By Mark Bristow

Kent all-rounder Grace Scrivens will be looking to lead England into the final of the inaugural Under-19 Women’s World T20 Cup in South Africa this weekend.

Skipper Scrivens, from Leeds near Maidstone, has been in South Africa since the start of the month for the tournament, which concludes this weekend with England among the favourites alongside India and Australia.

They continued their unbeaten run in the 16-team tournament against West Indies yesterday (Wednesday) to claim their semi-final place with the event having already been a huge triumph for Scrivens, who plays for Kent as well as the Sunrisers franchise and London Spirit, whose home games in the Hundred are at Lord’s.

Scrivens, a left-handed bat and off-spinner, holds the tournament’s highest individual score with 93 off 56 balls against Ireland on Saturday and is the overall leading scorer with 269 runs after hitting 56 in England's 95-run victory over the Windies.

She also claimed 4-2 against Zimbabwe in the first game when Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 25.

She has found no shortage of family support in South Africa, with mother Debbie, father Trevor and brother Ed, a Kent League player with Leeds & Broomfield, having all made the trip.

“It’s been brilliant so far for Grace and the team,” said Debbie, staying in Potchefstroom where the England matches have taken place.

“The whole tournament has been a success not just for England so far but for women’s cricket in general.

“Australia and India will be tough as we hopefully progress through to the later stages, especially India, who have a number of players in the senior women’s team.”

The semi-finals are scheduled for tomorrow (Friday), with Saturday set aside as a spare date in case of rain, before the final on Sunday.

England face Australia in the last four, with India taking on New Zealand.

“There is a forecast for rain later in the week,” added Debbie, “but so far it’s been hot, certainly different to England where they were doing fielding drills in the snow before they left to come out here.”

Scrivens is effectively on her gap year having achieved A*, A and B grades in her A-levels last year, which she sat at Sutton Valence School, where she combined her education with cricket, having won a scholarship at the age of 16. She plans to study psychology and criminology at Southampton in September.