Future stars from the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2023
India dominated England in the Final to get their hands on the inaugural ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup title.
Ni Luh Ratna Dewi (Indonesia)
Ni Luh Ratna Dewi led the colourful Indonesia side during the U19 T20 World Cup, and gave them most to cheer about during their campaign. The 18-year-old all-rounder opened her side’s bowling, while also batting in the top-order.
Ni Luh Ketut Wesika Ratna Dewi's five-wicket haul | U19 Women's T20WC
Ratna Dewi was Indonesia’s highest run-getter (74 runs) as well as being their most successful bowler (seven wickets). This included a valiant effort of 34* from 40 and 2/23 in a loss to Ireland and a match-winning 5/18 against Zimbabwe.
Katherine Fraser (Scotland)
Almost four years since she became the youngest female cricketer to represent Scotland at international level, Katherine Fraser led the Wildcats in the inaugural U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
She was the highest run-getter in the tournament for Scotland with 82 runs at an average of 20.5. Though not renowned for her batting at the senior level, Fraser batted in the middle-order and helped her team to a win over USA with a Player of the Match-winning 59 from 47.
In the same match she picked 3/23, her best bowling figures in the World Cup. Overall, she had nine wickets, the best for any Scotland player, at an average of 11.
Chipo Moyo (Zimbabwe)
Chipo Moyo stood out in what was a tough World Cup for the Lady Chevrons. After missing out in their opening encounter against England, Moyo made an immediate impact against Rwanda. The right-arm medium pacer picked 3/22, playing a role in Rwanda’s late innings collapse.
Moyo was again at her best against Indonesia, running through their middle-order to nearly get Zimbabwe home.
Aditiba Chudasama (USA)
Aditiba Chudasama was USA’s star bowler of the tournament. She picked four wickets at an average of 15, while her economy was a frugal 4.61. She played a role in USA’s only success in the tournament, picking 2/9 in a warm-up win over UAE.
Throughout the tournament, the off-spinner was often employed in the powerplay overs, and returned with exemplary figures. During USA’s last group stage encounter against Bangladesh, Chudasama (2/15) gave her side a fighting chance by taking the wickets of Sumaiya Akter and Disha Biswas. Similarly, during USA’s fourth-place playoff match, she rocked Scotland early in their pursuit of 148, eventually finishing with 2/20.
Marufa Akter (Bangladesh)
Having impressed during her debut against New Zealand in December, Marufa Akter went from strength to strength in South Africa. She contributed in each of Bangladesh’s World Cup encounters, her eight wickets coming at an average of 12.12 and economy rate of 4.89.
During her run, Marufa rattled the batting lineups of established nations, with bowling figures of 2/29 against Australia, 2/19 against Sri Lanka and 1/16 versus South Africa.
Zaida James (West Indies)
Zaida James was Player of the Match in the two West Indies wins in the tournament. The left-handed all-rounder hit two half-centuries in these wins against Ireland and Indonesia. She also picked five wickets in these games.
Her returns might have dwindled after this brilliant start, but James is one for the future. She is a top-order batter and a strong spin option.
Gisele Ishimwe (Rwanda)
Rwanda were led in the batting department by skipper Gisele Ishimwe. Her 34 from 23 helped Rwanda to a match-winning score against Zimbabwe while she played the perfect anchor in the successful encounter against West Indies, her unbeaten 31* from 53 ensuring a win.
She also picked three wickets at an average of 27.66 and an economy rate of six.
Lavanya Keny (UAE)
UAE international Lavanya Keny batted at the top for UAE in the World Cup. She was the third-highest run-getter for her team after skipper Theertha Satish and Mahika Gaur. However, it was with the ball that Keny particularly excelled for UAE. Her five wickets came at an average of 13.8 and an economy of 5.75.
Her 2/10 against South Africa included the wicket of the aggressive Simone Lourens, while her 2/23 against Australia accounted for Sianna Ginger and Claire Moore.
Madison Landsman (South Africa)
Madison Landsman made an impact in nearly all of her games. In the group stage, she started with a blistering 32 from 17 against India and won the next game against Scotland almost single-handedly with her 4/16. This bowling effort included the first-ever hat-trick at a U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
During the Super Six stage, she played the anchor with a resolute 37 from 38 in a win against Bangladesh. In South Africa’s thrilling win against Sri Lanka, Landsman scored a quick-fire 21 from 12 and also accounted for the dangerous Vishmi Gunaratne.
Dewmi Vihanga Wijerathne (Sri Lanka)
The Sri Lanka all-rounder was her side’s second-best batter with 113 runs at a strike-rate of 118.94. She was the clear leader in the bowling charts, picking nine wickets at an average of 12.88.
She stood tall in tough encounters for Sri Lanka. These included close losses against South Africa (37 runs and 2/22) and Bangladesh (55 from 44).
Her big-hitting with the bat yielded five sixes, the most by any Sri Lanka player in the U19 World Cup.
Anosha Nasir (Pakistan)
The bespectacled slow left-arm spinner befuddled Pakistan’s opponents with her bag of tricks. In all she picked 10 wickets at an average of 11 and an economy rate of 5.5.
Besides winning a Player of the Match award against Ireland for her 2/17, Nasir also impressed against stronger opponents. She picked 2/20 against the dangerous England side, getting rid of their skipper Grace Scrivens. Opening the bowling against New Zealand, Nasir managed figures of 3/32 with international player Georgia Plimmer among her victims.
Annabel Squires (Ireland)
Top-order batter Annabel Squires was a big positive for Ireland. In their close loss to West Indies, Squires became the lynchpin of Ireland’s chase. Her 42 from 38 kept the side in contention until the 16th over.
She went even better against Pakistan in the Super Six, holding the innings together with 55* from 52 after the top and middle-order batters were dismissed cheaply. Her innings brought some respect to the Ireland total, getting them to 113/7.
Squires was the leading run-getter for Ireland with 116 runs at an average of 29.
Maggie Clark (Australia)
Australia’s new ball bowler Maggie Clark picked 12 wickets at an unreal average of a mere 6.25. Her bowling highlights of the tournament included a Player of the Match worthy 2/14 against USA, 2/18 against India and 3/15 against England.
The 15-year-old prodigy was Australia’s best bowler and also the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
Georgia Plimmer (New Zealand)
Plimmer put her international experience to good use during the World Cup, scoring 155 runs at an average of 51.66. Her runs came at a blistering pace, with the batter’s strike-rate standing at 143.51.
Her notable knocks included 41* from 22 against West Indies, 53 from 38 against Pakistan and 35 from 32 in the semi-final against India.
Plimmer’s fielding stood out too, her best effort coming in the game against India where she took a diving catch at deep mid-wicket to get rid of Shafali Verma.
Grace Scrivens (England)
The England skipper was a beast with the bat and unreal with the ball. She scored 293 runs at an average of 41.85, while picking nine wickets at a bowling average of 7.11.
Against Ireland, Scrivens smashed a belligerent 93 from 56, while she hit 56 from 43 against West Indies. Her spin thrived on the slow wickets, she picked 4/2 against Zimbabwe in England’s very first game. During the semi-finals, Scrivens returned remarkable figures of 2/8 to win a nail-biter against Australia.
Parshavi Chopra (India)
In a team filled with big stars and proven performers, Parshavi Chopra managed to make a name for herself by delivering match-winning performances in key games.
🔹Parshavi Chopra 3/20
— ICC (@ICC) January 27, 2023
🔹Shweta Sehrawat 61* (45)
A magnificent performance from India sealed a spot in the #U19T20WorldCup final ⬇️https://t.co/Kqkve0Vk1g
In a must-win Super Six encounter, Chopra ran through the Sri Lanka middle order with her 4/5 to restrict them to 59/9. India easily overhauled this target to make it to the semi-finals. Against New Zealand in the semis, Chopra was at her best again taking 3/20 while accounting for skipper Isabella Gaze, Izzy Sharp and Emma Irwin in the middle overs. In the finals, her 2/13 played its part in shooting out England for 68.
She finished with 11 wickets at an average of seven in India's successful campaign.