Perrin propels England to back-to-back wins at ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup

The 18-year-old opener smacked 74 from just 45 balls to lift her side to a second successive victory in Group A, with the Super 6 stage lying in wait.

The second edition of the tournament has reached the business end of the group stage with games played across Malaysia on day five.

New Zealand bounced back from a dramatic defeat to Nigeria with a comprehensive 67-run win over debutants Samoa.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh were good value for an 18-run win over Scotland, thanks to a mature 29 from skipper Sumaiya Akter and four wickets for legspinner Anisa Akter Soba.

England excel

As well as keeping wicket and captaining her side, Anika Kolan was USA’s lynchpin with the bat as they reached a competitive total.

Kolan played the anchor role to perfection, scoring an unbeaten 46 from 42 balls, building a fifth-wicket partnership of 58 with Ritu Singh as USA posted 119 for five.

A remarkable display of controlled hitting from Perrin made light work of that total.

Perrin smacked Pooja Shah back over her head for six, one of three maximums added to nine fours, before being caught at deep cover two balls later.

Trudy Johnson joined Perrin in a second-wicket stand of 117 and guided England to victory with a measured, undefeated 44.

New Zealand back on track

Having been put in to bat and the game reduced to a 17-over contest, New Zealand sunk to 12 for three with Samoan seamer Olive Lefaga Lemoe taking two precious early wickets, her nation’s first scalps at the event.

New Zealand’s Super 6 hopes were kept alive by a star turn with the bat from Eve Wolland, who hit two sixes and two fours in a brilliant 48.

She put on 55 for the fourth wicket with Anika Todd and then shepherded the tail to 107 for nine, a total which proved way beyond Samoa, who were dismissed for 40.

Their run chase never got going with wickets shared around the Kiwi attack, as medium pacer Tash Wakelin took three for three and leggie Rishika Jaswal took three for 12.

Remarkably, Jaswal and Sophie Court both bowled two maiden overs in their four-over spells as New Zealand returned to form in timely fashion.

Bangladesh hold their nerve

There was yet another captain’s innings at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup courtesy of Sumaiya, who lifted Bangladesh to 121 for nine.

A good score looked out of reach as Bangladesh sunk to 50 for five, with Scottish seamer Nayma Sheikh making hay with two wickets for 15 from her four overs.

But Sumaiya dropped anchor and masterminded a strong end to the innings, her composed 29 adding to contributions of 20 from keeper Juariya Ferdous and 21 from Afia Ashima Era.

Scotland’s reply was scuppered by the loss of wickets in clusters.

Openers Emma Walsingham and Pippa Kelly were both bowled in the fifth over, bamboozled by the leg spin of Anisa.

The next five Scottish wickets fell for 26 runs as, despite a fine 43 from keeper Pippa Sproul, they fell 18 runs short of backing up Monday’s vital victory over Nepal.