The Cricketer reports on events at the ICC Women's Under-19 World Cup in South Africa
The inaugural edition of the Under-19s Women's T20 World Cup is underway in South Africa, two years after originally planned. Today was the crucial semi-finals.
Sixteen teams are taking part in the 2023 edition, split across four groups of four. Following a single round-robin, the top three teams in each group will progress into the Super Six stage, from which the top two sides in Group 1 and Group 2 will advance to the semi-finals.
The final will take place in Potchefstroom on Sunday, January 29.
India were in charge of the first semi-final from the outset (ICC)
New Zealand 107-9, India 110-2 - India won by eight wickets
India cruised into the inaugural Under-19 women's World Cup final after easing past New Zealand at Renwes Park.
The Kiwis had won all seven of their tournament matches but were overwhelmed in their first real test.
Izzy Sharp's side were reduced to 5 for 2 in the third over and never really recovered.
Player of the match Parshavi Chopra continued her fine tournament with 3 for 20 as India limited their rival to 107 for 9.
Georgia Plimmer (35) and Isabella Gaze (26) top-scored for New Zealand but they were always up against it in the second half of the game.
Though Shafali Verma (10) saw her poor run of form continue, Shweta Sehrawat (61 not out) struck her third unbeaten half-century of the competition.
She put on 62 for the second wicket with Soumya Tiwari (22) to take them to the brink of victory.
Shweta Sehrawat plundered a quick-fire 61 in the chase (ICC)
Sehrawat hit the winning runs, a boundary through mid-off, to secure the win with 34 balls still to be bowled.
"It is good to see the team do as per plans," said Verma. "We are excited to play the finals. We worked on our mistakes against Australia and it is good to see this."
England 99, Australia 96 - England won by three runs
It was a far closer affair in the second semi-final as England completed Sunday's line-up with a dramatic victory over Australia.
Rhys McKenna's side looked to be strolling to victory in pursuit of 100 to win.
They reached 48 for 3 at the halfway point and required less than a run a ball for victory.
But a remarkable collapse ensued, sparked by some brilliant wicket-to-wicket bowling from England, to set up a thrilling finale.
Claire Moore is bowling by Grace Scrivens (ICC)
Hannah Baker took her tournament wicket tally to nine with 3 for 10 from her allocation.
Nevertheless, boundaries for Ella Wilson (8 not out) and Milly Illingworth (8) took Australia to within four of victory with two wickets in hand.
But Illingworth was run out by a direct hit from Ryana MacDonald-Gay
And the following over England clinched victory as captain Grace Scrivens trapped Maggie Clark (0) lbw.
"Batting didn't go to plan, but bowling was great," said the skipper. "They have a good seaming lineup.
"We just wanted to enjoy it, soak it up, back ourselves. It's a really high-pressure situation. So just had to take a breath. Take a minute, try and get some thoughts."
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