LIVE: Sri Lanka knock over the U19WC 2025 hosts, India set to begin title defence
Powered an all-round display, Sri Lanka got off the mark with a commanding 139-run win. In the second game of the day, India will face the West Indies.
Chamudi Praboda and Dahami Sanethma emerged as the star performers as Sri Lanka pinned down hosts Malaysia by a 139 runs in their ICC Women's U19 T20 World Cup opener on day two of the tournament.
Defending a challenging total, Sri Lanka were on top from the get-go, removing three wickets in the powerplay starting off with Rashmika Sewwandi, who claimed opener Irdina Beh in the first over to hand her team an early advantage.
It was followed by twin strikes from Praboda, who got the better of Nazatul Hidayah Husna and Nur Izzatul Syafiqa in the second over of the innings.
Just as the hosts were reeling from the early wickets, Manudi Nanayakkara made her mark with the wickets of Nur Aliya and skipper Nur Daniya Syuhada in the same over as half of the Malaysian batting returned back with only 14 runs on the board.
Aseni Thalagune also got into the thick of the action with a stunning direct hit to remove Nuriman Hidayah out of the equation with a run out.
Limansa Thilakaratne then got rid of Suabika Manivannan and Nur Ain in successive overs from her end before Praboda returned to clinch her third, finishing with figures of 3/5. Another run out came as the final blow for the hosts, who were bowled out for 23.
Earlier, Dahami Sanethma anchored the Sri Lankan innings with the first half-century of the tournament. Returning with 55 runs off 52 deliveries, Dahani composed her knock with five boundaries around the scenic Bayeumas Oval in Kuala Lumpur as Sri Lanka closed the innings with 162/6 on the board.
Opener Sanjana Kavindi (30 off 13 balls) and Hiruni Kumari (28 off 21 balls) in the middle order were also key contributors for the Sri Lankans.
Hosts Malaysia did pull the run rate back thanks to wickets in the middle overs. The pick of the bowlers Siti Nazwah removed Hiruni and Rashkima Sewwandi in the same over to carve an opening for the hosts. But thanks to some late fireworks, courtesy of Sanethma and Shashini Gimhani, Sri Lanka leaped past the 150-run mark.
Malaysia had won the toss and elected to bowl in the nation's capital, and there were emotional scenes when Marsya claimed the hosts' opening wicket, a catch off her own bowling to dismiss Kavindi in the fourth over.
After morning play, defending champions India meet the West Indies at the same venue.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: HOW TO WATCH THE ICC WOMEN'S U19 WORLD CUP
On day one, there were wins for Australia, Bangladesh and South Africa in spite of inclement weather across the country.
Bangladesh proved to be too strong an opponent for Nepal in a one-sided encounter. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Bangladesh's bowlers dominated, bowling Nepal out for just 52 runs in 18.2 overs. Jannatul Maoua was the standout performer, taking two wickets for just 11 runs in her four overs.
A vital partnership between Sadia Islam and captain Sumaiya Akter steadied the ship for Bangladesh after a shaky start. The duo guided Bangladesh to victory, reaching the target in 13.2 overs to secure the two points.
The highly-anticipated match between the USA and Pakistan in Johor was abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to relentless rain.
In Kuching, South Africa brushed aside New Zealand in a rain-affected afternoon fixture.
The Proteas held on in a 22-run DLS victory, with Jemma Botha named Player of the Match for her vital 32 runs off 24 balls.
Jemma Botha | Aramco Player of the Match | U19 World Cup 2025
Australia made the biggest statement on the opening day, bowling out Scotland for just 48 and chasing the target in just 6.4 overs at UKM Oval.
Samoa and Nigeria's match in the morning was washed out, as was Ireland's meeting with England.