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India Women To Host Australia For 5-Match T20I Series In Mumbai Starting December 9

Reigning T20 world champions Australia will square off with Harmanpreet Kaur-led India in a five-match T20 series in Mumbai from December 9 to 20, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced on Friday. The series will be important as it is the pre-cursor to the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa, starting early February. The five matches against the Southern Stars will be played on December 9, 11, 14, 17 and 20.

The first two matches will be held at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, while the remaining three games will be played at the Brabourne Stadium.

NDTV
 
Women's IPL 2023 Thread

Women's IPL: BCCI Invites Bids For Media Rights For Five-Year Period

The BCCI on Friday invited bids for media rights for the Women's Indian Premier League (WIPL) for a five-year period between 2023-27. "The Governing Council of the IPL invites bids from reputed entities to acquire the Media Rights for the Women's Indian Premier League Seasons 2023-2027, through a tender process," BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated in a media release.

Whether the media rights bid for WIPL will be a sealed one-time bid or incremental e-auction bids has not yet been specified.

The 'Invitation to Tender' (ITT) bid document costs Rs 5 lakh plus applicable tax. The procedure to procure the ITT documents is enlisted in Annexure A of the document. The ITT will be available for purchase till December 31, 2022.

Any interested party wishing to submit a bid is required to purchase the ITT.

However, only those satisfying the eligibility criteria set out in the ITT and subject to the other terms and conditions set out therein, shall be eligible to bid.

It has been clarified that merely purchasing the ITT does not entitle any person to bid.

NDTV
 
India Women vs Australia Women, 2nd T20I, Highlights: India Women Beat Australia Women In Super Over, Level Series 1-1

India on Sunday defeated Australia in the second T20I after the match had gone into a Super Over at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. With the win, India levelled the five-match series 1-1. After Australia posted a total 187/1 in 20 overs, India tied the match, following a dramatic final over. In the Super Over, Smriti Mandha, who had earlier scored 79 off 49 balls, helped India score 20 runs. In reply, Australia could only manage 16, thanks to Renuka Singh's disciplined bowling display. Earlier, Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney tore into the Indian bowling attack with their belligerent knocks to power Australia 187/1. Mooney remained unbeaten on 82, while McGrath was also unbeaten on 70. India named an unchanged playing eleven while Australia replaced Jess Jonassen, who is out of the series with injury, and Grace Harris with debutants Heather Graham and Phoebe Litchfield. The visitors lead the series 1-0.

NDTV
 
Australia's Jess Jonassen Ruled Out Of India Tour With Hamstring Injury

Australian spinner Jess Jonassen was on Sunday ruled out of the ongoing five-match T20 series against the India women's cricket team due to a hamstring injury. Jonassen will be replaced by leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington who is expected to reach India by Tuesday. Australia won the series-opener by nine wickets and the second game will be played on Sunday.

Jonassen strained her hamstring while fielding in the first match. "She's since been assessed and it's evident that the timeframes required for a return during this series are too short," Australia team physiotherapist Kate Beerworth told cricket.com.au.

"Jess will be unavailable for the remainder of the series and will return to Brisbane to continue her rehab." Her replacement Wellington last played a T20 on the tour of India back in 2018.

NDTV
 
ex-q-zit said:
India Women vs Australia Women, 2nd T20I, Highlights: India Women Beat Australia Women In Super Over, Level Series 1-1

India on Sunday defeated Australia in the second T20I after the match had gone into a Super Over at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. With the win, India levelled the five-match series 1-1. After Australia posted a total 187/1 in 20 overs, India tied the match, following a dramatic final over. In the Super Over, Smriti Mandha, who had earlier scored 79 off 49 balls, helped India score 20 runs. In reply, Australia could only manage 16, thanks to Renuka Singh's disciplined bowling display. Earlier, Tahlia McGrath and Beth Mooney tore into the Indian bowling attack with their belligerent knocks to power Australia 187/1. Mooney remained unbeaten on 82, while McGrath was also unbeaten on 70. India named an unchanged playing eleven while Australia replaced Jess Jonassen, who is out of the series with injury, and Grace Harris with debutants Heather Graham and Phoebe Litchfield. The visitors lead the series 1-0.

NDTV
Click to expand...

The attendance for the 2nd T20I between India W vs Australia W: 45,238.

1.1 million were watching in Hotstar, 45k+ in the stadium & millions in front of TV.

What a match this is. Superb match.
 
Cover Drive Six said:
The attendance for the 2nd T20I between India W vs Australia W: 45,238.

1.1 million were watching in Hotstar, 45k+ in the stadium & millions in front of TV.

What a match this is. Superb match.
Click to expand...

Came to type that, surprised to see the huge attendance that too in DY patil and not Wankhede !

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A victory lap to honour the crowd who were in attendance to support the women in blue <br><br>Over 47,000 in attendance for the second T20I who witnessed a thriller here at the DY Patil Stadium 👏 👏<br><br>Keep cheering for Women in Blue 👍 👍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAUS</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/mastercardindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mastercardindia</a> <a href="https://t.co/CtzdsyhxZu">pic.twitter.com/CtzdsyhxZu</a></p>— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIWomen/status/1601991657393905664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
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3rd WT20I: Ellyse Perry's 75 Inspires Australia To 21-run Win Over India

Indian batting collapsed like a pack of cards under pressure as Australian women showed clinical precision to record a comfortable 21-run victory in the third T20 International, at Brabourne International Stadium on Wednesday. Australia now lead five-match series 2-1. Chasing a target of 173, India were in cruise control mode at 106 for 2, riding on some cavalier hitting from Shafali Verma (52 off 41 balls) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (37 off 27 balls). The duo had added 73 in just 8.4 overs and 67 off 40 odd balls looked eminently gettable. But, once Shafali was holed out at mid-wicket boundary, there was a slump as India lost four wickets for the addition of 17 runs in less than three overs as the match turned decisively in favour of Southern Stars. India were finally restricted to 151 for 7 in 20 overs.

Richa Ghosh (1) and Harmanpreet, the two other big-hitters apart from Shafali, were also dismissed while going for big hits and almost all the Australian bowlers reduced the pace on their deliveries to make it difficult for strokeplay.
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Darcie Brown (2/19), Meghan Schutt (1/23 in 4 overs), spinner Ashleigh Gardener (2/21) were exceptional on the day.

Deepti Sharma (25 not out off 17 balls), not exactly known for her power-hitting, would have never been able to consistently hit those big shots as it became a comfortable win for Alyssa Healy's women.

Earlier, Australia recovered from early jolts and rode on flamboyant Ellyse Perry's 75 off 47 balls to post 172 for 8 after batting first.

Invited to bat, Australia made a disastrous start as captain Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath got out in the first and second overs respectively.

Renuka Thakur had opener Healy LBW for just 1 while Anjali Sarvani got rid of one-down McGrath, also for one, as Australia were five for 2 in the second over.

But Perry and then Grace Harris (41 runs off 18 balls) played pivotal roles to take Australia to a competitive total.

From 79 for 3 at halfway stage, Australia added 93 runs in the back-end.

For India, Renuka Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya took two wickets apiece.

Opener Beth Mooney (30) and Ellyse Perry (75 off 47 balls) resurrected the Australia innings with a 64-run partnership for the third wicket in seven overs.

Perry had another quickfire 55-run stand for the fifth wickets with Grace Harris (41 runs off 18 balls) that took Australia to a good score.

The Indian bowlers got wickets at the regular intervals but also conceded runs on a goof batting track at the Braboune Stadium.

Australia were 43 for 2 at the end of Powerplay but Mooney and Perry scored at a brisk pace to take their side to 68 for 2 at the end od eighth over.

Vaidya then provided India the breakthrough in the ninth over as she cut short Mooney's promising innings.

Perry, who had hit Deepti Sharma for a six, was still going great guns as she hit Vaidya for a six over the bowler's head in the 11th over.

But two balls later, Vaidya took revenge but in the form of Ashleigh Gardner () with Richa Ghosh taking a fine catch.

India were in the ascendency for a brief period of two overs but conceded 14 runs in the 14th over with Perry and Harris hitting sixes

NDTV
 
India Women vs Australia Women Live Score 4th T20I: India's gallant effort not enough, Australia win match and series

India Women vs Australia Women Highlights 4th T20I: Ellyse Perry's quickfire 72 off 42 balls ensures Australia win by 7 runs. They clinch the series 3-1 with one more match to go. Valiant effort by India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh goes in vain.

India Women vs Australia Women Highlights 4th T20I: Ellyse Perry's quickfire 72 off 42 balls ensures Australia win by 7 runs. They clinch the series 3-1 with one more match to go. Valiant effort by India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh goes in vain.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...brabourne-stadium-mumbai-101671278463841.html
 
Australia Defeat India By 54 Runs, Win Series 4-1

India lost the match by 54 runs after getting all out for 142 in 20 overs. With the result, Australia have won the series 4-1. Australia posted a massive 196 for four against India in the fifth and final women's T20I in Mumbai on Tuesday. Sent into bat, Australia slumped to 17 for 2 in the fourth over but Ashleigh Gardner (66 not out) and Grace Harris (64 not out) smashed scintillating fifties to take the visitors close to the 200-mark in their stipulated 20 overs. For India, Anjali Sarvani (1/30), Deepti Sharma (1/46), Shafali Verma (1/17) and Devika Vaidya (1/26) were among wickets. Australia have already won the five-match series and enjoy an unassailable 3-1 lead.

NDTV
 
Australian Cricketer Faces Flak Megan Schutt For Liking Tweet Calling Indian Players 'Horrible Person'

Australian women’s cricket team pacer Meghan Schutt is facing flak of Indian fans after she likes controversial tweet in which a fan called Indian players as horrible person.

India women defeated England in the third ODI to complete the 3-0 series sweep. Even with England nine wickets down, Charlie Dean almost took the hosts on the brink of victory. But, Deepti Sharma ran her out at the non-striker’s end as she was backing up, to seal India’s win. The 20-year-old was heartbroken as she walked away in tears after shaking hands with the Indian players.

Recently a fan tweeted a picture of incident and captioned it ‘Tell me you’re a horrible person without telling me’. In response Megan Schutt liked the controversial tweet leaving the fans in shock.

Megan Schutt has become a mainstay of Australia’s seam attack with her big inswingers and more recently developed leg cutter her trademark deliveries.

In 2019 she became the first female bowler to take two international hat-tricks when her feat against West Indies in an ODI followed the same in a T20I against India the previous year.

At the 2020 T20 World Cup, Schutt was again the leading wicket-taker including with 13 including four in the final against India. In early 2021 she became the second-fastest female to 100 ODI wickets.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...alling-indian-players-horrible-person-1060933
 
u19-Women-s-t20wc-Groups.jpeg
 
The first-ever ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup will take place in South Africa from 14 to 29 January 2023.

16 teams will participate in the marquee event and some of them have already started unveiling their squads for the same.

The squads

Group A:

Australia: Chloe Ainsworth, Jade Allen, Charis Bekker, Paris Bowdler, Maggie Clark, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Eleanor Larosa, Rhys McKenna, Claire Moore, Kate Pelle, Amy Smith, Ella Wilson.

Non-travelling reserves: Paris Hall, Samira Dimeglio, Sara Kennedy, Olivia Henry, Ananaya Sharma.

Bangladesh: Disha Biswas (c), Shorna Akter, Rabeya, Marufa Akter, Dilara Akter, Misty Rany Saha, Reya Akter Shika, Sumaiya Akter, Afia Humaira Anam Prottasha, Mst Unnoti Akter, Mst Dipa Khatun, Leky Chakma, Asrafi Yeasmin Arthy, Jannatul Maoua, Mst Eva.

Stand-by: Suborna Kormakar, Nishita Akter Nishi, Mst Rabaya Khatun, Juairiya Ferdous.

Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne (c), Dahami Sanethma, Umaya Rathnayake, Rashmi Nethranjalee, Rashmika Sewwandi, Dewmi Vihanga, Manudi Nanayakkara, Sumudu Nisansala, Pamoda Shaini, Vidushika Perera, Dulanga Dissanayake, Rishmi Sanjana, Nethmi Senarathne, Harini Perera, Vihara Sewwandi

USA: Geetika Kodali (c), Anika Kolan, Aditi Chudasama, Bhumika Bhadriraju, Disha Dhingra, Isani Vaghela, Jivana Aras, Laasya Mullapudi, Pooja Ganesh, Pooja Shah, Ritu Singh, Sai Tanmayi Eyyunni, Snigdha Paul, Suhani Thadani, Taranum Chopra.

Reserves: Chetnaa Prasad, Kasturi Vedantham, Lisa Ramjit, Mitali Patwardhan, Tya Gonsalves.

Group B:

England: Ellie Anderson, Hannah Baker, Josie Groves, Liberty Heap, Niamh Holland, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Emma Marlow, Charis Pavely, Davina Perrin, Lizzie Scott, Grace Scrivens, Sophia Smale, Seren Smale, Alexa Stonehouse, Maddie Ward

Non-travelling reserves: Emily Churms, Charlotte Lambert, Bethan Miles, Jemima Spence, Mary Taylor

Pakistan: Aroob Shah (c), Aliza Khan, Anosha Nasir, Areesha Noor, Eyman Fatima, Haleema Azeem Dar, Haniah Ahmer, Laiba Nasir, Mahnoor Aftab, Quratulain Ahsen, Rida Aslam, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Warda Yousaf, Zaib-un-Nisa, Zamina Tahir

Reserves: Aqsa Yousaf, Dina Razvi, Maham Anees, Muskan Abid, Tahzeeb Shah

Rwanda: Gisele Ishimwe (c), Merveille Uwase, Henriette Isimbi, Marie Jose Tumukunde, Giovannis Uwase, Sharila Niyomuhoza, Sylvia Usabyimana, Henriette Therese Ishimwe, Divine Gihozo Ishimwe, Belyse Murekatete, Cynthia Uwera, Cesarie Muragajimana, Rosine Uwera, Zurafat Ishimwe.

Zimbabwe: Kelis Ndhlovu (c), Kelly Ndiraya, Kay Ndiraya, Adel Zimunhu, Natasha Mutomba, Vimbai Mutungwindu, Danielle Meikle, Tawananyasha Marumani, Michelle Mavunga, Olinda Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Betty Mangachena, Chipo Moyo, Faith Ndhlalambi, Rukudzo Mwakayeni

Group C:

Indonesia: Ni Luh Ketut Dewi (c), Thersiana Penu Weo (vc), Ni Kadek Ariani, Yessny Djahilepang, Sang Ayu Puspita Dewi, Lie Qiao, I Gusti Pratiwi, Ni Kadek Murtiari, Ni Putu Cantika, Ni Kadek Dwi Indriyani, Desi Wulandari, Ni Made Suarniasih, Gusti Ayu Ratna Ulansari, Dewa Ayu Sasrikayoni, Kadek Ayu Kurniartini.

Ireland: Amy Hunter (c), Siúin Wood (vc), Zara Craig, Georgina Dempsey, Rebecca Gough, Abbi Harrison, Jennifer Jackson, Joanna Loughran, Niamh MacNulty, Aimee Maguire, Kia McCartney, Ellie McGee, Julie McNally, Freya Sargent, Annabel Squires

Non-travelling reserves: Aoife Fisher, Alice Walsh

New Zealand: Olivia Anderson, Anna Browning, Kate Chandler, Natasha Codyre, Isabella Gaze, Antonia Hamilton, Abigail Hotton, Breearne Illing, Fran Jonas, Kayley Knight, Paige Loggenberg, Emma McLeod, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Tash Wakelin

West Indies: Ashmini Munisar (c), Asabi Callendar, Jahzara Claxton, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Earnisha Fontaine, Jannillea Glasgow, Realanna Grimmond, Trishan Holder, Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, K D Jazz Mitchell, Shalini Samaroo, Shunelle Sawh, Lena Scott, Abini St Jean

Group D:

India: Shafali Verma (c), Shweta Sehrawat (vc), Richa Ghosh (wk), G Trisha, Soumya Tiwari, Sonia Mehdiya, Hurley Gala, Hrishita Basu (wk), Sonam Yadav, Mannat Kashyap, Archana Devi, Parshavi Chopra, Titas Sadhu, Falak Naz, Shabnam MD

Standby players: Shikha, Najla CMC, Yashashree

Scotland: Katherine Fraser (c), Ailsa Lister (vc)(wk), Molly Barbour-Smith, Olivia Bell, Darcey Carter, Maryam Faisal, Maisie Maceira, Orla Montgomery, Niamh Muir, Molly Paton, Niamh Robertson-Jack, Nayma Sheikh, Anne Sturgess, Emily Tucker, Emma Walsingham

South Africa: Elandri Janse Van Rensburg, Simone Lourens, Anica Swart, Karabo Meso, Madison Landsman (vc), Oluhle Siyo (c), Kayla Reyneke, Jenna Evans, Miane Smit, Ayanda Hlubi, Seshnie Naidu, Refilwe Moncho, Mona Lisa Legodi, Nthabiseng Nini, Jemma Botha

Non-Travelling Reserves: Caitlin Wyngaard, Diara Ramlakan

UAE: Theertha Satish (c), Vaishnave Mahesh, Samaira Dharnidharka, Lavanya Keny, Sanchin Singh, Rinitha Rajith, Induja Nandakumar, Siya Gokhale, Mahika Gaur, Avni Sunil Patil, Archana Supriya, Rishitha Rajith, Geethika Jyothis, Sanjana Ramesh, Ishitha Zahra.

ICC
 
Mark Coles is back as head coach of the Pakistan women's team, and will join the squad on their ongoing tour of Australia. The New Zealander takes over the responsibility from interim head coach Saleem Jaffar, who was originally working as the team's bowling coach with fellow former Pakistan men's international Taufeeq Umar as batting coach.

The PCB, under a new management committee headed by Najam Sethi, has roped Coles in on a one-year contract. He previously served as head coach from 2017 to 2019, when he resigned from the role citing family commitments.

"I have worked with Mark and he is a perfect coach for a women's team - gentle but firm, friendly but strict," Sethi, said in an interview. "He is a well-respected coach and in his previous stint with Pakistan he worked incredibly hard for the team's progress. Players only had good words to say about him, hence we have decided to bring him back and he will be joining the team in Australia with immediate effect."
 
<b>ICC UNDER 19 WOMENS T20 WORLD CUP 2023</b>

• Complete / 1st Match, Group A Benoni
Australia Women U19 130/5
Bangladesh Women U19 132/3 (18)
Bangladesh Women U19 won by 7 wkts

• Complete / 2nd Match, Group D Benoni
United Arab Emirates Women U19 99/9
Scotland Women U19 100/4 (16.2)
United Arab Emirates Women U19 won by 6 wkts

• Complete / 3rd Match, Group D Benoni
South Africa Women U19 166/5
India Women U19 170/3 (16.3)
India Women U19 won by 7 wkts
 
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James said:
<b>ICC UNDER 19 WOMENS T20 WORLD CUP 2023</b>

• Complete / 1st Match, Group A Benoni
Australia Women U19 130/5
Bangladesh Women U19 132/3 (18)
Bangladesh Women U19 won by 7 wkts

• Complete / 2nd Match, Group D Benoni
United Arab Emirates Women U19 99/9
Scotland Women U19 100/4 (16.2)
United Arab Emirates Women U19 won by 6 wkts

• Complete / 3rd Match, Group D Benoni
South Africa Women U19 166/5
India Women U19 170/3 (16.3)
India Women U19 won by 7 wkts
Click to expand...

Two stunning performances from opening batters Shafali Verma and Shweta Sehrawat saw India overcome South Africa in a run-fest on the opening day of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, while Sri Lanka saw off a dogged USA.

India get off to an impressive winning start

Toss: South Africa won the toss and batted first

Result: India won by 7 wickets

Runs flowed as India got their campaign off to a winning start against South Africa in Benoni, putting down an early marker as tournament favourites.

A stunning flurry of early runs saw South Africa get off to a lightning-quick start, with openers Simone Lourens and Elandri Janse Van Rensburg doing the damage. The score was 56/1 after just four overs when Janse Van Rensburg fell for 23 off 13, and the pace of scoring slowed slightly as the innings went on. Lourens top-scored with 61 from 44, before some late hitting lifted the Proteas up to an impressive 166/5.

India’s reply got off to the perfect start, with star player Shafali Verma putting the host nation to the sword early on. Verma struck 45 from just 16 deliveries, including one over where all six balls went to the boundary, before being caught off Miane Smit.

But Verma’s fellow opener Shweta Sehrawat kept the momentum going, finishing unbeaten on a brilliant 92* from 57 as India chased down their target with still 21 balls remaining.


Sri Lanka pushed close by USA

Toss: USA won the toss and batted first

Result: Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets

Sri Lanka recovered from a sluggish start with the bat to beat USA in their opening match of the tournament.

Dewmi Vihanga Wijerathne was the star with the ball, taking 3/11 from her four overs as the American side struggled to get going.

Disha Dhingra (18 from 26) and Ritu Priya Singh (22 from 23) ensured that a reasonable target was reached, but 96/9 was never likely to seriously trouble a talented Sri Lankan batting line-up.

A cautious Sri Lankan reply saw both openers fall relatively cheaply, with the score just 32/2 after 8.1 overs. But Vishmi Gunarathne (34* from 40) and Manudi Nanayakkara (32* from 31) led the recovery to see the Lankans home with an over to spare.

ICC
 
Strong comebacks from subdued starts with both bat and ball saw Pakistan wrest control against Rwanda in Potchefstroom, while West Indies beat Ireland in a close encounter on day two of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.


PAKISTAN DOWN SPIRITED RWANDA

Toss: Rwanda won the toss and chose to bat

Result: Pakistan won by 8 wickets

Pakistan made a winning start at the U19 Women's T20 World Cup with a win over Rwanda.

Rwanda’s U19 Women impressed on the country’s first-ever appearance at an ICC World Cup but were eventually undone by Pakistan’s quality with the bat.

Both teams got off to an erratic start on a slow wicket. Despite a 51-run stand for the second wicket between Cynthia Tuyizere (20 from 34) and Gisele Ishimwe (40 from 49), Pakistan’s improved bowling effort in the second half of the innings ensured that Rwanda were unable to build on that platform, ending with 106/8. Areesha Noor Bhatti (2/19), Syeda Aroob Shah (1/22) and Anosha Nasir (1/21) made their mark with the ball.

A charged-up Rwanda kept Pakistan quiet initially, holding them to 42/2 at the halfway stage of the chase. However, Eyman Fatima (65* from 60) and Aroob Shah (20* from 21) went through the gears to take the attack to the opposition and sealed the game in the 18th over.


ALL-ROUND ZAIDA JAMES HELPS WEST INDIES OVERWHELM IRELAND

Toss: Ireland won the toss and chose to bowl

Result: West Indies won by 7 runs

West Indies registered a victory in their opening encounter, as Ireland were left to rue their lack of control with the ball.

Guided by Zaida James (52 from 57), the West Indies top three accumulated 106 runs in the first 17 overs. And Ireland’s occasionally wayward bowling, which saw them concede 24 extras, helped West Indies reach 125/3 in their full quota of overs. The total could have been higher but for Freya Sargent’s double-wicket 18th over which accounted for James and Djenaba Joseph. Sargent finished with impressive figures of 2/9 from her four overs.

Though Amy Hunter (21 from 25) and Annabelle Squires (42 from 38) kept Ireland competitive, disciplined bowling ensured a win for the West Indies. James proved to be the difference yet again, her slow left-arm bowling ripping through the Ireland line-up. She finished with 4/20 as Ireland finished seven wickets down and seven runs short.

ICC
 
PAKW 160/8 (40)
AUSW 8/1 (3) CRR: 2.67 REQ: 4.05
Australia Women need 150 runs - Match reduced to 40 ovs per side due to rain, Target 158
 
daytrader said:
PAKW 160/8 (40)
AUSW 8/1 (3) CRR: 2.67 REQ: 4.05
Australia Women need 150 runs - Match reduced to 40 ovs per side due to rain, Target 158
Click to expand...

Another loss.

PAKW 160/8 (40)

AUSW 158/2 (28.5)

Australia Women won by 8 wkts (DLS Method)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Phoebe Litchfield
 
BCCI announces the successful bidder for acquiring the Media Rights for the Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) Seasons 2023-2027

The BCCI had issued an Invitation to Tender (“ITT”) for Media Rights to the Women’s Indian Premier League Seasons 2023 – 2027. The bid process for determining the successful bidder(s) for the Media Rights was conducted on January 16, 2023.

Pursuant to the bidding process, the BCCI is pleased to announce that Viacom18 Media Private Limited is the successful bidder for the consolidated Bid for the Media Rights (i.e., Global Televisions Rights and Global Digital Rights).

Viacom18 Media Private Limited will acquire the Media Rights from WIPL Season 2023 to WIPL Season 2027 for a cumulative figure of INR 951 crores (i.e., INR 7.09 crores per match).

This is subject to the execution of definitive documentation and completion of formalities as required by BCCI, and other obligations specified in the ITT being completed.

Argus Partners was the legal advisor to BCCI for the bid process.

BCCI President, Mr Roger Binny said: “I would like to congratulate Viacom18 for bagging the media rights for Women’s IPL for the period of 5 years. Women’s cricket has been on the up since a few years and the recently concluded bilateral series against Australia is a great testament to how popular women’s cricket has become in India. It was only apt to get our own women’s T20 league and give the fans more of women’s cricket. I would also like to congratulate the BCCI leadership and its workforce for a successful media rights process and wish them the very best for the first edition of the Women’s IPL.”

BCCI Honorary Secretary, Mr Jay Shah said, “I am really thrilled that we have had such an encouraging response for a league that will revolutionise women’s cricket not just in India but across the globe. This is a commitment I had made to the Board and our women cricketers and today we have taken one big leap. The broadcasters play a key role in taking the game to a wider audience and their active interest in the league is a clear indication that the Women’s Indian Premier League is headed in the right direction. The per-match valuation of Rs INR 7.09 crore is something that has never previously been registered for a women’s game. I congratulate Viacom18 for securing both the TV and digital rights with a combined bid of INR 951 crores and welcome them on Board. The journey has well and truly started and we will take another major step this month when the five franchises are announced.

Chairman, IPL Governing Council, Mr Arun Singh Dhumal said: “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome Viacom18 as our official digital and television broadcaster for women’s IPL. Viacom18 has committed INR 951 crores, which is a per-match value of INR 7.09 crores for the next 5 years (2023-27).

The faith of all our bidders for this process also testifies that they see value in investing in this property which will only be growing with each passing year. Women’s cricket has shown immense growth in the past few years and our own T20 league, it only solidifies our approach towards women’s cricket and the potential it has for growth in India. I would once again like to congratulate Viacom18 and would also like to thank all our bidders for supporting and showing faith in our prospects.”

Mr Rajeev Shukla, Vice-President, BCCI, said: "I'm truly glad to witness a new dawn in women's cricket today. The Women's IPL would elevate the stature of women's cricket across the globe and would groom talents at the grassroots level. Congratulations to Viacom18 for winning the media rights for Women’s IPL 2023-27. We hope to witness phenomenal enthusiasm and support from cricket audiences worldwide."

BCCI Treasurer, Mr Ashish Shelar said, “I congratulate and thank Viacom18 for their record bid and faith in the league. With a consolidated bid of INR 951 crore they have won both the TV as well as digital rights. These are record numbers for a women’s tournament and signal to a promising start to Women’s IPL. I am confident that the tournament will prove to be a game-changer and that the popularity of women’s cricket will soar further. A lot of work is being done behind the scenes and the first season of this unique tournament will truly be memorable.”

BCCI
 
WIPL rights going for $117 million is great news for the women's game. This will mean that the players can make very good money. Which will attract good talent to women's cricket.
 
U$ofA said:
WIPL rights going for $117 million is great news for the women's game. This will mean that the players can make very good money. Which will attract good talent to women's cricket.
Click to expand...

This is still more than the men's PSL and the BPL, an outright insult to these two boards that even women in India are more marketable than men in Pakistan and Bangladesh
 
Savak said:
This is still more than the men's PSL and the BPL, an outright insult to these two boards that even women in India are more marketable than men in Pakistan and Bangladesh
Click to expand...

Why should this be an insult to PSL or BPL? It's factors like size of consumer market and purchasing power that drives these things. A women tennis player or golfer in the West gets paid more than most of the cricketers across India, Pakistan , BD. Its the economy there that will influence these things.
 
Khelo Kricket: The night tournament changing girls' cricket in Pakistan

By Cameron Ponsonby

Freelance cricket writer

Last updated on 58 minutes ago

From the section Women's Cricket

Khelo Kricket is scheduled to feature 12 teams across Pakistan in 2023
"Let's just see if there's a market out there. And so we put an advertisement out and within 24 hours, we got 250 registrations."

Women's cricket is on the rise in Pakistan. In large part, due to the work of Hadeel Obaid, founder of Khelo Kricket.

"I wish I could capture that feeling and bottle it," she says of the moment she walked into the ground for the first women's tournament, played dusk till dawn, that she hosted back in 2016.

"Seeing girls' fathers, brothers and mums who had driven their daughters to the ground and were emotional [seeing them play].

"Mothers were literally crying to me and saying 'thank you for giving our girls the opportunity'.

"They've always had the talent, we've always wanted to do it but we've never been able to give girls a shot."

Opportunities for female athletes are increasing against the backdrop of a socially conservative nation.

Depending on location and privilege, women are either finding more opportunities to play, or are prevented from doing so due to it being seen to compromise their modesty.

A glance at the make-up of the national men's and women's cricket teams provides a snapshot of this.

Whereas a lot of the men's team hail from socially and economically conservative backgrounds, the women's team tend to come from wealthier families, who are much likelier to be liberal enough to not object to women playing sport.

Obaid, whose own family runs a successful textiles business, started Khelo Kricket in 2015 - first as a website aiming to cover and promote men's grassroots cricket in Pakistan.

Then she branched out, and Khelo hosted their own tournaments. Again, only for men.

"We weren't even aware there was a market [for women]," she explains.

However, that would change in the lead-up to the holy month of Ramadan in 2016.

Dusk-til-dawn cricket during Ramadan is a cultural staple in Pakistan. In Karachi in particular, every ground and street is booked out to allow for competitions to run through the night once fast is broken.

The kicker being, they are - or were - only for men.

"We were not sure if women would be allowed to play cricket at night," Obaid explains.

"The idea that girls are playing cricket from dusk till dawn is not something that you think of when you think of Pakistani women. Or any women playing cricket anywhere in the world."

Nevertheless Obaid threw the idea out there and was rewarded with immediate demand.

"Oh my god," she recalls with a laugh of the applications flooding in, "we've not

Pakistan are ninth in the ICC one-day international rankings, below Bangladesh and Thailand
With operations in full flow, Obaid had to limit the competition to four teams as they only had the ground for one night. She also had to deal with the criticism that came her way.

"I received a lot of backlash for my first two events," she explains. "I did them in Ramadan, it was 'blasphemy', 'how can girls play at night'? I don't care about those things.

"You don't want your daughters to play? Fine. But don't tell me that other girls don't want to play, because we're seeing the numbers grow."

Ramadan provided the opportunity for the tournaments to start, but demand would mean it soon grew further.

The initial tournament was held solely in Karachi in 2016, but from 2023 onwards Khelo Kricket has five scheduled tournaments a year featuring 10-12 teams across the country.

Matches are a maximum of 20 overs a side with some being tape ball - the most accessible version of the game where a tennis ball is wrapped in electric tape - and some hard ball. They are all, however, cricket.

"Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi are probably going to be the ones we're going to do," Obaid says.

"We also want to do one in Abbottabad or somewhere up north, because there's a lot of girls out there who are playing cricket, who keep messaging us and saying 'just one tournament, please, just give us that opportunity to play'."

'Giving girls a safe space to play cricket is amazing'
Local women's academies, who are helping to grow the game, make up many of the teams and with prize money on offer through sponsors of the competitions, the money won goes back into the academies in a self-styled funding ecosystem.

Already, the tournament has acted a pathway, with 21-year-old Pakistan fast bowler Fatima Sana, who debuted for her country in 2019, winning player of the tournament in the very first competition that was held.

"The first time she played," Obaid recalls, "I remember looking at her and thinking, this girl is incredible."

And she was right. In 2022, Sana was named the ICC Women's Emerging Cricketer of the Year.

"I met her when she was 12, so I've actually seen her over the years and to see how she got into the PCB system and where she's got to now is amazing.

"The fact we're able to give girls a platform, a safe space to play cricket, that's something that I will always think is amazing.

"And the fact that I've given them that fearless ability to play cricket at night, once a year, and have that fun, which was only reserved for boys, I think I'm proudest of that."

Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/64010532
 
Savak said:
Khelo Kricket: The night tournament changing girls' cricket in Pakistan

By Cameron Ponsonby

Freelance cricket writer

Last updated on 58 minutes ago

From the section Women's Cricket

Khelo Kricket is scheduled to feature 12 teams across Pakistan in 2023
"Let's just see if there's a market out there. And so we put an advertisement out and within 24 hours, we got 250 registrations."

Women's cricket is on the rise in Pakistan. In large part, due to the work of Hadeel Obaid, founder of Khelo Kricket.

"I wish I could capture that feeling and bottle it," she says of the moment she walked into the ground for the first women's tournament, played dusk till dawn, that she hosted back in 2016.

"Seeing girls' fathers, brothers and mums who had driven their daughters to the ground and were emotional [seeing them play].

"Mothers were literally crying to me and saying 'thank you for giving our girls the opportunity'.

"They've always had the talent, we've always wanted to do it but we've never been able to give girls a shot."

Opportunities for female athletes are increasing against the backdrop of a socially conservative nation.

Depending on location and privilege, women are either finding more opportunities to play, or are prevented from doing so due to it being seen to compromise their modesty.

A glance at the make-up of the national men's and women's cricket teams provides a snapshot of this.

Whereas a lot of the men's team hail from socially and economically conservative backgrounds, the women's team tend to come from wealthier families, who are much likelier to be liberal enough to not object to women playing sport.

Obaid, whose own family runs a successful textiles business, started Khelo Kricket in 2015 - first as a website aiming to cover and promote men's grassroots cricket in Pakistan.

Then she branched out, and Khelo hosted their own tournaments. Again, only for men.

"We weren't even aware there was a market [for women]," she explains.

However, that would change in the lead-up to the holy month of Ramadan in 2016.

Dusk-til-dawn cricket during Ramadan is a cultural staple in Pakistan. In Karachi in particular, every ground and street is booked out to allow for competitions to run through the night once fast is broken.

The kicker being, they are - or were - only for men.

"We were not sure if women would be allowed to play cricket at night," Obaid explains.

"The idea that girls are playing cricket from dusk till dawn is not something that you think of when you think of Pakistani women. Or any women playing cricket anywhere in the world."

Nevertheless Obaid threw the idea out there and was rewarded with immediate demand.

"Oh my god," she recalls with a laugh of the applications flooding in, "we've not

Pakistan are ninth in the ICC one-day international rankings, below Bangladesh and Thailand
With operations in full flow, Obaid had to limit the competition to four teams as they only had the ground for one night. She also had to deal with the criticism that came her way.

"I received a lot of backlash for my first two events," she explains. "I did them in Ramadan, it was 'blasphemy', 'how can girls play at night'? I don't care about those things.

"You don't want your daughters to play? Fine. But don't tell me that other girls don't want to play, because we're seeing the numbers grow."

Ramadan provided the opportunity for the tournaments to start, but demand would mean it soon grew further.

The initial tournament was held solely in Karachi in 2016, but from 2023 onwards Khelo Kricket has five scheduled tournaments a year featuring 10-12 teams across the country.

Matches are a maximum of 20 overs a side with some being tape ball - the most accessible version of the game where a tennis ball is wrapped in electric tape - and some hard ball. They are all, however, cricket.

"Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi are probably going to be the ones we're going to do," Obaid says.

"We also want to do one in Abbottabad or somewhere up north, because there's a lot of girls out there who are playing cricket, who keep messaging us and saying 'just one tournament, please, just give us that opportunity to play'."

'Giving girls a safe space to play cricket is amazing'
Local women's academies, who are helping to grow the game, make up many of the teams and with prize money on offer through sponsors of the competitions, the money won goes back into the academies in a self-styled funding ecosystem.

Already, the tournament has acted a pathway, with 21-year-old Pakistan fast bowler Fatima Sana, who debuted for her country in 2019, winning player of the tournament in the very first competition that was held.

"The first time she played," Obaid recalls, "I remember looking at her and thinking, this girl is incredible."

And she was right. In 2022, Sana was named the ICC Women's Emerging Cricketer of the Year.

"I met her when she was 12, so I've actually seen her over the years and to see how she got into the PCB system and where she's got to now is amazing.

"The fact we're able to give girls a platform, a safe space to play cricket, that's something that I will always think is amazing.

"And the fact that I've given them that fearless ability to play cricket at night, once a year, and have that fun, which was only reserved for boys, I think I'm proudest of that."

Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/64010532
Click to expand...

PCB should partner up with this entity if it is serious about hosting the women's psl.
 
Day 4 Wrap: Rwanda seal historic first World Cup win; New Zealand, England and West Indies march on

Rwanda made history as they defeated African counterparts Zimbabwe to record a famous first-ever major tournament victory on the fourth morning of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

Rwanda won a crucial encounter against Zimbabwe to bolster their chances of making it to the Super Six stage of the tournament.

Merveille Uwase (18 from 33) and Cynthia Tuyizere (30 from 44) were watchful yet solid in a partnership of 49, as Rwanda focussed on saving their wickets in the first 10 overs. An aggressive knock from skipper Gisele Ishimwe (34 from 23) guided them to a competitive total of 119/8.

Coming off a number of poor batting performances, Zimbabwe were immediately put under pressure by a disciplined Rwanda. By the 12th over, the asking rate had jumped to over eight runs an over.

After the settled Kelly Ndiraya (20 from 38) fell to a brilliant diving catch from Sylvia Usabyimana, Zimbabwe lost the plot and never came close to their target. Henriette Ishimwe ended their misery with a superb double hat-trick (4/13).

This is Rwanda’s first win at an ICC World Cup.

ENGLAND CRUISE PAST OUTGUNNED PAKISTAN

Grace Scrivens (24 from 21) and a quickfire 13 off 8 from Niamh Holland helped England get off to a quick start, but three powerplay wickets kept things in check for Pakistan.

However, Seren Smale (37 from 33) and Ryana Macdonald-Gay (35* from 22) lifted England to a decent first innings total of 156/7 that proved well out of Pakistan’s reach.

An extremely controlled bowling performance saw Pakistan fall way behind the run rate. Shawaal Zulfiqar (25 off 32) and Syeda Aroob Shah (34 from 36) made the most notable contributions with the bat, but all eight England bowlers returned tidy figures to ensure that the chase never picked up significant momentum.

Pakistan finished on 103/5, still 53 runs short, with Scrivens (1/9 from 3 overs), Hannah Baker (1/13 from 3) and Sophia Smale (2/10 from 3) the wicket-takers.

JAMES AND JOSEPH IMPRESS IN WEST INDIES WIN

Zaida James scored her second half-century of the tournament to set up a comfortable win for West Indies against a spirited Indonesia outfit.

James (55 from 37) and opening partner Shunelle Sawh (31 off 36) put on 95 for the first wicket, setting the platform for their side to reach a daunting total of 176/3 – with Trishan Holder doing some explosive late damage with a 14-ball 35*.

In reply, Indonesia gave it a decent go, with each of their top three reaching double figures as their teammates cheered on from the dugout, intent on enjoying the World Cup experience.

But such a chase was always likely to be out of their reach, and wickets soon tumbled.

James added a wicket in returns of 1/21 to add to her 55 runs in the game, yet it was Djenaba Joseph who was the standout performer with the ball. Joseph took 3/14 in her four overs and also produced one of three run-outs as Indonesia closed out their 20 overs on 99/9, still 77 runs short.

New Zealand down disappointing Ireland

Ireland collapsed on a good batting wicket to hand New Zealand an easy win.

Already weakened by the loss of skipper Amy Hunter due to an injury, Ireland's batters compounded their problem by losing four wickets, two of them to poor running between wickets, during the powerplay overs. The innings never recovered from this start as they were shot out for 95. Medium pacer Natasha Codyre (3/6) was the pick of New Zealand's bowlers.

The Kiwis made merry with the bat on a decent strip to chase down the target with 79 balls to spare. Having lost both their group games so far, Ireland will need to be at their best against Indonesia to make it to the next stage of the tournament.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/3025322
 
A hammering for Pak Women

PAKW 125/10 (43 ov)

AUSW 129/0 (19.2)

Australia Women won by 10 wickets (with 184 balls remaining)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Darcie Brown
 
Australia beat Pakistan by 10 wickets to take unassailable lead in three-match series

Brisbane, 18 January 2023: Australian women beat Pakistan women by 10 wickets at the Allan Border Field on Wednesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

This was Pakistan women’s team first series defeat in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 after they have won their previous two series held last year.

Chasing 126 to win, Australia’s opening batters Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield achieved the target in the 20th over. Litchfield who scored an unbeaten half-century for her side in the first ODI, returned unbeaten on 67 from 61 balls, hitting 10 boundaries. Wicketkeeper-batter Mooney scored 57 from 55 balls, which included six fours.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan lost their opening batter Sidra Amin in the second over with two runs on the board. Muneeba who went for naught in the first match was joined by captain Bismah and the pair added 41 runs for the second wicket before Muneeba perished for 18 off 41 balls which included three fours.

The previous match half-centurion for Pakistan, Nida Dar again showed some resistance in the middle before she ran herself out at the non-striking end. She scored 24 off 38 balls, which included two fours. Bismah was other contributor with the bat scoring 21 off 46 balls, hitting one four.

For Australia, player of the match right-arm fast Darcie Brown took three wickets for 32, while Annabel Sutherland and Alana King bagged two wickets apiece.

Both sides will now feature in the third ODI scheduled to take place at the North Sydney Oval in Sydney on Saturday, 21 January 2023.

Scores in brief:

Australia women beat Pakistan women by 10 wickets

Pakistan Women 125 all out, 43 overs (Nida Dar 24, Bismah Maroof 21; Darcie Brown 3-32, Annabel Sutherland 2-13, Alana King 2-25)

Australia Women 129-0, 19.2 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 67, Beth Mooney 57)

Player of the match – Darcie Brown (Australia)

PCB
 
With the group stages now completed, the ICC Under19 Women’s T20 World Cup is heating up, as twelve teams move on to the Super Sixes stage. Sixteen teams arrived in South Africa, with Scotland, United States of America (USA), Zimbabwe and Indonesia eliminated from the tournament proper.

Those four teams, who have each contributed to this inaugural tournament in unique fashion, will get an opportunity to bid farewell to South Africa on Friday, 20 January.

USA will face Scotland, while Zimbabwe and Indonesia lock horns in a final bid to leave the tournament on a high. Those will be the final fixtures in Benoni, as the Super Sixes and the decisive clashes will be hosted in Potchefstroom.

Qualification for the Super Sixes is determined by log standings. Each team in the Super Sixes takes the points won against the other qualifiers in their group through to the Super Sixes stage.

Group A winners Bangladesh, England (Group B), New Zealand (Group C) and India (Group D) are all moving onto the next stage with maximum points (4). Runners up Australia (Group A), Pakistan (Group B), West Indies (Group C) and South Africa (Group D) each take two points with them into the Super Sixes, by virtue of beating the third-placed teams.

Those teams are: Sri Lanka (Group A), Rwanda (B), Ireland (C) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (D). Each of these teams are in the Super Sixes but start this next phase with no log points.

Qualifiers from the original Group A and D will play in one Super Six group, while Groups B and C are now paired together for this next stage.

Teams will face opposition from groups they were not in but will not play against those who finished the group stage in the same log position. Therefore, Group winners Bangladesh (A) and India (D) will not play against each other, though they are in the same Super Sixes group.

The same applies for runners-up such as Pakistan (B) and West Indies (C), who are now in one group, but will not face each other.

Each team will play two fixtures in the Super Sixes, with the top two sides in both groups qualifying for the semi-finals on 27 January.

The final is scheduled for 29 January.

Fixtures:

20 January

USA v Scotland (10am)

Zimbabwe v Indonesia (1:45pm)


Super Sixes:

21 January

Ireland v England (10am)
Rwanda v New Zealand (10am)
Bangladesh v South Africa (1:45pm)
India v Australia (1:45pm)


22 January

India v Sri Lanka (1:45pm)
West Indies v Rwanda (1:45pm)


23 January

UAE v Australia (1:45pm)
Pakistan v Ireland (1:45pm)


24 January

New Zealand v Pakistan (1:45pm)
South Africa v Sri Lanka (1:45pm)


25 January

England v West Indies (1:45pm)
UAE v Bangladesh (1:45pm)


27 January

Semi-final 1 (10am)
Semi-final 2 (1:45pm)


29 January

Final (1:45pm)
 
Here's how the standings look heading into the Super Six stage of #U19T20WorldCup 2023

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McLeod half-century keeps Rwanda at bay in Super Sixes

New Zealand were forced to work hard for their victory, but they eventually prevailed by four wickets, defeating plucky Rwanda in their opening Super Sixes fixture in the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Potchefstroom on Saturday.

The East Africans won the toss and elected to bat first, keen to set the Kiwis a testing target.

They didn’t make the best of starts, Merveille Uwase was smartly stumped by Izzy Gaze in the first over bowled by Olivia Anderson, before a run had been scored. Fellow opener Cynthia Tuyizere (3) didn’t last much longer, and it was up to Gisele Ishimwe and Henriette Ishimwe to repair the damage.

That they did, thanks to Gisele (27 from 28 balls, three boundaries) who played more freely than Henriette (30 from 46 balls, four boundaries). Belise Murekatete swiped a four and a six to make 14 from 12 balls, but the Kiwis kept the rate under control.

Anderson picked up two for 21, while Kate Chandler’s leg-spin was good for two for 21. Rwanda had to settle for 95 for seven in their allotted overs.

The chase by New Zealand was steady, if not spectacular. They also lost two wickets upfront, slipping to nine for two inside the first couple of overs. Rosine Irera did the early damage, trapping Georgia Plimmer (9) in front and then having Gaze caught and bowled without scoring.

Emma McLeod then took it upon herself to change the course of the contest. She carted two sixes and nine boundaries, as she sped to 59 from 39 balls.

Izzy Sharp (11 from 24 balls) hung around while McLeod made merry. Though both fell before the last rites, the heavy lifting had been done. McLeod became Irera’s third victim of the day - also trapped leg-before – but it counted for little by that point.

Chandler (7 not out) and Abigail Hotton saw the Kiwis home, as they went to six points in the Super Sixes standings, leaving them in a strong position to make it into the semi-finals.

Scores in brief:

Toss: Rwanda, who elected to bat first.

Rwanda 95 for seven in 20 overs (Henriette Ishimwe 30, Gisele Ishimwe 27, Olivia Anderson two for 21, Kate Chandler two for 21)

New Zealand 99 for six in 16.1 overs (Emma McLeod 59, Izzy Sharp 11, Rosine Irera three for 17)

New Zealand won by six wickets.
 
The second day of Super Six action saw Rwanda stun West Indies, while India dominated with the ball and secured a big win in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

Ever-improving Rwanda down West Indies

Toss: West Indies won the toss and chose to bat

Result: Rwanda won by four wickets

Rwanda snared their second big scalp of the U19 World Cup as they got the better of West Indies.

Disciplined bowling from Rosine Irera and Henriette Ishimwe frustrated West Indies openers as they were kept to 11/0 in the first four overs. Hereafter, leg-spinners Zurufat Ishimwe (2/20) and Sylvia Usabyimana (4/20) utilised the wicket’s turn by pitching the ball up.

They were aided by some erratic batting aimed at upping the scoring rate, reducing the batting team to 49/5 at the halfway stage. Two West Indies batters were stumped in their pursuit of dominating the spinners.

The introduction of Marie Tumukunde (4/8) in the 11th over further helped the West Indies slide, the team were 58/8 after 12.3 overs. West Indies were eventually bowled out for 70.

In contrast to Rwanda, West Indies backed their pacers during the Powerplay overs. This bore immediate rewards, with Jahzara Claxton (1/16) and Jannillea Glasgow (1/16) reducing the African team to 13/2.

Cynthia Tuyizere (12 from 21) and Gisele Ishimwe (31* from 53) gave the batting team some stability with a partnership of 19, but the West Indies spinners wreaked havoc in the middle overs. Rwanda slipped from a stable 32/2 to 40/6 in a space of 22 balls.

Hereafter, Gisele and Irera (8* from 14) kept their calm and helped Rwanda overhaul the target. Their intentful running was assisted by a few errors on the field by West Indies.


Chopra spins India to big win in important game

Toss: India won the toss and chose to bowl

Result: India won by seven wickets

After a difficult game against Australia yesterday, India came back with a resounding win against Sri Lanka to boost their chances of making the semi-finals.

India got off to a dream start, with Titas Sadhu (1/10) and Mannat Kashyap (2/16) reducing Sri Lanka to 8/2 within the first two overs. The duo bowled probing lengths through the Powerplay overs, restricting Sri Lanka’s scoring options while also inducing mistakes. Kashyap got rid of Dewmi Wijerathne (2 from 10) in the sixth over to ensure that India were in the driving seat at the end of powerplay overs.

It was all Parshavi Chopra (4/5) in the middle overs as the leggie ripped apart Sri Lanka’s middle order to leave them reeling at 44/7. Tight bowling in the death overs meant that Sri Lanka were 59/9 at the end of their innings.

In pursuit, India put their foot on the pedal from the first ball. Shafali Verma (15 from 10) and Richa Ghosh (4 from 2) went for their shots and lost their wickets in the process.

This didn’t alter India’s approach, and they knocked off the runs in 7.2 overs. Soumya Tiwari (28* from 15) was India’s highest scorer, as Wijerathne (3/34) was the only Sri Lanka bowler to make her mark.

Post this result, India sit atop Group 1 of Super Six with a NRR of +2.844.

ICC
 
Pakistan earn crucial win in women’s U19 T20 World Cup

Potchefstroom, 23 January 2023:

Pakistan continued their impressive run in the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup when they defeated Ireland by seven wickets in a crucial Super Six Stage Group-2 match here on Monday.

Set a victory target of 114, Pakistan raced to victory for the loss of three wickets with 15 balls to spare. After defeating Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the preliminary round matches, this was Pakistan’s first win in the Super Six stage and they will now play their second match against New Zealand on Tuesday. If Pakistan beat New Zealand, they will significantly enhance their chances of progressing to the semifinals.

In-form Eyman Fatima scored a 17-ball 25 with four fours and a six and Shawaal Zulfiqar contributed 18 from 20 balls with three fours. However, both fell on successive balls as Pakistan slipped to 44 for two in 6.1 overs.

At that stage, captain Syeda Aroob Shah rose to the occasion and spearheaded Pakistan’s run-chase. She was the third batter out at the score of 100 in the 15th over when 14 runs were required in just over four overs. Aroob scored 35 from 25 balls with four fours.

Warda Yousaf struck the winning boundary and returned unbeaten on 24, while Laiba Nasir was seven not out.

Earlier, Anoosha Nasir took two for 17 and Rida Aslam bagged two for 26 as Ireland scored 113 for seven in their 20 overs. Ireland’s score revolved around Annabel Squires, who scored 55 not out from 52 balls with five fours.

Scores in brief:

Ireland U19 Women 113-7, 20 overs (Annabel Squires 55 not out; Anoosha Nasir 2-17, Rida Aslam 2-26)

Pakistan U19 Women 117-3, 17.3 overs (Syeda Aroob Shah 35, Eyman Fatima 25, Warda Yousaf 24 not out, Shawaal Zulfiqar 18)

Player of the match – Anoosha Nasir (Pakistan)
 
Australia beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the first T20I

Australia women beat Pakistan women by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series at the North Sydney Oval in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon.

Chasing 119 to win, the home side achieved the target in the 14th over with eight wickets in hand. Opening batter Ellyse Perry top-scored for her side with an unbeaten 57 off 40 balls, hitting seven fours and one six. Ashleign Gardner coming to bat at number four returned undefeated on 30 off 19 balls, which included three fours and one six. The pair added an unbroken 64 runs for the third wicket.

For the visiting team spinners Nida Dar and Sadia Iqbal bagged a wicket each.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan were bowled out for 118 on the final ball of the 20th over. Opening pair of Javeria Khan and Muneeba Ali provided a 27-run start before Muneeba (eight, 12b, 1x4) was bowled by Perry on the second ball of the fifth over.

Captain Bismah Maroof (one off two) was caught behind playing on the leg side off Megan Schutt in the final over of the batting powerplay. Sadaf Shamas making her T20I debut couldn’t make it a memorable one as she returned back to the hut for naught in the same over.

Experienced Javeria playing her 109th T20I match completed her 2,000 T20I runs but perished for 16 in the seventh over of the innings with Pakistan struggling at 32 for four. Nida Dar (eight off nine, 1x4) was next to go with leg-spinner Alana King taking a brilliant one handed return catch off her own bowling as Pakistan were five down with 57 runs on the board in the 11th over.

That Pakistan managed to score 118 – their second highest total against Australia in Australia was largely due to Omaima Sohail (30, 36b, 2x4) and Ayesha Naseem (24, 20b, 1x4, 3x6). The pair knitted a 37-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

For Australia, Schutt took her maiden five-wicket haul in the T20Is, with match figures of 4-1-15-5. Perry and King took two wickets apiece.

Australia and Pakistan will feature in the second T20I on Thursday, 26 January at the Blundstone Arena, Hobart. The game will start at 1905 (local time) with the toss taking place at 1835.

Scores in brief:

Australia women beat Pakistan women by eight wickets

Pakistan Women 118 all out, 20 overs (Omaima Sohail 30, Ayesha Naseem 24, Javeria Khan 16; Megan Schutt 5-15, Ellyse Perry 2-3, Alana King 2-16)

Australia Women 119-2, 13.4 overs (Ellyse Perry 57 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 30 not out)

Player of the match – Megan Schutt (Australia)

PCB
 
England stun Australia with astonishing comeback to reach World Cup final

Toss: England won the toss and chose to bat first

Result: England won by 3 runs

A remarkable late finish saw Australia get to within one boundary of sealing their spot in the World Cup final.

But England captain Grace Scrivens snatched the win from Australia's grasp with a plumb lbw to bag the tenth wicket, completing a superb team bowling performance.

Top-order wickets tumbled at the start of the match as England slipped to 45/7 inside the first ten overs, with Ella Hayward taking two scalps in the sixth over and Sianna Ginger bagging a brace in the ninth.

The departure of the dangerous Scrivens for a run-a-ball 20 seemed to set things decisively in Australia’s favour, but the English tail wagged to drag them up to enough of a score to keep the game alive.

A decent partnership between Alexa Stonehouse (25) and Josie Groves (15) gave the English a chance, with the final wicket falling with just one ball remaining and the score on 99.

Ginger, Hayward and Maggie Clark all finished with three wickets apiece, as Australia severely limited a previously powerful English batting line-up.

Two early wickets in the chase set the game up beautifully, as Ellie Anderson had Kate Pelle out caught in the first over, and Alexa Stonehouse held on to a return catch to dismiss Ginger in the second over.

But Australia’s steady recovery seemed to have them on the way to a relatively comfortable win, with Claire Moore (20), Hayward (16) and Amy Smith (26) putting a decent dent in the target.

However, England’s bowlers had other ideas, and a run of three wickets in seven balls left Australia reeling at 59/7 and with plenty of work still to do.

Smith, Emma Wilson and Milly Illingworth eased Australia to within single figures of the target, but a brilliant run-out by Ryana Macdonald-Gay left the Aussies with just one wicket remaining and four runs still required.

And, after a nervous stretch of seven consecutive dot balls, captain Scrivens struck to spark jubilant scenes from the English fielders.

Scrivens finished with 2/8 from 3.4 overs, while Hannah Baker’s outstanding 3/10 from four overs was the pick of the rest in a superb team bowling performance.

England will now face India in Sunday’s final.

ICC
 
India vs England .. I doubt we will win.. but should give it their best!
 
India Women U19 vs England Women U19, Final


India Women U19 have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

India Women U19 (Playing XI): Shafali Verma(c), Shweta Sehrawat, Soumya Tiwari, Gongadi Trisha, Richa Ghosh(w), Hrishita Basu, Titas Sadhu, Mannat Kashyap, Archana Devi, Parshavi Chopra, Sonam Yadav

England Women U19 (Playing XI): Grace Scrivens(c), Liberty Heap, Niamh Fiona Holland, Seren Smale(w), Ryana Macdonald Gay, Charis Pavely, Alexa Stonehouse, Sophia Smale, Josie Groves, Ellie Anderson, Hannah Baker

==

ENGWU19 16/3 (4.3) CRR: 3.56
 
JattMaula said:
We win!


:aag
Click to expand...

Congratulations!

ENGWU19 68 (17.1)

INDWU19 69/3 (14)

India Women U19 won by 7 wkts

==

India have made history as they clinched the inaugural U19 Women's U19 T20 World Cup by defeating England by seven wickets.

Chasing a target of 69, India reached the target in 14 overs losing only three wickets.

Earlier, India's bowling attack, led by pace sensation Titas Sadhu and leg-spinner Parshavi Chopra, dished out a superlative performance to bundle out England for 68.

While Sadhu returned with impressive figures of 4-0-6-2, Chopra too gave ample display of her prowess as she snapped two for 13. Archana Devi also scalped 2 for 17, while Mannat Kashyap (1/13), Shafali Verma (1/16) and Sonam Yadav (1/3) accounted for one wicket each.

NDTV
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">U-19 World Cup Champions! What a special moment! Congratulations girls on your triumph &#55356;&#57286;&#55356;&#56814;&#55356;&#56819;</p>— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1619711687795544064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Shafali shouldn’t have been playing..she already has International exposure.. irrespective good to win.
 
JaDed said:
Shafali shouldn’t have been playing..she already has International exposure.. irrespective good to win.
Click to expand...

Almost all teams had international pros. And real world cup is in SA in few days. Perfect practice.
 
JaDed said:
Shafali shouldn’t have been playing..she already has International exposure.. irrespective good to win.
Click to expand...

Don't forget Richa Gosh also has played 47 international games. Anyways there surely were other teams with international players. Women's team don't have a huge pool of cricketers like men. This is bound to happen.
 
The inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup is now complete, and India have been crowned as the first -ever champions after beating England in the final held in Potchefstroom on Sunday. Throughout the tournament, the 16 participating teams have provided incredible performances, led by brilliant individual displays.

The selection panel featured commentators and former international cricketers, Lydia Greenway, Stacy-Ann King and Julia Price as well as journalist, Kalyani Mangale and ICC Women’s Cricket Manager, Snehal Pradhan, who led as Convenor. The chosen squad will be led by England’s Grace Scrivens, whose all-round skills and leadership qualities have been a feature in England’s run to the final.

Her destructive 93 against Ireland, as well as 56 against the West Indies, were her big highlights with the bat. With ball in hand, she was nerveless and there was no better example than the calm manner in which she closed out the semi-final against Australia.

India’s winning skipper, Shafali Verma, makes a more than capable inclusion into the team with her unflappable manner and composure at the crease. She offered control with the ball but could also get on with it when she had to – as she proved with her unforgettable 45 not out from 16 balls against South Africa.

The top-order also sees India rock Shweta Sehrawat rewarded for a fortnight of fine batting. Her 92 against South Africa in their opener, as well as 61 not out in the semi-final against New Zealand underlined her class, but she was a constant source of runs and stability.

New Zealand’s Georgia Plimmer is also recognized in the top-order, after a series of sparkling knocks to propel her side to the last four. Her 53 off 38 balls against Pakistan was a stand-out contribution, and she also scored an important 41 against West Indies.

Sri Lanka’s Dewmi Vihanga’s consistency with the ball saw her win a slot in the middle-order of the side. Her best was three for 11 against the United States of America (USA), but she was constantly probing with the ball. She also made useful runs in the middle-order.

Bangladesh star Shorna Akter was a tower of strength for her side, mixing aggression with the ball, tenacity on the field and a calm head under pressure. She completes the middle-order, with livewire, South African wicketkeeper Karabo Meso behind the stumps.

Often heard before she was seen, Meso displayed excellent glovework, especially up to the stumps. She also had the knack for scoring important runs, such as her 32 off 30 balls against Bangladesh in the Super Six stage.

The spin twins for the Team of the Tournament are Parshavi Chopra (India) and Hannah Baker (England). Both have the full bag of tricks, and wonderful control at this stage of their careers. They took wickets and asked questions every time they got the ball in their hands.

England’s Ellie Anderson delivered the best figures of the tournament, with her burst of five for 12 against the West Indies. Direct, but with good variations, she is perfectly partnered with Australia’s Maggie Clark to take the new ball.

Clark was the spearhead for the Aussies, often striking with the new ball to set the tone. Her three for 20 against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was her tournament best, but she contributed to every contest, underlying her value to the team.

The 12th player, and a worthy replacement if needed, is Pakistan spinner, Anosha Nasir. She brings delightful left-arm spin variation to the party, with deft control of flight and pace.

ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Team of the Tournament: Shweta Sehrawat (India), Grace Scrivens (England, captain), Shafali Verma (India), Georgia Plimmer (New Zealand), Dewmi Vihanga (Sri Lanka), Shorna Akter (Bangladesh), Karabo Meso (South Africa), Parshavi Chopra (India), Hannah Baker (England), Ellie Anderson (England), Maggie Clark (Australia).

12th player, Anosha Nasir (Pakistan).
 
Both Men's and Women's under-19 team are title holders at the same time? Wonder if this has been achieved before by either England or Australia.
 
Ireland pulled off a shock win over reigning champions Australia in a topsy-turvy day of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches.

England emerged with two warm-up wins from two by beating New Zealand, and the West Indies clung on to defeat Sri Lanka in Cape Town.

India proved too strong for Bangladesh as they recorded a 52-run victory, while hosts South Africa powered to a six-wicket win over Pakistan.

Ireland pull off surprise

Orla Prendergast put on a fine all-round display as Ireland chased down 169 runs to defeat Australia by three wickets to head into the World Cup on a high.

The right-arm medium-pacer dismissed opener Beth Mooney for a first-ball duck on her way to figures of two for 19 from her four overs.

Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath then combined for a 135-run stand which ended with McGrath retiring on 56 to give other batters time in the middle, with Healy following suit having reached 62.

Ellyse Perry’s 40 not out from 20 balls steered Australia to 168 for three, which Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis gave Ireland a fast start in chasing down, putting on 39 runs in 3.5 overs.

Lewis’s dismissal brought Prendergast to the crease whose 26 from 15 runs gave Ireland fresh impetus before Laura Delany’s top score of 32 helped to see Ireland home with two balls to spare.

England go two from two

England went undefeated from their two warm-up matches with a five-wicket win over New Zealand.

Having been put in to bat, Suzie Bates led New Zealand’s charge with 36 runs from 35 balls, but the veteran struggled to build a partnership after the returning Sophie Devine was dismissed with the White Ferns on 33 for one.

Sophie Ecclestone took three wickets for 19 to limit New Zealand to 114 for nine from their 20 overs, which proved no match for England.

Sophia Dunkley crashed 60 runs from 38 balls to bat through the innings as England chased down their target in 13.5 overs.

Alice Capsey impressed with 28 runs as she continued to prove her fitness after undergoing surgery on her broken collarbone in December.

South Africa head to opener with a win

South Africa will open the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with a win under their belt as they defeated Pakistan by six wickets.

After winning the toss, Aliya Riaz was the star of the show for Pakistan making 48 from 30 balls as her side set hosts South Africa 143 to win.

Ayesha Naseem provided useful runs late on as she scored 21 runs from 12 balls before she was dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka who took two for 23.

Fresh from moving up to second in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s Rankings for T20I Bowlers, Nonkululeko Mlaba took one for 16 from her four overs.

Laura Wolvaardt headlined South Africa’s response making 65 in an 107-run opening partnership with Tazmin Brits.

Brits went on to make 36, before a mini-collapse left South Africa on 116 for four as Anneke Bosch and Sune Luus both fell for three runs.

Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk guided the Proteas home with 10 balls to spare to send South Africa to Newlands in a buoyant mood.

West Indies secure narrow victory

The West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets with just two balls to spare in a see-sawing low-scoring thriller.

Sri Lanka stuttered on their way to posting 107 all out from their 20 overs, with only Nilakshi Silva able to deliver with the bat.

Silva arrived with Sri Lanka two for 29 after 5.2 overs, scoring 29 off 26 balls to help steer her side to a modest total.

Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kaveesha Dilhari each made 16 but seven scores under double figures, including for captain Chamari Athapaththu, continued to halt their progress.

After taking three for 17 with the ball, captain Hayley Matthews gave the West Indies the perfect batting platform with a fifty before she was run out by some brilliant glovework from Anushka Sanjeewani.

The Windies then slipped to five for 76 before Chinelle Henry steered her side home alongside Afy Fletcher.

Ghosh stars in India’s triumph

Richa Ghosh scored the highest innings of the warm-ups with a fabulous 91 not out from 56 balls crunching three fours and nine sixes to set India up for a 52-run victory over Bangladesh.

The wicket-keeper batter put on 92 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues who made 41 from 27 before being dismissed by Jahanara Alam.

Alam was expensive in her four overs, going for 54 as she faced the brunt of Ghosh’s hitting as India reach 183 for five.

In reply, Bangladesh put up a good fight, thanks in part to captain Nigar Sultana’s 40 from 36 balls, but their tail wagged in the face of fierce bowling from India.

Murshida Khatun had got Bangladesh off on a strong note as she made a run-a-ball 32 before Devika Vaidya took two for 21.

Bangladesh fell 52 runs short in their chase, ending on 131 for eight from their 20 runs but showed improvement from their opening loss to Pakistan.

Scores in brief

Ireland beat Australia at Coetenzburg Oval, Stellenbosch by three wickets

Australia 168/3 in 20 overs (Alyssa Healy 62, Tahlia McGrath 56; Orla Prendergast 2/19, Arlene Kelly 1/17)

Ireland 169/7 in 19.4 overs (Laura Delany 32, Amy Hunter 26; Megan Schutt 2/16, Alana King 2/25)

England beat New Zealand at Western Province Cricket Ground, Cape Town by five wickets

New Zealand 114/9 in 20 overs (Suzie Bates 36, Amelia Kerr 24; Sophie Ecclestone 3/19, Kate Cross 2/10)

England 118/5 in 13.5 overs (Sophia Dunkley 60 not out, Alice Capsey 28; Hayley Jensen 2/20, Amelia Kerr 2/24)

South Africa beat Pakistan at Boland Park, Paarl by six wickets

Pakistan 142/5 in 20 overs (Aliya Riaz 48 not out, Ayesha Naseem 21; Ayabonga Khaka 2/23, Nonkululeko Mlaba 1/16)

South Africa 143/4 in 18.2 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 65, Tazmin Brits 36; Aliya Riaz 2/24, Sadia Iqbal 3/22)

West Indies beat Sri Lanka at Western Province Cricket Ground, Cape Town by four wickets

Sri Lanka 107 all out in 20 overs (Nilakshi Silva 29, Harshitha Samarawickrama 16; Hayley Matthews 3/17, Afy Fletcher 2/13)

West Indies111/6 in 19.4 overs (Hayley Matthews 46)

India beat Bangladesh at Coetzenburg Oval, Stellenbosch by 52 runs

India 183/5 in 20 overs (Richa Ghosh 91 not out, Jemimah Rodrigues 41; Nahida Akter 2/24, Salma Khatun 1/18)

Bangladesh 131/8 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 40, Murshida Khatun 32; Devika Vaidya 2/21, Shafali Verma 1/13)

ICC
 
Stage set for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to savour


The wait is almost over. One thousand and sixty-eight days have passed since Australia defeated India in front of a sold-out Melbourne Cricket Ground to lift the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 and just one more remains until the battle to be crowned 2023 champions begins.

First-time hosts South Africa get the party started against Sri Lanka at Newlands on Friday, the first of 23 eagerly-anticipated matches which will decide who sits on top of the world come February 26 back at the iconic Cape Town venue.

Ahead of the first ball being bowled, here’s a look what lies in store…

The contenders

The world has changed almost immeasurably since Australia won their fifth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup but the reigning champions’ status as the team to beat has remained a constant.

They may have stumbled against Ireland in a warm-up match this week but Meg Lanning’s side have remarkable depth and have been in imperious form in recent times, losing just once – via a super over – in the past 13 months.

Beaten finalists in 2020, India will be eager to go one better and lift this trophy for the first time. They have become used to conditions during a recent tri-series against South Africa and West Indies and include two members of the squad who are fresh from winning the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.

England, who won a hard-fought T20I series against India last summer, will hope to go deep while fellow 2020 semi-finalists South Africa have home advantage behind them.

New Zealand arrive in good spirits having enjoyed dominant series wins over two teams for whom the knockout stages would represent success, West Indies and Bangladesh, in recent months.

Sri Lanka go in search of building on their run to the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final but have not played since that final, Pakistan and Bangladesh are looking to qualify from the group stage for the first time and Ireland are back for the first time since 2018.


Players to Watch

Beth Mooney picked up Player of the Tournament honours in 2020 and remains a consistent source of runs at the top of the Australian order, while all-rounder Tahlia McGrath has become a key cog in their machine.

India’s Smriti Mandhana and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt each have cover drives to turn heads in their armoury and are likely to be in the leading run-scorer conversation, along with the evergreen and in-form Suzie Bates of New Zealand.

England have been boosted by a seamless return to the international arena for Nat Sciver-Brunt, among the game’s leading all-rounders, and her teammate Sophie Ecclestone arrives ranked top of the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s Rankings for T20I Bowlers.

Ecclestone’s fellow left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba looks ready to shine on home turf and, at 22, is one of several young stars aiming to make a name for themselves.

That list also includes eighteen-year-old duo Marufa Akter, Bangladesh’s exciting seamer, and hard-hitting Pakistan batter Ayesha Naseem, while Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis already has eight years of international experience behind her at the age of just 21.

Harshitha Samarawickrama is among Sri Lanka’s brightest hopes while West Indies will need experienced all-rounders Hayley Matthews – so influential when they won this competition in 2016 – and Stafanie Taylor to be at their best if they are to go far.


Key Matches

Group A stages several early blockbusters, with New Zealand set to give Australia a tough start to the defence of their trophy on February 11 before the White Ferns take on South Africa two days later in a match set to be crucial to both sides’ chances of qualification.

World Cup matches between India and Pakistan are never dull and February 12 is the date for the latest episode in Group B. India’s clash with England on February 18, meanwhile, could be pivotal in deciding who tops the group.

The semi-finals take place on February 23 and 24 before the final on February 26, with all three knockout games at Newlands to conclude what looks set to be a tournament to savour.
 
Sri Lanka claimed a famous three-run victory over hosts South Africa at Newlands on opening night of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

Captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front with a wonderful 68 from 50 balls, her nation’s highest-ever individual score at the showpiece tournament.

Having set South Africa 130 to win, Athapaththu’s spinners took control with guile and discipline to secure a first T20I victory over the Proteas since 2016.

Sri Lanka made a slow start, eking four runs out of the first three overs, but Athapaththu soon hit her stride and carved back-to-back fours off Nonkululeko Mlaba.

Opener Harshitha Samarawickrama was far less fluent and her struggles came to an end when she chipped Nadine de Klerk to midwicket to depart for eight from 20 balls.

Now joined by 17-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne, Athapaththu didn’t take a backward step and took De Klerk for five boundaries in nine balls.

Vishmi took time to settle but matched her skipper’s stroke play, lap-sweeping Mlaba to the rope and then hacking Shabnim Ismail for three fours in an over on her return to the attack.

Athapaththu and Vishmi put on 86 for the second wicket, Sri Lanka’s highest partnership for any wicket at the T20 World Cup, but they departed abruptly in successive balls.

Vishmi took a single to short cover that wasn’t there, run out by Tazmin Brits for 35, before Athapaththu perished to long leg for a superb 68 to leave her side on 114 for three.

Ismail yorked Nilakshi de Silva in the penultimate over to slow Sri Lanka right down and Marizanne Kapp conceded only five from the last as South Africa were set 130 to win.

The hosts made a steady start, stymied when Tazmin Brits was struck on the helmet by the fifth ball of the reply, twice passing concussion tests from team doctors.

Off-spinner Oshadi Ranasinghe joined up four dot balls in the penultimate powerplay over and Brits found extra cover to depart for 12.

Marizanne Kapp offered stability but Sri Lanka claimed the Proteas’ prize scalp in the eight over when she holed out to Nilakshi de Silva at long leg off Inoka Ranaweera, dismissed for 11 at 44 for one.

Ranaweera struck again and the South African slide continued when Laura Wolvaardt top-edged a sweep onto her shoulder, pouched by Ranasinghe to go for 18.

Chloe Tryon curbed her natural attacking instincts early on and chose the wrong ball to climb into, mistiming a leg-side slog and De Silva was steady under the catch once again.

Left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari struck once more in the same over when Anneke Bosch dragged on, leaving South Africa in disarray at 72 for five.

Proteas captain Sune Luus was left standing amid the wreckage and as the required rate climbed north of 10, she launched Ranasinghe over the long-on boundary.

Two balls later De Klerk tried the same but could only find the grasp of that fielder De Silva again, the hosts with it all to do at 95 for six.

The superb Ranaweera got the crucial wicket in the penultimate over, enticing Luus out of her crease for Anushka Sanjeewani to whip off the bails.

Sinalo Jafta and Ismail were both run out in the closing stages to sink South African hopes.

Scores in brief

Sri Lanka beat South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town by three runs

Sri Lanka 129 for four in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 68, Vishmi Gunaratne 35; Nadine De Klerk 1/38, Marizanne Kapp 1/15)

South Africa 126 for nine in 20 overs (Sune Luus 28, Laura Wolvaardt 18; Inoka Ranaweera 3/18, Oshadi Ranasinghe 2/20)

Player of the Match: Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
 
Kanitkar: India-Pakistan is the match you dream of


India head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar has no interest in playing down the magnitude of his side's latest duel with Pakistan.

Few matches in sport set pulses raising more than this and the Group B tussle promises to the set the tone for the tournament in South Africa.

Runners-up at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, India are hoping to go one better this time round.

Kanitkar knows all too well the significance of this fixture, having hit the winning runs for India against Pakistan in the Independence Cup final in 1998, and he says that his side need no further motivation ahead of their tournament opener.

“The team is really looking forward to it and I don’t blame them,” said Kanitkar.

“When you are growing up you want to play in World Cups and play against strong teams and arch-rivals.

“These are all things you look forward to doing. Most of our team have played against Pakistan in the past, so they know what to expect and what the atmosphere is like.

“It’s also one of the privileges of playing international cricket that you can play matches like this.

“Everyone is up for it and everyone is looking forward to it. We feel we are totally prepared for whatever happens and we have a good, confident team.”

India will however be without star batter Smriti Mandhana, who has been ruled out with a finger injury, though Kanitkar said that she is likely to be available for India’s second fixture against the West Indies on Wednesday.

Injuries are bound to be a factor throughout the tournament, and one player who Kanitkar believes will shine if given the opportunity is Richa Ghosh, who starred with the bat and gloves during India's success at the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2023.

“She’s an exciting prospect and I think she has a good future in front of her,” said Kanitkar.

“She continues to work hard, so if all goes well and she maintains the right attitude, the sky's the limit for her.”

One player who knows how to deal with the big occasion is Pakistan captain, Bismah Maroof, who became the all-time leading run scorer for her country in both ODI and T20I formats last summer.

Bismah played down the significance of the occasion and insists that the Women in Green see this fixture as the first step on the road to the final.

“We don’t see the social media, the news, we try to not see such stuff and instead to be in the present moment with our team and enjoy it as a group,” she said.

"I think it’s key that we do that. It’s important to realise the players we have and how they can impact the game individually, and we’ll be backing ourselves.

“Our spinning department is always a strength, so we like to back them and hopefully put up a good show.

“They are a very good side but we will try to play to our strengths.”
 
Fearless England cantered to a seven-wicket win over West Indies in a commanding start to their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.

Heather Knight’s side promised aggression in the build-up to the tournament and walked the walk in chasing down 136 with 33 balls to spare.

The 135-7 mustered by West Indies, bolstered by a fine 42 from captain Hayley Matthews, never looked sufficient as world No.1 T20I bowler Sophie Ecclestone snaffled three for 23.

The Windies chose to bat and Lauren Bell’s jagging inswing caused them early headaches in Paarl’s broiling 38-degree heat.

The returning Stafanie Taylor was given out LBW on-field with the last ball of the opening over, a decision overturned on referral.

Matthews got the measure of Bell in the seamer’s erratic second over - twice piercing the off-side field.

She struck eight fours in the powerplay to guide the Windies to 47 without loss, the first time in 20 T20Is that they have reached the six-over mark without losing a wicket.

Taylor never looked convincing and was outfoxed by the flight of Sarah Glenn’s second ball, trapped in front for three from 14 balls, this time squandering one of her team’s reviews.

England got the crucial wicket of Matthews in the 11th over when she was deceived by Sophie Ecclestone’s drift and given out LBW.

Shemaine Campbelle played sensibly in an anchor role but she lost partner Shabika Gajnabi at 70 for three, run out by Alice Capsey when turning for a tight second.

Campbelle ticked up to 34 at a run-a-ball but her promising fourth-wicket stand was broken when she nicked Katherine Sciver-Brunt behind, Amy Jones taking a sharp catch.

England took back control in that 17th over with Knight running out Chinelle Henry two balls later and two wickets fell to Ecclestone in the penultimate over.

In reply Dunkley and Danni Wyatt came out firing, the former taking 17 runs from a single Matthews over, but the latter soon perished for 11, caught in the deep on the off side.

Dunkley pressed on undeterred, reaching 34 from 17 balls, but was dismissed when Henry took a reflex return catch.

England doubled down on their aggressive approach, Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt going hard from the off, before Capsey was out stumped on the charge for 13.

The Nat and Knight partnership that has borne such fruit for England saw them from 71 for three all the way home, a 67 stand for the fourth wicket laced with leg-side boundaries.

Scores in brief

England beat West Indies at Boland Park, Paarl by seven wickets

West Indies 135 for seven in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 42, Shemaine Campbelle 34; Sophie Ecclestone 3/23, Sarah Glenn 1/20)

England 138 for three in 14.3 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 40 not out, Sophia Dunkley 34; Chenille Henry 2/30, Afy Fletcher 1/22)

Player of the Match: Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
 
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Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner starred as Australia overran New Zealand by 97 runs to jumpstart their defence of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Healy looked a million dollars for her 55, her highest score in the format since the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final, as Australia racked up 173/9.

The White Ferns lost Suzie Bates with the first ball of their reply and they were rolled for 76 in 14 overs.

Gardner was the chief destroyer with a sublime spell of 5/12, by some way her best T20I bowling figures, the five-time champions starting off with a dominant victory.

Beth Mooney only lasted two balls as she poked unconvincingly at Lea Tahuhu and Eden Carson flew to her right to pouch a stunning catch at backward point.

Healy and Lanning clubbed together and guided Australia to 47 for one from six overs, their best-ever powerplay score against New Zealand at the T20 World Cup.

They assembled a 70 stand for the second wicket until Amelia Kerr tucked up Lanning and she was bowled playing a cut shot to a straight delivery for 41.

One brought two and Tahuhu found Gardner’s leading edge in the next over, Carson taking a simple catch to make it 76 for three.

Healy and Perry took over, rattling to a 50 partnership in just 28 balls with a clinic in controlled aggression.

Healy peeled off 55, only perishing when deceived by Tahuhu’s slower ball and caught on the fence.

Perry and Grace Harris’ partnership promised fireworks and burned bright for 22 in eight balls, but fizzled out when Harris was run out on 14 after a mix-up in the middle.

Perry kept swinging, lifting Amelia Kerr over the cover boundary, but she was gone for 40 a ball later and Jess Jonassen went for a two-ball duck in the same over.

There was a late flurry of wickets as Alana King and Tahlia McGrath came and went in the last two overs with Australia closing on 173/9 from 20 overs.

The start of the Kiwi reply was a surreal one. Megan Schutt bowled five wides with the first ball and with the second, bowled Suzie Bates who went down for an improbable scoop.

Both openers were gone within the over as Sophie Devine was given out LBW turning one to leg.

Bernadine Bezuidenhout and Amelia Kerr briefly stabilised things and Bezuidenhout reverse swept Jonassen to the fence before departing for 14, caught by Darcie Brown off Perry.

The White Ferns sunk to 37 for four with Maddy Green run out and Amelia Kerr’s three fours from the three balls that followed was a fleeting show of defiance.

Kerr was bowled shortly after by Gardner and the slide continued, Hayley Jensen chipping tamely to midwicket before Tahuhu and Rowe were accounted for by Gardner in quick succession.

In the end, New Zealand lost three wickets for four runs in 11 balls and it was clearly terminal to their hopes, Gardner taking the final two wickets in the 14th over.

Australia beat New Zealand at Boland Park, Paarl by 97 runs

Australia 173 for nine in 20 overs (Alyssa Healy 55, Ellyse Perry 40; Amelia Kerr 3/23, Lea Tahuhu 3/37)

New Zealand 76 all out in 14 overs (Amelia Kerr 21, Bernadine Bezuidenhout 14; Ashleigh Gardner 5/12, Megan Schutt 2/8)

Player of the Match: Ashleigh Gardner (Australia)
 
Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshi de Silva’s ice-cool hundred partnership steered Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh as they continued their winning start to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 26 for three in the powerplay but Samarawickrama’s assured knock of 69 not out, coupled with De Silva’s unbeaten 41 at the other end, ensured Chamari Athapaththu’s side made it two wins in the space of three days at Newlands.

Bangladesh posted a total of 126 for eight in Cape Town as Oshadi Ranasinghe’s fine spell of three for 23 restricted them to a below-par total.

Laser-precise seamer Marufa Akter ripped through the Sri Lankan top order but Samarawickrama and De Silva steadied the ship to claim Sri Lanka’s first ever back-to-back wins at a Women’s T20 World Cup and extend their impressive start in Group A.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat in Cape Town – but it was Sri Lanka who landed the first blow in dramatic fashion.

Opening batter Murshida Khatun was run out after facing just a single delivery from a fabulous direct hit from Inoka Ranaweera at short fine leg.

Sobhana Mostary and wicketkeeper Shamima Sultana set about laying the foundations for the innings before Shamima was stumped by opposite number Anushka Sanjeewani off the bowling of Ranasinghe for 20.

That brought Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana to the crease, who helped construct a patient partnership alongside No.3 Sobhana.

But it ended inside the 10th over when Sobhana was bowled by Athapaththu for 29.
Bangladesh were struggling to manufacture any form of meaningful partnership and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals throughout the innings.

Shamima succumbed to Ranasinghe for 28 before the off-spinner claimed her third victim by getting Lata Mondal stumped for 11.

That left Shamima’s side with considerable work to do during the final five overs, but Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni and Nahida Akter were all dismissed cheaply to leave them with a total of 126 for eight at the halfway stage.

Sri Lanka may have fancied their chances setting out in pursuit of a chaseable-looking target – but Marufu had other ideas after being handed the ball by Shamima under the Cape Town lights.

The accurate seamer remarkably removed Athapaththu, Vishmi Gunaratne and Sanjeewani without conceding a single run in her spell, tearing through the Sri Lankan top order to leave them reeling at 26 for three inside the powerplay.

But that brought the composed duo of Samarawickrama and De Silva to the crease, who set about the recovery mission with alacrity and continued to chip away at the total.

And they showed no signs of letting their ever-increasing grip on the game slip, bringing up their hundred partnership in the 19th over and guiding their country to a historic second win on the spin at Newlands.

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh at Cape Town by seven wickets

Bangladesh 126 for eight in 20 overs (Sobhana Mostary 29, Nigar Sultana 28; Oshadi Ranasinghe 3/23, Chamari Athapaththu 2/19)

Sri Lanka 129/3 in 18.2 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 69 not out, Nilakshi de Silva 41 not out; Marufa Akter 3/23)
 
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UP Warriors and RCB seem to be the strongest so far. Up warriors has covered more bases than RCB in fact where in RCB is still batting heavy while the former has good mix of batters and bowlers. The remaing 3 teams so far seem weaker compared to these two.
 
England made it two wins from two in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 thanks to a sublime showing from their spinners in a four-wicket victory over Ireland.

The trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean were all on song, combining for eight wickets between them as Ireland stumbled from 80 for two to 105 all out.

England required just 14.2 overs to knock off the total, with Alice Capsey doing the heavy lifting as her quickfire 51 ensured her side’s unbeaten start to the tournament continued.

After opting to bat upon winning the toss, Ireland’s first over was an eventful one with Gaby Lewis striking two boundaries either side of being put down by Danni Wyatt.

The enterprising start would continue as a textbook drive got Amy Hunter up and running and even the introduction of Ecclestone into the attack did not yield an immediate breakthrough.

But Dean did soon find a much-needed first wicket, with Amy Hunter dismissed for 15 as Sophia Dunkley claimed a smart catch on the rope at deep mid-wicket.

England managed to rein in the fast start when Orla Prendergast joined Lewis at the crease, as Ireland passed the 50 mark in the eighth over.

Not long into the attack, Glenn was soon on the board, claiming England’s second wicket as she clean bowled Prendergast a ball after being dispatched to the cover boundary.

Lewis continued to battle away but with the boundaries drying up the pressure mounted, and Wyatt made no mistake second time round, pouching a hard and flat sweep from the bat of Ireland's opener.

That precipitated a flurry of wickets which would see England wrap up Ireland’s innings, with the batting side losing their final eight wickets for just 25 runs.

Ecclestone took two in two before pouching a mistimed shot from Louise Little. Glenn then struck twice in quick succession as Ireland desperately tried to wrestle back momentum with some aggressive but ultimately fatal strokes.

And the final wickets fell not long after but not before England's spinners took their eighth – a record for the most scalps taken by England spinners in a T20 international.

There was some early hope for Ireland when they took to the field, with the dangerous Dunkley dismissed at the end of England's first over when looking to hit Prendergast for back-to-back fours.

Her departure brought Capsey to the crease and the 18-year-old was at her devastating best, bringing up her half-century off just 21 balls - the joint-fastest at an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup - fittingly passing the landmark with a bruising six.

The 11th boundary of her innings would be the final one, however, as Leah Paul produced an excellent diving catch to bring the big hitting to a close.

Opener Wyatt was then run out after a mix up with Nat Sciver-Brunt which saw the former stranded halfway down the wicket.

The wickets continued to tumble, with England's final five wickets falling for 33 runs before Katherine Sciver-Brunt struck the winning runs with 34 balls to spare.

England's toughest test yet arrives on Saturday when they face India, while Ireland have a quick turnaround and face Pakistan on Wednesday.

Scores in brief

England beat Ireland at Boland Park, Paarl by four wickets

Ireland 105 all out in 18.2 overs (Gaby Lewis 36, Orla Prendergast 17; Sophie Ecclestone 3/13, Sarah Glenn 3/19)

England 107/6 in 14.2 overs (Alice Capsey 51, Heather Knight 14; Cara Murray 3/15, Orla Prendergast 1/13)

Player of the Match: Alice Capsey (England)
 
South Africa bounced back from an opening-day defeat with a 65-run win over New Zealand in their second game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

The tournament hosts hit 132 for six after a difficult start in Paarl, rallying thanks to totals of 40 from Chloe Tryon and 28 not out from Nadine de Klerk.

They followed that up with a devastating performance with the ball, with skipper Sophie Devine top-scoring with just 16 as Nonkululeko Mlaba starred, taking three wickets for ten runs to wrap up the win.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, but it was New Zealand who struck the first blow of the match.

Eden Carson dismissed Tazmin Brits leg before wicket after just four balls for just one, leaving the hosts four for one at the end of the first over.

Marizanne Kapp, promoted up the order to ensure she got the best out of her batting partners, was the next to go.

Her airborne shot handed Jess Kerr the first catch of the day from Lea Tahuhu's bowling, leaving the hosts 13 for two midway through the third over.

The White Ferns thought they had a third wicket during the fourth over, but Sune Luus got a reprieve when the ball was deemed to have dropped short of wicket-keeper Bernadine Bezuidenhout.

However, despite the difficult start, South Africa responded with a partnership between Laura Wolvaardt and Luus.

Just as Wolvaardt and Luus' partnership was beginning to build, the captain was run out for 22 by Bezuidenhout after a miscommunication.

Tryon took the hosts to 55 for three after eight overs before Tahuhu bowled Wolvaardt (13) with a superb delivery.

All-rounder Tryon began showing off her power with the bat, hitting a fantastic four to take her side to 76 for four.

Delmi Tucker and Tryon's partnership was proving fruitful, adding 23 runs from 22 balls, but the former was dismissed after attempting a premeditated ramp shot from Carson's delivery midway through the 13th over.

Tryon continued to build South Africa's score, taking her team to 125 before she was dismissed off the final ball of the penultimate over.

She was eventually caught by Bezuidenhout off the bowling of Hayley Jensen, having hit 40 off 34 balls.

De Klerk ended unbeaten on 28 from 26 deliveries, leaving South Africa with 132 for six, a very respectable total after a difficult start.

That total looked even more impressive when the White Ferns also struggled with the bat early on.

Bezuidenhout was stumped for a duck by Sinalo Jafta after just two deliveries from Mlaba.

The opening bowler then added another victim, dismissing Suzie Bates for another duck with a fine delivery at the start of the third over.

That meant New Zealand's openers had not scored a run in their first two matches of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

South Africa continued their impressive start with the ball, Georgia Plimmer caught by Jafta for seven off Kapp to leave the White Ferns with 13 for three after four overs.

And things went from bad to worse, with Amelia Kerr caught by Jafta for ten as they slumped to 18 for four.

Tryon then entered the attack, bowling for the first time in the tournament, and she had Maddy Green caught by Jafta for seven.

New Zealand were in big trouble at 34 for five, with ten overs to play.

Devine and Jensen tried to rebuild for the White Ferns, but the game was starting to slip away from them.

Then a brilliant bit of fielding from Ayabonga Khaka saw Jensen run out for seven to leave New Zealand 47 for six.

And it was 49 for seven shortly after when Devine's wicket finally fell, falling leg before off Tryon having hit 16 off 26 balls.

Mlaba then trapped Tahuhu in front to take her wicket tally for the evening to three for eight, her best ever in a T20 international.

Shabnim Ismail took a wicket of her own, bowling Jess Kerr for 11 with just under three overs remaining.

And New Zealand could not go the distance, all out for a lowest-ever total in the tournament of 67 as Kapp dismissed Fran Jonas for one.

Scores in brief

South Africa 132 for six in 20 overs (Chloe Tryon 40, Nadine De Klerk 28; Eden Carson 2/23, Lea Tahuhu 2/27)

New Zealand 67 all out in 18.1 overs (Sophie Devine 16, Jess Kerr 11; Nonkululeko Mlaba 3/10, Chloe Tryon 2/12)

Player of the Match: Chloe Tryon (South Africa)
 
Ireland coach Ed Joyce said his side ‘have a few plans in place’ to cope with big-hitter Ayesha Naseem as they take on Pakistan in their second ICC Women’s T20 World Cup group game.

Ayesha was among the standout performers in Pakistan’s seven-wicket defeat against India on Sunday, scoring an unbeaten 43 from 25 deliveries.

Ireland, who are featuring in their first World Cup since 2018, now travel to Cape Town to play Mark Coles’ side, who they defeated 2-1 in November’s T20I series between the sides.

On the threat of Naseem, Joyce said, “She is a huge player for Pakistan.

“We know she hit very well straight down the ground and we have to avoid giving her width so that she can free her arms.

“We have a few plans in place but it is whether they actually come off and whether you take the catches that are given.

“When she hits the ball, it tends to go a long way in the air or very hard, so I think we need to focus on that when we’re doing our fielding practice.”

Ireland were beaten by England in their opening group game on Monday, bowled out for 105 after losing their last eight wickets for just 25.

England’s spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean took eight wickets between them and Joyce is aware they will have to improve against Pakistan’s slow bowlers.

“We could have played the spinners better so that’s something we’re talking about and focusing on for tomorrow,” Joyce said.

“They are a good team. It will be a good, competitive game and there were some things in the game yesterday that we can take confidence from as well.

Ireland have a potent spinner of their own in their armoury, with Cara Murray looking to build on her excellent figures of three for 15 against England.

“That’s the most consistent I’ve seen her and to do it on the biggest stage under huge pressure against a team like that was so impressive,” Joyce added.

“We definitely want to go out there and win some games as well so it’s not just about the way we want to play.

“We would be pretty disappointed over the next three games if we don’t get that first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup win.”

Pakistan are also looking to claim their first win of the tournament having run India close on Sunday.

Mark Coles’ side were in contention for victory with India needing 28 from the final three overs but Jemima Rodrigues guided her side to a seven-wicket victory.

Left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu said, “We just lost in the last five overs (against India).

“We just need to stick to our plans for a longer period of time, no extraordinary things.

“It is difficult. We have played against them in November and they are a good side in T20.

“They are batting well in this tournament too so we just need to stick to our plans.”

ICC
 
Meg Lanning’s unbeaten 48 guided Australia to an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh as the reigning ICC Women’s T20 World Cup champions recorded their second successive victory.

Lanning led a successful pursuit of Bangladesh’s 107, of which captain Nigar Sultana Joty contributed 57, with Georgia Wareham (3/20) among the Australian bowlers to shine.

Darcie Brown chipped in with for two for 23 before Alyssa Healy and Lanning’s partnership of 72 laid the foundations in the chase.

Bangladesh opted to bat upon winning the toss but they lost Shamima Sultana early, Beth Mooney taking a brilliant catch at extra cover from the bowling of Brown. The fast bowler’s second wicket soon followed as she uprooted Murshida Khatun’s leg stump with just 11 runs on the board.

Up stepped Bangladesh’s leading run scorer and captain Joty, who struck back-to-back fours to inject some momentum into the innings. By the end of the powerplay, she had 21 off 13 after hitting Alana King for four and a six in quick succession.

The skipper lost the company of Sobhana Mostary, who offered an easy catch to King and a first wicket for Wareham, who was making her first appearance of the competition.

Brown thought she had taken her third scalp of the evening just after the midway stage when Shorna Akter was given out caught behind, but the young batter survived on review.

The 16-year-old also escaped an lbw appeal in the next over and subsequently gave Joty a platform to become the first Bangladeshi to score an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup half-century, her’s from 41 balls, including seven boundaries.

Wareham struck twice in the 17th over, bowling Shorna for 12 shortly after the teenager’s first boundary, before repeating the trick to dismiss Rumana Ahmed and leave the score 90 for five.

Joty then departed, Lanning taking a routine catch from the bowling of Ashleigh Gardner, before Megan Schutt dismissed Nahida Akter at the death.

Marufa Akter, who shone in Bangladesh’s opener against Sri Lanka, picked up where she left off in the reply by taking the key early wicket of Mooney for two, but Alyssa Healy and Lanning soon started motoring. They hit five boundaries, including a fine six from the former, in the space of 11 balls to carry Australia to 45 for one by the end of the powerplay.

Lanning was then put down by Marufa, the 18-year-old unable to prevent the ball from squirming under her ambitious dive and away for four.

The second-wicket partnership soon passed 50 but was ended when Healy picked out Joty to provide Shorna with a breakthrough.

Gardner joined Lanning at the crease and hit the boundary from the second ball of the 18th over to take Australia top of Group 1.

Australia stay in Gqeberha to face table-toppers Sri Lanka on Thursday, while Bangladesh take on New Zealand at Newlands the following day.


Australia beat Bangladesh at St George’s Park, Gqeberha by eight wickets

Bangladesh 107 all out, 20 overs (Nigar Sultana Joty 57, Shorna Akter 12; Georgia Wareham 3/20, Darcie Brown 2/23)

Australia 111/2 in 18.2 overs (Meg Lanning 48, Alyssa Healy 37; Shorna Akter 1/12, Marufa Akter 1/19)

Player of the Match: Georgia Wareham (Australia)
 
India ease past West Indies to register second T20 World Cup win


India continued their perfect start to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 with a composed six-wicket victory over the West Indies in Cape Town.

With India faltering at 43 for three chasing 118, the sorcerer and the apprentice combined as skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and 19-year-old Richa Ghosh put together an assured 72-run stand to carry them over them line.

Kaur was not there to see the chase through to its conclusion but Ghosh was, finishing things off in with a boundary as India reached the finish line with 11 balls to spare.

Opting to bat first, the Windies innings was barely underway before the first wicket fell, as Hayley Matthews was dismissed with the first ball of the second over.

It was a dream start for seamer Pooja Vastrakar, who claimed the scalp of the Windies captain after she looked to cut a delivery which was perhaps a touch short.

Shemaine Campbelle joined Stafanie Taylor at the crease and the pair battled through a tough couple of overs before flexing their destructive muscles.

Campbelle kickstarted the innings with a divine pull shot and Taylor had also found her rhythm by the time Rajeshwari Gayakwad joined the attack, with both batters sweeping the left-armer to the rope.

Despite rotating her bowlers from over to over, a second wicket was not forthcoming for India captain Kaur, as the Windies passed 50 in the tenth over of the match.

The pair added 73 before Campbelle fell looking to reverse sweep Deepti Sharma, and Taylor joined her back in the pavilion just three balls later after a genius review from Kaur.

Things went from bad to worse for the Windies when Chinelle Henry was run out for just two as the innings suddenly threatened to peter out.

But Chedean Nation and Shabika Gajnabi arrived to steady the ship, carrying the team past 100.

There were no late fireworks however, as Sharma returned with an exemplary display of death bowling to restrict the 2016 winners to 118 while becoming the first Indian to take 100 T20I wickets.

Shafali Verma made some early inroads following the interval, slapping a couple of fours through the covers in a productive first over.

She and the returning Smriti Mandhana needed a slice of good fortune to help them on their way, with both openers edging to the fence.

The introduction of Karishma Ramharack proved a turning point, with the off-spinner taking the crucial wicket of Mandhana before skipper Matthews dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues caught and bowled an over later.

Verma’s fun then came to a close when she hooked Ramharack to Afy Fletcher in the deep, but despite the flurry of wickets, India managed to stay ahead of the required rate.

Kaur and Ghosh gave themselves time before wrapping up the win in double quick time, though Kaur would fall with India four runs short of the target.

Young Ghosh was especially impressive, continuing the solid form she showed in India’s win at the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup.


Scores in brief

India beat West Indies at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town by six wickets

West Indies 118 for 6 in 20 overs (Stafanie Taylor 42, Shemaine Campbelle 30; Deepti Sharma 3/15, Pooja Vastrakar 1/21)

India 119 for 4 in 18.1 overs (Richa Ghosh 44 not out, Harmanpreet Kaur 33; Karishma Ramharack 2/14, Hayley Matthews 1/12)

Player of the Match: Deepti Sharma
 
Beth Mooney got her batting back on track thanks to a mammoth partnership with Alyssa Healy that steered Australia to a 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

The five-time champions suffocated Sri Lanka with spin to stop them from capitalizing on a fast start by Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama.

Megan Schutt then took three wickets in the final over as Sri Lanka ended on 112 for eight before Healy (54 not out) and Mooney (56 not out) saw Australia home without losing a wicket.

Having been put into bat, Sri Lanka raced to 29 runs off the first four overs, Athapaththu playing the pick of the shots to drive Ashleigh Gardner over cow corner for six.

The skipper did not last much longer as Grace Harris morphed into Superwoman to take a flying catch at mid-on and dismiss Athapaththu for a run-a-ball 16.

Her opening partner Samarawickrama, looked unperturbed as she continued Sri Lanka’s strong scoring intent, with Vishmi Gunaratne joining in.

But as Meg Lanning turned to back-to-back spin, Sri Lanka lost any impetus – Georgia Wareham, Harris and Alana King coughing up only six runs in three overs as Sri Lanka reached the halfway stage at 56 for one.

Gunaratne survived a leg before wicket call in King’s second over, but it was not long before Samarawickrama departed.

The left-hander moved down the wicket but could not connect with a flighted-up delivery from Harris and Healy swiped off the bails to send Samarawickrama back to hutch having made 34.

Oshadi Ranasinghe lasted only four balls before excitement got the better of her and she sent an easy catch to Tahlia McGrath at long on as Harris took her first World Cup wickets.

Anushka Sanjeewani joined Gunaratne at the crease and found a much-needed boundary, the first for 8.3 overs, but she was the next to be undone by the flight of the ball as Wareham added to her three wickets against Bangladesh.

The death overs belonged to Schutt, first dismissing Gunaratne for 24 from 33 as she flailed at the ball and sent it to Ellyse Perry at mid-wicket in the 18th over.

Then with the final six deliveries of the innings, the right-arm seamer took three wickets, as Mooney took an easy catch to dismiss Ama Kanchana before Malsha Shehani and Sugandika Kumari were both stumped by Healy.

Schutt ended with figures of four for 24 as Sri Lanka set the reigning champions 113 to win.

In reply, Australia got the only thing they had really been searching for in this tournament, a solid opening partnership.

There were signs that Australia would take it steady as they did against Bangladesh as Kumari delivered a maiden in the third over, but Healy and Mooney soon got motoring.

The very next over the duo combined to dispatch Ranasinghe for 13 runs, before bringing up the 50 partnership in 7.4 overs.

The hundred partnership followed in the 14th over as Healy secured her half-century from 38 balls by reverse-sweeping Athapaththtu off a free hit.

Mooney took a little more time to reach her milestone doing so off 50 balls, but it was enough to put her stuttering form at the start of the tournament behind her.

Healy finished off the win with a single to put Australia in pole position for a spot in the semi-finals and consign Sri Lanka to their first defeat in the tournament.


Scores in brief

Australia beat Sri Lanka at St George’s Park, Gqeberha by ten wickets

Sri Lanka 112/8 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 34, Vishmi Gunaratne 24; Megan Schutt 4/24, Grace Harris 2/7)

Australia 113/0 in 15.5 overs (Beth Mooney 56 not out, Alyssa Healy 54 not out; Sugandika Kumari 0/10, Chamari Athapaththu 0/12)

Player of the Match: Alyssa Healy (Australia)
 
New Zealand kept their faint semi-final hopes alive with an emphatic 71-run win over Bangladesh at Newlands.

Suzie Bates’s superb 81 runs runs set the White Ferns on their way to a first victory of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, validating their decision to bat first with a tournament-high 189 for three.

That proved far too much for the Tigresses, whose chances of a miraculous victory fell away after losing two wickets early in their reply, as they stuttered to 118 for eight.

Needing a big win to stand a chance of progressing to the last four, New Zealand opted for a hit and run approach from the off.

Bernadine Bezuidenhout started the innings with purpose, guiding a wide and fullish first ball from Marufa Akter down to the third man boundary.

That set the tone for a positive start which bordered on overzealous at times, with Bates likely to have been run out but for a poor throw inside the inner ring.

The White Ferns’ former captain started patiently, but after passing Australia’s Meg Lanning for most runs at Women's T20 World Cups, soon found her stride.

Bezuidenhout kept her foot on the pedal too, and finished the powerplay just as she had started, with a controlled stroke to the fence as New Zealand sat nicely poised at 49 for no loss after six overs.

The pair continued to motor, punishing each poor delivery, before Bezuidenhout was dismissed looking to charge Shorna Akter just six short of her half-century.

Amelia Kerr joined Bates in the middle and made a handy 16 before she was dismissed caught and bowled by Fahima Khatun.

Fahima's celebrations were muted then but they were not just a ball later when she split the gap between Sophie Devine’s bat and pad, sending the New Zealand skipper back to the hut when she was just three runs short of 3,000 T20I runs.

But Bates refused to let the innings drift, and after reaching her 50 off just 43 balls, found the boundary with increasing regularity, as did Maddy Green, who helped pile on the runs in the closing stages.

The pair hit 60 runs off the final five overs to post a mammoth 189 for three, with Green finishing unbeaten on 44 and Bates not out on 81.

Requiring a record run-chase to keep their knockout hopes alive, Bangladesh came out all guns blazing, hitting 12 off the first over including a gargantuan six from Shamima Sultana.

But hopes of an extraordinary win soon faded, with Hannah Rowe sending Shamima and Sobhana Mostary back to the hut in consecutive overs.

As the required run-rate soared, the pressure mounted and Nigar Sultana was the next to fall, bowled by Kerr for eight with Pakistan 54 for three in the tenth over.

Shorna and Murshida Khatun offered some resistance, both passing 30, but it was never going to be enough to threaten New Zealand on the scoreboard.

A flurry of late wickets arrived before the close, three of which came to Eden Carson, as New Zealand closed out a brilliant day in style.

Devine's side could still make the knockout stages if they secure another resounding win over Sri Lanka and results elsewhere go their way, while Bangladesh will head home after their final game against hosts South Africa.



Scores in brief

New Zealand beat Bangladesh at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town by 71 runs

New Zealand 189 for three in 20 overs (Suzie Bates 81 not out, Maddy Green 44 not out; Fahima Khatun 2/36, Shorna Akter 1/12)

Bangladesh 118 for eight in 20 overs (Shorna Akter 31, Murshida Khatun 30; Eden Carson 3/18, Hannah Rowe 2/15)

Player of the Match: Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
 
Hayley Matthews’s majestic captain’s innings guided the West Indies to a nerve-jangling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup win against Ireland in Cape Town.

The Windies skipper struck a decisive 66 not out and, assisted by Chinelle Henry’s critical contribution, helped haul her side to a six-wicket victory and inflict a difficult defeat on the Irish under the Friday night lights.

Orla Prendergast’s impressive 61 had fired Ireland to a competitive total of 137 for nine as Shamilia Connell starred with the ball for the Windies.

But Matthews and Henry (34) delivered a second innings masterclass to patiently chase down the target and help the West Indies, without Stafanie Taylor owing to a back injury, bounce back from defeats against India and England with just a single ball remaining in Group B.

Laura Delany won the toss and elected to bat – but her side suffered an almost immediate blow when Amy Hunter was dismissed in the second over.

Trishan Holder held a simple catch after the Irish opener had miscued and top-edged a Connell delivery.

But Prendergast and Gaby Lewis set about building the foundations for a recovery, putting on 90 for the second wicket before Prendergast went for a swashbuckling 61 – off just 47 balls – in the 13th over.

And the West Indies then struck twice in quick succession as Lewis (38) and Louise Little, who was unable to trouble the scorers, were removed in the space of three Karishma Ramharack deliveries.

Delany and Arlene Kelly then went in similarly speedy fashion as Afy Fletcher’s leg breaks helped derail the end of the Irish innings.

Eimear Richardson was caught and bowled by Matthews before Leah Paul and wicketkeeper Mary Waldron were removed from the final two balls of the innings.

That left the Windies with a total of 138 to win as openers Matthews and Rashada Williams responded with a steady start throughout the opening overs.

But Ireland grabbed the breakthrough from the penultimate ball of the powerplay when wicketkeeper Williams was runout after a sudden mix-up with her captain.

Incoming batter Campbelle survived a review shortly after but was soon dismissed by Delany when the Irish skipper’s crafty medium pacers trapped her in front for just eight.

Matthews and Henry continued to chip away at the total, however, teeing up a tantalising final five overs with a composed third wicket partnership.

Kelly dropped Henry at mid-off during an economical-looking 16th over before the Windies No.4 made her pay with a much-needed boundary off the final delivery.

Henry looked in the mood to finish the job as quickly as possible but she was soon dismissed by Paul as Ireland, who spilt several chances throughout a frenetic second innings, finally held on to a catch.

That propelled Shabika Gajnabi into the heat of the Cape Town cauldron, who played an important brief cameo before being run out after another piece of confusion with Matthews.

But the Windies skipper held her nerve to clatter Delany over the covers for four and fire her side to victory.


Scores in brief:
West Indies beat Ireland at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town by six wickets

Ireland 137 for nine in 20 overs (Orla Prendergast 61, Gaby Lewis 38; Shamilia Connell 3/24, Karishma Ramharack 2/18)
West Indies 140 for four in 19.5 overs (Hayley Matthews 66 not out, Chinelle Henry 34; Leah Paul 1/26, Laura Delany 1/30)

Player of the Match: Hayley Matthews (West Indies)
 
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A fightback with the bat and brilliance from England’s spinners set up an 11-run victory over India in Gqeberha in the battle of the previously unbeaten teams in Group 2 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

Renuka Singh was outstanding early for India, taking five for 15, as England found themselves in early trouble at 29 for three.

However, Nat Sciver-Brunt made 50, with Amy Jones (40) and Heather Knight (28), helping England fight back to make 151 for seven.

Smriti Mandhana played the anchor role in India’s reply, making 52, but England’s spinners put on the squeeze as the required rate soared.

With this win, England are all but assured a place in the semi-final, with a final clash to come against Pakistan, while India will have to bounce back in their final group match against Ireland.

India won the toss and put England in to bat, with Singh making an immediate impact. She took a wicket in each of her first three overs, having Danni Wyatt caught behind for a first-ball duck, with Alice Capsey (3) and Sophia Dunkley (10) both bowled as England slumped to 29 for three.

Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight then started to rebuild, adding 51 before the captain smashed a full toss to Shafali Verma off the bowling of Shikha Pandey to depart for 28.

Another 40 runs were added by Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones, before the former miscued a shot off Deepti Sharma straight after reaching her half-century.

England had a platform to attack though, and Jones and Sophie Ecclestone both struck maximums off Sharma’s final over, the 19th of the innings.

But it was Singh who had the final say, taking two wickets to bring up a five-wicket haul off the final over as England finished one 151 for seven.

In reply, India got off to a good start, Mandhana cracking four boundaries from Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s second over.

An opening stand of 29 was broken when Shafali Verma (8) got a leading edge off the bowling of Lauren Bell.

England then turned to their spinners, with Sarah Glenn removing Jemimah Rodrigues (13) and Ecclestone then chipping in with the wicket of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (4) as India slipped to 62 for three.

India were struggling to find the boundaries but the introduction of Nat Sciver-Brunt made a difference, as Richa Ghosh hit back-to-back fours, the latter thanks to a Capsey misfield to leave India needing 77 from eight overs.

Mandhana followed suit the next over and the pair combined to put on 43. But just after the opener had hit Glenn over cover for six, she tried another big shot and picked out Nat Sciver-Brunt on the boundary to depart for 52.

That left India with 47 to get from 24 deliveries, having lost their most destructive batter. Ghosh kept going, including smashing one huge six off Bell, but there was a mountain to climb, with Sharma run out for seven after good work by Nat Sciver-Brunt in the outfield.

With 31 to get off the final over, the job was effectively done for England, although Ghosh had a good go, having not faced as many deliveries as she needed to in the closing overs.


Scores in brief

England beat India at St George’s Park, Gqeberha by 11 runs

England 151 for seven in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 50, Amy Jones 40; Renuka Singh 5/15, Shikha Pandey 1/20)

India 140 for five in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 52, Richa Ghosh 47 not out; Sarah Glenn 2/27, Sophie Ecclestone 1/14)

Player of the Match: Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
 
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Tahlia McGrath’s blistering 57 completed a perfect run through the group stages of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 for Australia as they beat hosts, South Africa by six wickets in Gqeberha.

Coming to the crease with the defending champions under a little bit of pressure chasing South Africa’s 124 for six, McGrath showed no nerves as she and Ashleigh Gardner added 81 runs to take them to the brink.

While McGrath did fall at the death, the job was done by that point, and Australia finished off the comfortable win.

Australia have now won four from four to finish top of Group 1, and will await the final games in Group 2 to find out their semi-final opponent.

South Africa, meanwhile, started both innings strongly in this one, only to fall away, and now face a must-win clash with Bangladesh, while hoping New Zealand beat Sri Lanka and that they finish top of the three-way tie on net run-rate.

After being put in to bat, South Africa made a flying start as Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt combined to put on 54 runs at a run-a-ball for the opening wicket.

Eventually Ellyse Perry had Wolvaardt caught behind for 19 by Beth Mooney, keeping in place of the injured Alyssa Healy.

Marizanne Kapp followed for a duck before Georgia Wareham got the big one when she clean bowled Brits for 45, adding Chloe Tryon in the same over as South Africa suddenly found themselves 77 for four.

A rebuild was required, with Delmi Tucker removed for seven by Megan Schutt as the boundaries dried up.

After more than eight overs without finding the ropes, Nadine de Klerk finally did the honours, smashing Schutt for a maximum over long-on before Sune Luus added a four in the final over.

The skipper was bowled by Gardner for 20, De Klerk finishing on 14 not out as they had to settle for 124 for six after such a promising start.

That did not feel like enough against this Australia team, although Kapp had Perry caught at slip by Tryon for 11 before Meg Lanning was bowled around her legs for one by Nonkululeko Mlaba in the sixth over.

When Kapp took out Mooney, plumb in front, for 20, Australia were 40 for three and starting to wobble.

However, batting depth is the hallmark of this Australian team, and McGrath and Gardner proceeded to settle in before successive boundaries from the former in the tenth over showed their intent to pick up the pace.

From then on, the fours kept coming and the target became easier and easier, with McGrath moving to her half-century from just 29 balls.

Three more boundaries off Mlaba took Australia within touching distance, and while she was caught by Wolvaardt off Masabata Klaas trying to finish the job, Grace Harris came in to smash the winning boundary with three and a half overs to spare.


Scores in brief

Australia beat South Africa at St George’s Park, Gqeberha by 6 wickets

South Africa 124 for six in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 45, Sune Luus 20; Georgia Wareham 2/18, Ellyse Perry 1/8)

Australia 125 for four in 16.3 overs (Tahlia McGrath 57, Ashleigh Gardner 28 not out; Marizanne Kapp 2/21, Masabata Klaas 1/18)

Player of the Match: Tahlia McGrath (Australia)
 
New Zealand crushed Sri Lanka by 102 runs in Paarl to ensure Group 1 at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will go down to the wire.

Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr combined for a second wicket stand of 110, their nation’s third-highest ever at the tournament, to lift their side to an imposing 162 for three.

Sri Lanka were meek in reply, rolled for 60 to end their hopes of progression to the semi-finals, suffering the second-biggest defeat in T20 World Cup history in the process.

The White Ferns got the big net run rate swing they desired, meaning they climbed into second with South Africa facing Bangladesh on Tuesday in Group 1’s final game.

New Zealand preached positivity in the lead-up and Bernadine Bezuidenhout epitomised that approach, crushing a series of fours through the leg side when the bowling was too straight.

She raced to 32 from 20 balls but played one shot too many off Achini Kulasuriya, spooning a catch to Chamari Athapaththu at mid-off.
Bates and Kerr dropped anchor with the former picking up where she left off in the win over Bangladesh, piercing the field beautifully with the first two balls of the ninth over.

The pair didn’t score at an express pace but Kerr chose Athapaththu’s 13th over to accelerate, cover driving for four and then whipping through square leg to make it 93 for one.

Sri Lanka’s fielding was lacklustre - Bezuidenhout was given two early reprieves, Nilakshi de Silva shelling an easy chance to get Bates and a point blank run-out missed later on.

Kerr brought up her maiden T20I half-century off 40 balls and Bates her 24th in the closing stages.

The White Ferns rattled along to a fine total despite Bates being stumped for 56 and Kerr run out for 66 in the final over.

Sri Lanka coasted to 22 without loss in reply before capitulating.

Harshitha Samarawickrama holed out to deep midwicket off Eden Carson’s off-spin and then Bates took a stunner running back from mid-on to dismiss 17-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne for a duck.

Nilakshi de Silva swiped at a yorker and was clean bowled for a duck to leave Sri Lanka floundering on 24 for three.
Athapaththu briefly remained among the rubble but the hammer blow came when the captain was trapped in front by Amelia Kerr, given not out on field, a decision overturned on review.

The collapse continued when Anushka Sanjeewani chopped onto her stumps off Lea Tahuhu and the quick got another in her next over when Kavisha Dilhari patted to extra cover.

18-year-old Fran Jonas struck in her first over, bowling Oshadi Ranasinghe for three, and Sugandika Kumari was skilfully run out by Bezuidenhout at 48 for eight.

After a brief resistance from Malsha Shehani and Inoka Ranaweera, the former was bowled by the outstanding Amelia Kerr and Achini Kulasuriya not batting due to injury.

Scores in brief

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka at Boland Park, Paarl by 102 runs

New Zealand 162/3 from 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 66, Suzie Bates 56; Inoka Ranaweera 1/27, Achini Kulasuriya 1/14)
Sri Lanka 60 all out from 15.5 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 19, Malsha Shehani 10; Amelia Kerr 2/7, Lea Tahuhu 2/12)
Player of the Match: Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)
 
India win by five runs on DLS
It's official. India have won and advance to the semi-finals of the Women's T20 World Cup.

Ireland end the tournament winless and bottom of Group B.

==

India went through to the semi-finals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup after rain paused Ireland's recovery in Gqeberha in the Group 2 clash.

India became the third team to book a place in the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 semi-finals after they edged Ireland by DLS method at St George's Park on Monday.

Smriti Mandhana's 87 formed the backbone of India's total of 155/6 in 20 overs and the finalists from 2020 asserted their supremacy by sending back two key Ireland batters in the first over.

A mix-up off the very first ball saw Hunter run at the wicketkeeper's end and Renuka Singh followed up her terrific new ball spell against England by cleaning up Prendergast to put India right on top early on in the second innings.

Gaby Lewis and Laura Delany joined hands, and the pair did remarkably well to not let the required run rate climb too high, taking the team to 44/2 in the Powerplay. However, rain came down in Gqeberha, putting a halt on Ireland's recovery and worryingly for them, they were still behind the DLS par score by five runs.

Mandhana was at her best in Gqeberha, creaming her drives early on, before clearing the fence three times to up the ante through the middle overs.

Ireland could only send her back in the 19th over and soon followed it up with the wicket of Deepti Sharma next ball to peg India back pretty late.

They eventually made 155/6 in the 20 overs, with Jemimah Rodrigues hitting two boundaries in the final over.

Earlier, India opted to bat first after winning the toss and got off to a good start with Mandhana playing some crisp strokes. The openers put on a half-century stand before Shafali Verma fell for 24 with Amy Hunter taking a good, low catch in the deep.

Walking in at No.3, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur completed 3000 runs in T20Is, becoming the fourth women's cricketer to the landmark in this format. She forged a strong stand with Mandhana, who completed her half-century with a thumping six over mid-wicket.

Harmanpreet fell in the 16th over, with Orla Prendergast taking a stunner running in from the deep. Laura Delany added another wicket in the same over, sending back Richa Ghosh for a duck to complete a three-wicket haul.

ICC
 
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That ended up being a close game due DL.. we need to improve our bowling.
Glad we made it into semis
 
I was seeing highlights of the 2010 Women's finals t20.. the last over, Aussie women play it very professionally, even some subcontinent players don’t field like that under pressure as they did.

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/xryknj" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
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South Africa reached the semi-finals of their home ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with a 10-wicket win over Bangladesh at Newlands.

The Proteas made heavy weather of chasing down a modest target of 114 set by Bangladesh, powered by their outstanding captain Nigar Sultana Joty’s 30.

But chase it down they did, with 13 balls to spare, as Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits chiselled out their team’s first half-centuries of the tournament when it mattered most.

It means Sune Luus’s side are the first South African team - male or female, junior or senior - to reach the final four of a major ICC event staged on their soil.

They face an unbeaten and dangerous England team in Friday’s semi-final in Cape Town.

With Bangladesh opting to bat, Wolvaardt grassed a regulation chance in the second over to hint at that home ground pressure, Shamima Sultana adding salt to the wounds with a four two balls later.

But the Proteas still struck twice in the powerplay, Murshida Khatun chipping Marizanne Kapp to mid-on for a six-ball duck and Shamima then skying Shabnim Ismail to midwicket.

From 22 for two, Nigar Sultana Joty and Sobhana Mostary carefully rebuilt and rotated strike nicely without peppering the boundary.

Sobhana was dropped by Brits on 25 but the third-wicket stand was snapped at 33 when she missed a slog sweep across the line and Nonkululeko Mlaba hit the stumps.

16-year-old Shorna Akter hinted at her talent by lofting Mlaba handsomely over mid-off but soon departed when she was yorked by Ayabonga Khaka at 81 for four.

Kapp came back for a third ball and showed her class with a slower ball that got the big wicket of Nigar, comprehensively bowled for 30.

Khaka repeated the yorker trick to get rid of Fargana Hoque but as the Proteas began to tire in the field, Bangladesh were indefatigable and inched their way up to 113 for six.

South Africa’s reply was a fraught affair from the very start.

Nine runs came from the first four overs, Brits was dropped by Sobhana and Wolvaardt somehow survived a mix-up in the middle.

Wolvaardt hit a towering six over mid-on but Brits only survived thanks to Shamima missing two stumping chances off the spinners as they crawled to 43 without loss from 10 overs.

The pressure gradually eased and the much-needed big overs eventually came.

Brits peeled back-to-back boundaries off Shorna’s leg-spin and Wolvaardt brought up her half-century from 48 balls by flaying Nahida Akter twice through the off-side.

Brits brought up her sixth T20I half-century and two balls later, Wolvaardt struck successive boundaries to put her side in the final four.


Scores in brief

South Africa beat Bangladesh at Newlands, Cape Town by 10 wickets

Bangladesh 113 for six from 20 overs (Nigar Sultana Joty 30, Sobhana Mostary 27; Marizanne Kapp 2/17, Ayabonga Khaka 2/21)

South Africa 117 for none from 17.5 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 66 not out, Tazmin Brits 50 not out; Marufa Akter 0/19, Fahima Khatun 0/22)

Player of the Match: Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
 
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