The West Indies Under-19 Women have booked their place in the Super Six stage of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup after a dominant 53-run victory over hosts Malaysia in their final group game. The win sees the Windies finish third in Group A and move on to the next stage of the competition.

After being asked to bat first, the West Indies, who struggled to pick up the pace, posted a total of 112 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Asabi Callender held the innings together with a 42-ball 30 while middle order batter Jahzara Claxton supported with a knock of 19, while Jamaica’s Abigail Bryce added 14. Malaysia’s Siti Nazwah (2 for 28) and Nur Izzatul Syafiqa (2 for 26) the standout bowlers for the hosts.

However, the real drama came with the ball. Windies Captain Samara Ramnath turned in a spectacular bowling performance, leading her team to a decisive victory. After a brief stint at the top of the order, where she was dismissed for just 5 runs, Ramnath wreaked havoc with the ball, taking 4 wickets for just 6 runs. Her figures are the third-best in the tournament, behind India’s Vaishnavi Sharma and Scotland’s Maisie Maceira, who both claimed five-wicket hauls.

At 38 for 2 after 10 overs, Malaysia were still in the chase, but Ramnath began the collapse, taking two wickets in her second over, including that of Malaysia’s captain, Nur Daniya Syuhada. She followed up with a third wicket in her next over, as the hosts lost eight wickets for just 21 runs. Ramnath’s four wickets were all either bowled or LBW, as she tore through the Malaysian batting lineup.

The offspin duo of Naijanni Cumberbatch (2 for 28) and Erin Deane (2 for 26) then joined in, taking a combined four wickets in the following three overs, before Ramnath returned to finish off the innings, bowling Malaysia out for just 59 in the 18th over.

With the win, the West Indies secured third place in Group A, finishing with 2 points, 4 points behind group leaders India. In the other Group A game, India posted a commanding 118 for 9, before demolishing New Zealand for 58 to seal their spot at the top of the table.