Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], January 23: West Indies secured their place in the Super Six stage of the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025 with a dominant 53-run win over hosts Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. Despite posting a modest total of 112/7 in their 20 overs, the West Indies bowlers produced a clinical performance, dismissing Malaysia for just 59 runs, as they finished third in Group A.
The defeat ended Malaysia’s campaign in the tournament, as they were knocked out with three consecutive losses, finishing at the bottom of the group.
West Indies captain and all-rounder Samara Ramnath was the standout performer in this crucial match. Although she managed only 5 runs with the bat, her remarkable bowling spell of 4 wickets for just 6 runs turned the game. Her performance ranks as the third-best in this edition of the tournament, behind the five-wicket hauls of Vaishnavi Sharma (India) and Maisie Maceira (Scotland).
Malaysia had been well-placed at 38/2 after 10 overs, chasing a target of 113, but Ramnath’s pivotal breakthroughs sparked a dramatic collapse. She took four crucial wickets, all either bowled or lbw, as Malaysia crumbled to 59 all out, losing their last eight wickets for just 21 runs.
Ramnath struck in her second over, removing Malaysia’s captain Nur Daniya Syuhada, who had earlier dismissed her, and trapping Nur Izzatul Syafiqa lbw. She returned to clean-bowl Suabika Manivannan before wrapping up the innings in the 18th over.
Off-spinners Naijanni Cumberbatch and Erin Deane also played key roles, sharing four wickets between them and maintaining relentless pressure on the Malaysian batters.
Earlier, West Indies, sent in to bat, found it difficult to accelerate. However, Assabi Callender’s patient knock of 30 runs off 42 balls helped the team set a defendable total.
India and Sri Lanka, who are set to meet later in the day, had already secured their places in the next round, leaving West Indies to join them as the third team from Group A to advance.