February 2, Kuala Lumpur. In a historic triumph, the India U19 Women’s Cricket Team successfully defended their ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup title with a resounding nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the final at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur.
Gongadi Trisha delivered a stellar all-round performance, cementing her status as the tournament’s standout player. She took three wickets for just 15 runs, playing a key role in restricting South Africa to a modest 82 all out. Trisha then led India’s run chase, smashing an unbeaten 44 runs off 33 balls to seal the win with 52 balls to spare.
Trisha’s remarkable consistency throughout the tournament saw her finish as the highest run-scorer, amassing 309 runs in seven innings—133 runs more than any other batter in the competition.
South Africa, electing to bat first in the highly anticipated final, faced early setbacks. Despite opener Jemma Botha’s promising start, India’s bowlers quickly turned the game in their favor.
India’s bowling attack was led by Parunika Sisodia, who provided an early breakthrough by clean-bowling Simone Lourens, finishing with figures of 2 for 6. Aayushi Shukla, with 2 for 9, and the tournament’s top wicket-taker, Vaishnavi Sharma, with 2 for 23, kept the pressure on the South African batters. Gongadi Trisha dominated the lower order, taking 3 wickets for 15 runs, ensuring South Africa was dismissed for just 82 in 20 overs.
Mieke van Voorst (23 off 18) tried to inject some momentum, but India’s disciplined bowling attack left no room for a comeback.
Chasing 83, India got off to a solid start despite an early scare when Trisha edged one just out of the wicketkeeper’s reach. However, she soon found her rhythm, striking eight boundaries to dominate the South African attack.
Sanika Chalke provided strong support, scoring a brisk 26 not out, including the winning runs with a boundary in the 12th over. India finished on 84/1 in 11.2 overs, securing their second consecutive ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup title.
For her outstanding contributions with both bat and ball, Gongadi Trisha was named Player of the Tournament. With 309 runs and nine wickets, she etched her name in the history books as the first player to score 300 runs in a single edition of the tournament.
“It means everything. I have no words. I dedicate this to my father, who is here. I wouldn’t be here without him,” said an emotional Trisha after the victory. “I want to play for my country and win more matches. Winning this again is simply superb.”
Trisha also made history earlier in the tournament by scoring the first-ever century in U19 Women’s T20 World Cup history, with a breathtaking 110* against Scotland.
India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, showcasing dominance in all departments. Their disciplined bowling, aggressive batting, and strategic brilliance underlined their supremacy in the U19 Women’s cricketing arena.
Scores in Brief
South Africa: 82 all out in 20 overs (Mieke van Voorst 23, Jemma Botha 16; Gongadi Trisha 3/15, Parunika Sisodia 2/6) India: 84/1 in 11.2 overs (Gongadi Trisha 44*, Sanika Chalke 26*; Kayla Reyneke 1/14) Result: India won by nine wickets
India’s victory solidifies their dominance in U19 Women’s cricket and sets the stage for an exciting future as young stars like Gongadi Trisha continue to rise on the international stage.
Source: ICC
