0-18-2), and Eleanor Larosa (4-0-19-2) picked up a couple of wickets each with the ball, while Hasrat Gill (4-0-18-1), and Chloe Ainsworth (4-0-23-1) were also impressive with the ball for Australia.
Chasing a total of 92, Australian openers Ines Mckeon (14 off 9 balls) and Kate Pelle got their side off to a flying start with a 26-run opening partnership. The pair scored at a rate of over 8 runs an over. Ines Mckeon was found short of her crease to provide the much-needed first breakthrough for Bangladesh.
Skipper Lucy Hamilton joined Kate Pelle at the crease and the duo took their side to the 50-run mark with another crucial 24-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Jannatul Maoua picked up the wicket of Kate Pelle (16 off 18 balls) to provide a crucial breakthrough for her side. It triggered a horrible collapse as they lost their next six wickets for just 36 runs. Ella Briscoe (11* off 22 balls) and Tegan Williamson (3* off 3 balls) eventually held their nerve to guide their side over the line with 2 wickets in hand and four balls to spare.
Skipper Lucy Hamilton (30 off 35 balls) was the stand-out performer with the bat for Australia. Jannatul Maoua (4-0-15-3), was the star of the show with the ball, while Habiba Islam (3.2-0-12-1), Anisa Akter Soba (4-0-18-1), and Nishita Akter Nishi (4-0-19-1) were impressive from the other end with the ball for Bangladesh, making a match out of the contest.
Maisie Maceira’s 5-fer too good as Scotland U19 steal a low-scoring heist by one wicket
Nepal lost the wicket of their opening batter Sana Praveen in the 2nd over of the innings after skipper Puja Mahato won the toss and opted to bat first. Ammy Baldie provided the first breakthrough for Scotland. Skipper Puja Mahato joined Sabitri Dhami (10 off 11 balls) at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 25-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to lead some sort of recovery for their side. It also turned out to be their highest partnership of the innings with the bat for Nepal.
Nayma Sheikh broke the crucial partnership by removing Sabitri Dhami in the 5th over of the innings to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side. Nepal kept losing wickets at regular intervals and was eventually bundled out for 73 with seven balls to spare. Nepal lost their last 8 wickets for just 47 runs. Maisie Maceira (3.5-0-15-5) was the stand-out performer with the ball for Scotland, bagging the first five-wicket haul in the 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025, in Malaysia. Kirsty McColl (4-0-13-1), Ammy Baldie (4-0-17-2), and Nayma Sheikh (4-0-19-2) provided brilliant support with the ball from the other end for Scotland.
The Nepal bowlers showed by with a spirited fightback, making Scotland break a sweat for each run, pushing the game to the penultimate over of the run chase. The nerves were jangling in both camps as the drama unfolded at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi. Kirsty McColl (6* off 4 balls) and Gabriella Fontenla (12* off 9 balls) held their nerve under immense pressure to guide their side over the line with one wicket in hand and 8 balls to spare. Wicket-keeper batter Pippa Sproul (35 off 47 balls) played a vital role and was the top performer with the bat for Scotland.
Seemana KC (4-0-16-2), skipper Puja Mahato (3.4-1-12-1), Krishma Gurung (3-1-11-1), Rachana Chaudhary (3-0-13-2), and Riya Sharma (4-1-18-0) were sensational with the ball for Nepal keeping them in the game till the very end. A complete team effort from Scotland to seal an edge-of-the-seat thriller against Nepal to keep them winless, pushing them on the verge of elimination.

Loves all things female cricket