India Under-19 Women registered their second successive win at the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup with a massive 122-run victory over United Arab Emirates Under-19 Women (UAE) in Willowmoore Park, Benoni in South Africa.
Sent into bat, openers Shweta Sehrawat and Shafali Verma posted 111 for the first wicket before a blistering cameo of 49 runs from wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh saw them rack up 219 for three in their 20 overs. In response, UAE never managed the required run rate of 10.95 per over, reaching 97-5 in their 20 overs.
In a boundary filled innings, Sehrawat and captain Verma set the tone for their side with scores of 78 not out and 74, respectively. Player of the match Verma, who started last year’s ICC Women’s World Cup as India’s first choice opener, was particularly aggressive against UAE’s seam bowling, hitting 12 boundaries and four sixes in 34 deliveries.
Matters were made worse for the bowlers when Ghosh followed suit and hit five boundaries and two sixes in her score of 49, striking at a rate of 168 to post the biggest team score of the competition.
The pressure was on openers Theeretha Satish and Lavanya Keny straight away to match India’s intent. Captain Satish and gave it her best effort, striking the first four balls for four before picking a substitute fielder on the fifth. After that, Keny and Samaira Dharnidharka struggled to score boundaries and with the loss of key wickets, they chose to bat out the overs rather than chase victory.
On Wednesday, India U19 Women face Scotland U19 Women looking to finish the group with maximum points, but in contrast United Arab Emirates U19 Women face South Africa U19 Women looking for their first points of the tournament.
Summarised Scores:
India U19 Women 219-3 in 20 overs (Shweta Sehrawat 78*, Shafali Verma 74). United Arab Emirates U19 Women 97-5 in 20 overs (Mahika Gaur 26, Lavanya Keny 24). India U19 Women won by 122 runs.
Bangladesh U19 Women 165-2 in 20 overs (Afia Prottasha 53, Shorna Akter 50*). Sri Lanka U19 Women 155-4 in 20 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 60*, Dewmi Vihanga 55; Marufa Akter 2-19). Bangladesh U19 Women won by 10 runs.
USA U19 Women 64 all out in 15.3 overs (Snigdha Paul 17;Maggie Clarke 2-14). Australia U19 Women 65-1 in 8.4 overs (Kate Pelle 33*, Claire Moore 22). Australia U19 Women won by nine wickets.
South Africa U19 Women 112-7 in 20 overs (Kayla Reyneke 53, Jenna Evans 22; Katherine Fraser 3-25, Niamh Robertson-Jack 2-12). Scotland U19 Women 68 all out in 17 overs (Emma Walsingham 17, Nayma Sheikh 12; Madison Landsman 4-16, Seshnie Naidu 2-11). South Africa U19 Women win by 44 runs. (JC)
