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India entered into the final of the inaugural edition of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup after registering a convincing 8-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first semi-final at the JB Marks Oval, on Friday.
After electing to field first, India got off to a great start with left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap (1/21) and pacer Titas Sadhu (1/17) sending both the openers Anna Browning and Emma McLeod back into the pavilion to put New Zealand in deep trouble at 5/2 in just 2.1 overs.
Coming in to bat at No.4, wicket-keeper Isabella Gaze scored 26 off 22 balls to bring the White Ferns innings back on track. However, Parshavi Chopra (3/20) removed Isabella on the last ball of the seventh over, just when it seemed New Zealand were getting back in the game.
Georgia Plimmer anchored the innings well and scored 35 from 31 balls, hitting two fours and holding one end before she was caught off Archana on the fifth ball of the 17th over. Plimmer tried her level best to get the Kiwis to a competitive total. But after her dismissal, they could only reach a below-par total of 107/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
#TeamIndia march into the Finals of the #U19T20WorldCup.
They become the first team to reach the finals of the inaugural #U19T20WorldCup 💪💥👏
Way to go #WomenInBlue! pic.twitter.com/4H0ZUpghkA
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) January 27, 2023
The Indian spin bowling attack led by Parshavi ensured that they kept the bowling tight and never allowed the New Zealand batters to score runs at a quick rate. Parshavi took 3/20 from her four overs, including one maiden, while off-spinner Archana Devi ended with 1/20 from her three overs.
Notably, the most economical bowler for India was their skipper Shafali Verma who gave seven runs from her four overs and ended with 1/7 at an economy rate of just 1.75.
In reply, Indian openers – Shafali and Shweta took full advantage of some loose balls bowled by New Zealand pacers and gave India a quickfire start of 33 in 3.2 overs before Shafali was caught off Browning at deep mid-wicket with a brilliant diving catch from Plimmer.
18-year-old Shweta continued her impressive run in the tournament and smashed her third half-century in the competition to remain unbeaten on 61 off 45 balls, hitting ten fours at a strike rate of 135.55.
Shweta is now the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 292 runs from 6 matches, averaging 146.00 at a strike rate of 141.06, along with three half-centuries. Her highest score in the tournament was 92* off 57 balls which came against South Africa in a Group D game. She is just three runs ahead of England’s Grace Scrivens, who is in second place with 289 runs from six matches.
Shweta along with Soumya Tiwari (22 off 26) stitched a match-winning 62-run partnership for the second wicket to take India to 95/2 in 12.2 overs. Despite Soumya getting dismissed on 22, the damage was done as India chased down the target with 34 balls remaining to reach the finals of the tournament.
Right-arm pacer Anna Browning was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand and ended the game with figures of 2/18 from 3.2 overs.
Parshavi Chopra was awarded Player of the Match for her brilliant figures of 3/20 from her four overs, including one maiden.
India will now face England in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup final at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, on Sunday.
Brief scores: New Zealand 107/9 in 20 overs (Georgia Plimmer 35, Isabella Gaze 26; Parshavi Chopra 3-20, Shafali Verma 1-7) lost to India 110/2 in 14.2 overs (Shweta Sehrawat 61 not out, Soumya Tiwari 22; Anna Browning 2-18) by eight wickets
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