USA cruised to a nine-wicket victory over NextGen XI in the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup Americas Qualifier, chasing down a target of 48 in just 5.4 overs at the Jimmy Powell Cricket Oval.

Saanvi Immadi was the standout performer, claiming 2 for 5 from three overs, including a maiden, as NextGen XI were bowled out for 47 in 10.5 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat. Mahek Desai was even more prolific, taking four wickets for two runs from her two overs.
Saanvi Immadi bagged 5 wickets for 2 runs in USA’s nine-wicket victory over NextGen XI in the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup Americas Qualifier. File photo courtesy of ICC

NextGen XI made a brisk start through Saanvi Sood and Palak Chauhan, who put on 32 for the opening wicket. Sood struck two sixes and a four in her 20 off 13 balls before she was caught by Maahi Madhavan off Uma Bandaru in the fourth over.

The dismissal triggered a collapse. Evelyn Muller was stumped for four by Hiranya Singh Talan off Immadi, while Chauhan was trapped lbw by Desai for 12. NextGen XI slipped from 32 for 1 to 37 for 3 before Desai struck again, removing wicketkeeper Sahasra Gorla for a duck.

Immadi then took control of the innings. She dismissed Alina Emch and captain Giulia de Cassia Souza Ribeiro for ducks in the same spell before removing Clara Valencia and Jashe Trott, completing a four-wicket sequence that left NextGen XI eight down for 42.

Disha Kaveripakam was dismissed for five by Sainavi Kambalapalli, while Arya Shah was the final wicket to fall, caught by Immadi off Dhanya Mikkilineni for three. Jasmine Frederick remained unbeaten on nought as the innings ended at 47.

USA's chase suffered an early setback when Kambalapalli was caught by Chauhan off Kaveripakam for a duck in the second over. That proved to be the only wicket USA lost.

Anannya Aneesh then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 37 from 28 balls, striking six fours at a strike rate of 132.14. Captain Chetna Pagydyala provided support with an unbeaten six from five balls as USA completed the chase in 5.4 overs.

Kaveripakam was the most economical of the NextGen XI bowlers, finishing with 1 for 16 from three overs, while Giulia de Cassia Souza Ribeiro, Clara Valencia and Jashe Trott also shared the bowling workload.

The comprehensive victory gives USA an important result in the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup Americas Qualifier, while NextGen XI will need to improve with both bat and ball in their remaining matches.