USA captain Chetna Pagydyala scored 61 from 45 balls as USA posted 167 for 3 against Argentina. File photo by Pankaj Nangia-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

USA Women produced a dominant all-round performance to beat Argentina by 142 runs at the Jimmy Powell Cricket Oval on Aug. 13th, in the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup Americas Qualifier. After posting 167 for 3 from 20 overs, USA bowled Argentina out for just 25 in 14.1 overs.

USA, having won the toss and elected to bat, made a strong start through Sainavi Kambalapalli and captain Chetna Pagydyala. The pair put on 31 before Kambalapalli was dismissed for 15 off 12 balls, with two fours, by Ana Dei Castelli.

Pagydyala then anchored the innings, scoring a fluent 61 from 45 deliveries with nine fours. She added 54 with Anannya Aneesh, who made 15 from 13, before Argentina struck again at 85 in the 11th over.

The USA captain's innings ended at 104 for 3 in the 13th over when she was caught by Julia Santos off Rocio Roquel Bartellini. Her 61 was the highest score of the innings and provided the foundation for a competitive total.

Pooja Ganesh and Mahek Desai then ensured USA finished strongly. Ganesh remained unbeaten on 36 from 27 balls, while Desai was not out on 29 from 24. Their unbroken fourth-wicket stand helped USA add 63 runs after the dismissal of Pagydyala. USA finished on 167 for 3, with 11 extras.

Argentina's chase never got going. Maahi Madhavan made the breakthrough with Daria Maria Mastrangelo bowled for a duck from the third ball of the innings, and she struck again to remove Julia Santos for 2.
Maahi Madhavan returned remarkable figures of 4 for 3 as Argentina were bowled out for a meager 25. File photo by Thananuwat Srirasant-ICC/ICC via Getty Images

Aditi Kumar then dismissed Maria Victoria Lehmann for 1, leaving Argentina 7 for 3 after 4.1 overs. Captain Milagros Bestani offered some resistance, making 11 from 38 balls, but Madhavan removed her to complete a three-wicket spell.

Madhavan finished with 4 for 3.1 overs, conceding only three runs while taking four wickets. Aditi Kumar also claimed 1 for 4 from two overs, while Uma Bandaru returned 1 for 5 from two. Mahek Desai took two wickets for two runs from three overs, and Sainavi Kambalapalli claimed two for seven from two overs.

Argentina lost wickets regularly and were reduced to 21 for 7 before the innings ended at 25 in 14.1 overs. Ana Dei Castelli top-scored with six, while Bestani's 11 was the only double-digit contribution.

The 142-run victory gives USA a commanding result in the Americas Qualifier, with their batting depth and disciplined bowling both on display. Argentina's collapse also underlined the gulf between the sides as USA strengthened their position in the tournament.