India successfully defended their U-19 Women's T20 World Cup title with an emphatic 9-wicket victory over South Africa in the final, thanks to a stellar all-round performance from Gongadi Trisha on Sunday.
The Women in Blue, led by a clinical bowling attack and a confident batting display, outclassed South Africa to lift the trophy once again.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, South Africa faced immediate trouble as India's bowlers dominated from the outset. Jemma Botha provided a fiery start with two early boundaries, but her aggressive approach was short-lived. Parunika Sisodia drew first blood, dismissing Simeone Lourens for a duck in the second over, setting the tone for the innings.
The Indian bowlers kept the pressure on, with Shabnam picking up Botha after a spectacular one-handed catch by Kamalini. Aayushi Shukla struck with her very first delivery, clean bowling Ramlakan, leaving South Africa reeling at 20 for 3 in just over four overs.
South Africa's middle order struggled to stabilize the innings. Kayla Reyneke (7 off 21) and Karabo Meso (10 off 26) found it difficult to rotate the strike, as India's spinners tightened their grip. Gongadi Trisha showcased her brilliance with the ball, picking up three key wickets-Reyneke, Seshnie Naidu, and Mieke van Voorst-in quick succession, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 15.
Vaishnavi Sharma added to Proteas' woes, claiming 2 wickets for 23 runs, becoming the tournament's highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps. South Africa were eventually bundled out for a modest 82 runs on the final ball of their innings.
Chasing a target of 83, India's openers G Kamalini and Gongadi Trisha started confidently. The pair raced to 24 runs in just three overs, putting India firmly in control. Although Reyneke provided South Africa with a brief glimmer of hope by dismissing Kamalini for 8, Trisha continued her dominance with the bat.
Partnering with Sanika Chalke, Trisha played a composed yet aggressive innings, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 44. Sanika's quickfire contributions complemented Trisha perfectly, as the duo guided India to victory in just 11 overs, sealing the win by 9 wickets.
Gongadi Trisha was rightfully named Player of the Match for her outstanding all-round performance-scoring 44* with the bat and taking 3 crucial wickets with the ball. Her contributions were pivotal in both restricting South Africa's total and steering India's chase with ease.
This triumph echoes India's victory in the Senior Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final, reinforcing India's dominance in global cricket across both men's and women's formats. The young Indian team showcased exceptional skill, composure, and team spirit throughout the tournament, making their title defense a memorable one.
