Indonesia have caused another upset on the road to the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, as India, Pakistan and Scotland claimed confidence-boosting wins.
Shafali shines (with the ball)
It might not have been the best day with the bat for Shafali Verma (run out for 10), though the 18-year-old with 72 senior white-ball appearances came through for her team with her off-spin.
Verma has taken just the seven senior international wickets across 24 overs, though she proved tough for Australia’s batting line up, claiming opener Paris Bowdler and ripping through the middle order to take 3/8 from her set of four overs, including a maiden.
Parshavi Chopra’s 2/14 (3) combined with Verma to keep Australia to 79/7, successfully defending their 97/8. Hrishita Basu’s 28 at No.7 proved invaluable in India’s first innings, with Richa Ghosh’s 12 the next best with the bat.
Indonesia make headlines with another win
After victory over Zimbabwe in an unofficial warm-up, Indonesia repeated the dose in official play, defending 70 with another resolute performance with the ball.
Just three Indonesian players reached double figures, with captain Ni Luh Ketut Wesika Ratna Dewi’s 13 the team high off the bat. Right-armer Olinder Chare’s 3/8 from four overs led the way, while the highly-touted Kelis Ndhlovu bowled two maidens in a spell of 1/4 (4).
Indonesia were emphatic in response, with the skipper claiming three of the top five in a spell of 3/13 (4). Lie Qiao claimed the big wicket of Ndhlovu for just 5, and the rest of the bowling group backed up with wickets to hold Zimbabwe to just 55.
Indonesia take on Ireland, New Zealand and the West Indies in the tournament proper.
Pakistan strong against Ireland
Even with a 56-run partnership from Annabel Squires and Georgina Dempsey threatening to swing momentum, Pakistan were emphatic with the bat, chasing down Ireland’s 89 with seven wickets in hand and 26 balls to spare.
Pakistan skipper Syeda Aroob Shah removed opposing skipper Amy Hunter for just 13 (15) to curtail Ireland’s batting effort, with Pakistan’s spin group soaking up the runs.
Eyman Fatima’s 58* from 43 balls took the game away from Ireland, as the opener struck nine of Pakistan’s 12 boundaries in the emphatic chase.
Around the grounds
Sri Lanka were comfortable winners over UAE, with Nethmi Senerathna’s half century the only score above 14 on a tricky St Stithians College surface in Johannesburg.
Senarathna almost carried the bat in the encounter, doing the bulk of her work with the lower order to post 90/9.
Vidushika Perera and Dewmi Vihanga Wijerathne claimed three wickets apiece in a 52-run win.
New Zealand meanwhile posted 154/5 in a 63-run win over Rwanda, set up by an Anna Browning fifty and in spite Belise Murekatete’s 2/22 (4) on the other side.
England were nine-wicket winners in the other warm-up match of the day, holding the West Indies to 65/8, while Scotland were 45-run winners over the USA.