LIVE: Tournament heavyweights target wins as opening day action unfolds at U19WC 2025
Rolling coverage as the Women's U19 World Cup action finally arrives in Malaysia.
Let the games begin.
Six teams in three matches launch the opening day of the ICC Women's U19 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia.
Here is your guide to the day's action, as it unfolds, along with the links you'll need to watch and stay on top of it all.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: HOW TO WATCH THE ICC WOMEN'S U19 WORLD CUP
The #U19WorldCup 2025 starts today with six exciting matches 🏏
— ICC (@ICC) January 17, 2025
Who are you cheering for? pic.twitter.com/btQW1QGe93
The action commenced at 10:30am local time with Australia taking on Scotland, England battling nearby rivals Ireland and Samoa going up against Nigeria.
Later on, three more matches are scheduled, meaning there's absolutely no shortage of opening day play.
AUSTRALIA v SCOTLAND, MATCH CENTRE
Australia won the toss and elected to field first.
Australia U19 Playing XI: Kate Pelle, Ines McKeon, Lucy Hamilton, Caoimhe Bray, Eleanor Larosa (C), Hasrat Gill, Chloe Ainsworth, Grace Lyons (WK), Tegan Williamson, Juliette Morton, Amy Hunter.
Scotland U19 Playing XI: Pippa Kelly, Emma Walsingham, Pippa Sproul(WK), Niamh Muir(C), Nayma Sheikh, Charlotte Nevard, Ammy Baldie, Maisie Maceira, Mollie Parker, Kirsty McColl, Lucy Forrester Smith.
ENGLAND v IRELAND, MATCH CENTRE
Ireland won the toss and elected to field first.
England U19 Playing XI: Davina Perrin, Erin Thomas, Charlotte Stubbs, Abi Norgrove (c), Jemima Spice, (wk), Amu Surenkumar, Prisha Thanawala, Grace Thompson, Charlotte Lambert, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Eve O'Neill
Ireland U19 Playing XI: Alice Walsh, Freya Sargent, Rebecca Lowe, Annabel Squires, Lara McBride, Abbi Harrison (wk), Ellie McGee, Niamh MacNulty (c), Lucy Neely, Kia McCartney, Jennifer Jackson
SAMOA v NIGERIA, MATCH CENTRE
Start delayed due to wet outfield.
Australia made an impressive start in Bangi, cruising to a comfortable win over Scotland.
After winning the toss and sending their opponents in, the Aussies ripped through Scotland's batting lineup and had them all out for just 48 runs off 15.1 overs.
Caoimhe Bray's 1-3 off 3.1 overs earned her Player of the Match honours, while Eleanor Larosa (7-3 off 3) and Hasrat Gill (10-2 off 2) were also unrelenting with the ball.
Along with victory, Australia targeted a lightening quick chase to register a strong net run rate position. And the plan was executed to perfection, finishing proceedings inside seven overs.
The Aussies recorded 49-1 off 6.4 overs, led by Kate Pelle (29* off 18), launching to the top of Group D.
England, meantime, have made a strong start in Johor after being sent into bat by Ireland.
Davina Perrin blasted some early runs at the top of the order, hitting 26 off 19 balls including the tournament's first maximum.
Charlotte Stubbs (31 off 34) and Jemima Spence (37 off 27) made strong contributions as the English totalled 144-7 from their 20 overs.
Ireland's run chase is underway, but has paused due to rain, with the chasers at 28-2 off 3.5 overs.
The wait for action at the Borneo Cricket Ground in Sarawak continues, as wet conditions threaten to deny Samoa and Nigeria a chance to open their World Cup campaigns.
GROUP A
India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, West Indies
GROUP B
England, Ireland, Pakistan, USA
GROUP C
New Zealand, Nigeria, Samoa, South Africa
GROUP D
Australia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Scotland