Pakistan Women Under-19 vs Samoa Women Under-19, 4th Place Playoff - Match 1 Match Summary

With the top 12 teams advancing to the Super Six stage, the remaining teams, who finished last in their respective groups, now face off in the 4th Place Playoff to determine their final standings in the competition. The first of these playoffs takes place at the Johor Cricket Academy Oval, where Pakistan Women Under-19 will take on Samoa Women Under-19, with both sides eager to finish their campaign on a positive note. Both Pakistan and Samoa endured challenging campaigns. Pakistan Women Under-19 shared points in their rain-washed opening game but lost their next two matches, leaving them winless in the tournament. Their struggles were highlighted by a shocking loss to Ireland Women in a rain-shortened 9-over game, where they failed to chase a target of 70 runs. While Pakistan’s bowlers have shown glimpses of promise, their batting and fielding have let them down time and again. No batter has stepped up to anchor the innings, with wickets often falling in heaps, a formula that has consistently derailed their chances. This match presents Pakistan with an opportunity to salvage some pride and bring an otherwise forgettable season to a close. Samoa Women Under-19, meanwhile, entered the tournament as the first team to qualify from the regional pathway through the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier. After their first game was washed out, their inexperience showed against two of the strongest teams in world cricket, they gained valuable lessons along the way. Their most promising performance came in their final group match against New Zealand, where the bowlers shone brightly. Olive Lefaga Lemoe was the standout, claiming 3 wickets, while Verra Farane and the rest of the bowling unit chipped in to claim 9 Kiwi batters in total which is a remarkable effort against a powerhouse side. While Pakistan Women Under-19 may appear to be the favourites on paper, Samoa Women Under-19 will draw confidence from their last performance and aim to exploit Pakistan’s lack of confidence and momentum. This match has the potential to be a fiercely competitive battle as both teams look to end their campaigns on a high note.