England, India to face in inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup

• England and India will meet in the final of the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
• England defeated Australia by three runs in a low-scoring thriller in Potchefstroom.
• India beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the first semi-final.

The advancement of India and England to the final of the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be contested on Sunday, brought Potchefstroom both joy and sorrow. While emotions fluctuated before England defeated Australia by three runs in a low-scoring thriller, India easily defeated New Zealand in the first semi-final.

Ellie Anderson and Alexa Stonehouse of England, who were defending 99, struck first before legspinner Hannah Baker’s triple strike rendered Australia helpless. She used a variety of flight and length variations to dismiss Ella Hayward. She then had Australia’s captain Rhys McKenna caught at mid-off and wicketkeeper Paris Hall stranded three balls later, leaving them at 59 for 7.

At the very end, Ella Wilson and Milly Illingworth, who were batting at Nos. 9 and 10, each managed to score a four to reduce the situation to Australia needing four with two wickets and little under three overs remaining. However, the latter was struck out by a direct hit from Ryana MacDonald-Gay at mid-off, and then No. 11 Maggie Clark was caught lbw by Grace Scrivens, setting off raucous celebrations.

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By the time Clark, Hayward, and Sianna Ginger turned around carrying three-fors, the scenario had long since passed the halfway point. After deciding to bat, England’s plan went astray as they lost wickets at regular intervals and finished the powerplay at 29 for 4.

Liberty Heap and No. 3 Niamh Holland, who have formed a successful alliance at the top with captain Scrivens, were eliminated by the pace of Illingworth and the nagging lengths of Clark. Hayward, an offspinner, added to the misery by shattering the middle order’s back.

However, Scrivens, who is currently second on the list of tournament run scorers, managed to hold one end while England slumped to 37 for 5 in the ninth over. She struggled to hold off a full-length ball from seamer Ginger, however and holed out to Claire Moore at long-off for 20. England had only been able to reach close to 100 runs thanks to a 46-run eighth-wicket partnership between Stonehouse (25) and Josie Groves (15).

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