A convincing, six-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw Australia hang on to their spot in the top two of the Super Six log in the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup.

Their match at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom offered them a chance to draw level with India on six points, an opportunity they took with both hands by putting the opposition in and making reasonably light work of the chase.

Australia’s net run-rate sees them just behind India in the Group 1 standings, and in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals. Bangladesh would have to beat the UAE strongly to usurp them in the scramble for the final four.

The UAE made 107/8 in their innings, which Australia overhauled on the first ball of the 16th over. Openers Kate Pelle (51 off 36 balls, eight fours) and Sianna Ginger (14) broke the back of the chase with an opening stand of 66.

By the time the UAE bowlers – led by off-spinner Lavanya Keny’s 2/23 in four overs – started pegging them back, the job was already done.

The UAE seemed well on their way to making a good fist of things and setting Australia a competitive total, despite losing the wicket of opener Keny with just eight runs on the board.

This was thanks to opener and wicketkeeper Theertha Satish, who held the best parts of the innings together with a gutsy, captains’ knock of 58 (eight fours). Satish batted until the first ball of the 16th over, when she was the fourth wicket to fall after her 48-ball innings.

The moment she was caught off leg-spinner Amy Smith’s bowling the UAE had very little by way of batters who could take them to a total they could bowl at, only managing 107 for eight as Australia’s bowlers shared the wickets evenly amongst themselves.

Fast bowler Maggie Clark, who began the rot by dismissing opener Keny, caught and bowled for five, was the pick of them with figures of 3/20, with Lucy Hamilton taking two for 10 off her three overs and Smith chipping in with two more wickets for 14 runs.

Scores in brief:

Toss: Australia, who elected to bowl.

UAE 107 for 8 in 20 overs (Theertha Satish 58, Samaira Dharnidharka 17, Maggie Clark three for 20, Lucy Hamilton two for 10)

Australia 109 for 4 in 15.1 overs (Kate Pelle 51, Claire Moore 16, Lavanya Keny two for 23, Vaishnave Mahesh one for 22)

Australia won by six wickets with 29 balls to spare.