Ashleigh van Wyk, Jemma Botha, and Kayla Reyneke lead South Africa U19 to first-ever final

We are in the knockout stages of the ongoing 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025, in Malaysia. India and Australia progressed to the knockout stages from Group 1, and South Africa and England progressed to the knockout stages of the 2nd edition of the tournament from Group 2.

South Africa led by skipper Kayla Reyneke were up against Australia led by skipper Lucy Hamilton in the 1st semi-final.

Ashleigh van Wyk, Jemma Botha, and Kayla Reyneke lead South Africa U19 to first-ever final
Ashleigh van Wyk, Jemma Botha, and Kayla Reyneke lead South Africa U19 to first-ever final

Caoimhe Bray and Ella Briscoe take Australia to a fighting total of 105/8

Australia got off to the worst possible start as they lost the wicket of their opening batter Ines McKeon on the first ball of the innings, after skipper Lucy Hamilton won the toss and opted to bat first in the 1st semi-final at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur. Nthabiseng Nini provided the first breakthrough for South Africa.

The Australian batters continued to take the positive approach despite losing wickets, finding themselves at 30/3 in the final over of the powerplay, which also saw the return to the pavilion of their skipper Lucy Hamilton (18 off 16 balls) in that over. Eleanor Larosa joined Caoimhe Bray, and the duo took their side past the 50-run mark with a crucial 27-run partnership for the 4th wicket. Seshnie Naidu broke the threatening stand by removing Eleanor Larosa in the 14th over of the innings.

Australia eventually managed to get past the 100-run mark as they posted a competitive total of 105/8 in their quota of 20 overs. The 19-run 6th wicket partnership between Ella Briscoe (27 off 17 balls) and Caoimhe Bray (36 off 44 balls) played a crucial role in helping their side past the three-figure mark.

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Ashleigh van Wyk (3-0-17-4) was the stand-out performer with the ball for the Proteas, while skipper Kayla Reyneke (4-0-20-1), Seshnie Naidu (4-0-21-1), and Nthabiseng Nini (3-0-18-1) provided brilliant support as they also picked up a wicket each with the ball for their side.

Jemma Botha and Kayla Reyneke power Proteas to first-ever U19 World Cup Final

Chasing a target of 106, the South African openers Simone Lourens and Jemma Botha came out with positive intent scoring at 7 runs an over en route to the 14-run opening partnership. Chloe Ainsworth cleaned up Simone Lourens to provide Australia with the first breakthrough. Fay Cowling joined Jemma Botha at the crease and the duo went into ultra-aggressive mode, scoring at a strike rate of over 200 en route to their 21-run 2nd wicket partnership.

Hasrat Gill picked up the wicket of Fay Cowling to provide a crucial 2nd breakthrough for her side. Skipper Kayla Reyneke joined opening batter Jemma Botha at the crease and the duo took their side past the 50-run mark with another crucial 21-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Skipper Lucy Hamilton took the matter into her hands and removed a dangerous Jemma Botha (37 off 24 balls) in the 7th over of the run chase, threatening to run away with the game in quick time.

Wicket-keeper batter Karabo Meso joined skipper Kayla Reyneke at the crease and the duo kept the scoreboard ticking with another brisk 38-run partnership for the 4th wicket, taking them closer to the 100-run mark. Hasrat Gill returned and picked up the wicket of the wicket-keeper batter Karabo Meso (19 off 29 balls) to provide the 4th breakthrough for Australia.

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The Lucy Hamilton-led side continued to put the squeeze on as skipper Kayla Reyneke departed on the brink of a memorable victory. The pair of Seshnie Naidu and Mieke van Vroost kept themselves calm and guided their side to a date with destiny with five wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare. Skipper Kayla Reyneke chipped in with a crucial contribution (26 off 26 balls) with the bat for her side.

Skipper Lucy Hamilton (4-1-17-2), and Hasrat Gill (4-0-20-2) picked up a couple of wickets each and were the stand-out performers with the ball for Australia. Ashleigh van Wyk was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-defining spell (3-0-17-4) with the ball for her side in the 1st semi-final.

Wyk played a crucial role with the ball in restricting Australia, before the batters came out with a fearless approach and took the attack to the Australian bowlers delivering a deja-vu moment for the junior Proteas as they booked the spot in the tile clash of the ongoing 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia on 2nd February 2025 (Sunday) at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur from 12 PM IST.

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