ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup 2023
Australia's first ever Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup campaign has started with an upset defeat to a bold Bangladesh outfit in Benoni
Laura Jolly
14 January 2023, 10:35 PM AEST
@JollyLauz18
Bangladesh have started the first ever Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup with a major statement, upsetting Australia by seven wickets in Benoni.
Australia, led by Claire Moore’s 52 and late cameos from Rhys McKenna and Amy Smith, put on 5-130 from their 20 overs, but it was chased down in 18 overs thanks to a bold batting display iced by Sumaiya Akter (31no) and Shorna Akter (23no).
The Bangladesh pair leapt into the air in delight with the win a significant milestone for a nation that has never beaten Australia in a senior women’s match.
It followed the Tigers' warm-up win over tournament favourites India earlier in the week. While form was difficult to gauge leading into the inaugural underage event, Australia have eight players with WBBL or WNCL experience in their squad, which had them favoured to topple Bangladesh in Saturday's tournament opener.
South African-born Australia captain McKenna handed her team the perfect start with the ball when she had Misty Ranu Saha caught behind from the first ball of Bangladesh’s chase.
Dilara Akter (42) and Afia Prottasha (24) wrested back the momentum, the former finding the boundary seven times and the latter launching two maximums, leaving their side needing 65 runs from the final 10 overs.
Western Australia quick Chloe Ainsworth promptly removed both in the space of an over after the drinks break to get Australia back into the match.
But Bangladesh capitalised on several dropped catches and some wayward bowling – Australia gifting 14 runs in extras – and Shorna delighted the vocal crowd with one enormous six out of the ground in the 18th over, before Sumaiya sealed victory three balls later.
Ainsworth finished with 2-9 from two overs, and Victorian speedster Milly Illingworth impressed with her pace but went unrewarded with 0-15 from three overs.
Australia’s most experienced WBBL trio of McKenna (1-31 off three), off-spinner Hayward (0-24 off three) and leg-spinner Smith (0-21 off two) were particularly targeted by the Bangladesh batters.
Earlier, NSW and Sixers batter Moore top-scored for Australia 52 from 51 balls.
She found herself in the middle in the fourth over alongside Hayward after Kate Pelle (5) and Paris Bowdler (7) were removed inside the power play.
Their 76-run stand ended shortly after Moore raised the bat for her half-century, and Hayward departed for 35, but late flurries from Smith (16no off seven) and McKenna (12no off six) pushed Australia to 5-130.
Australia’s next hit out is against the United States of America on Monday (10.45pm AEDT).
ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup 2023
Australia squad: Rhys McKenna (c),Chloe Ainsworth, Jade Allen, Charis Bekker, Paris Bowdler, Maggie Clark, Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Eleanor Larosa, Claire Moore, Kate Pelle, Amy Smith, Ella Wilson.
Group A: Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and USA
Group B: England, Pakistan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe
Group C: Indonesia, Ireland, New Zealand and West Indies
Group D: India, Scotland, South Africa and the UAE
Australia’s schedule
View the full schedule here
January 14: Bangladesh defeated Australia by seven wickets
January 16: v USA, Willowmoore Park B, Benoni, 1.45pm local (10.45pm AEDT)
January 18: v Sri Lanka, Willowmoore Park, Benoni, 10am local (7pm AEDT)
*If Australia qualify:
Super Sixes: January 21-25, Potchefstroom
Semi-finals: January 27, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 10am & 1.45pm local (7pm & 10.45pm AEDT)
Final: January 29, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 1.45pm local (10.45pm AEDT)
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