KUALA LUMPUR: Gongadi Trisha starred with bat and ball as India were crowned ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup champions with a nine-wicket win over South Africa.
Trisha, who finished as the tournament’s top run-scorer, took 3-15 to help bowl South Africa out for 82 at the Bayuemas Oval. She then led the run-chase, scoring 44 not out, to steer India to victory and a successful defence of the trophy they won in 2023.
South Africa were unable to score quickly enough in their innings and lost regular wickets as India’s spin bowlers took control.
In a clash of the two unbeaten teams in the tournament, South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first in dry conditions, putting their star player Jemma Botha in the middle right away.
Successive first-over boundaries was a fine way to start, but India hit back when Parunika Sisodia clean-bowled Simone Lourens at the end of the second over.
At the end of the fourth over, Botha went after a Shabnam Shakil delivery, attempting a heave into the leg side. However, she instead got a thick edge and looked back in dismay as wicket-keeper Kamalini G dived, outstretched to her right and held onto a brilliant one-handed catch.
That took the steam out of South Africa’s innings, and India quickly took control.
Diara Ramlakan was bowled by Aayushi Shukla the very next ball. Captain Kayla Reyneke and wicket-keeper Karabo Meso soaked up the pressure but then fell in successive overs while attempting big shots.
Mieke van Voorst added a late spark, firing an 18-ball 23, including three fours, but South Africa ran out of steam when she was stumped off a well-flighted Trisha delivery.
That sparked another burst of wickets that left South Africa all out for 82. Trisha was the pick of the bowlers, while Sisodia (2-6), Shukla (2-9) and the tournament’s top wicket-taker Vaishnavi Sharma (2-23) all contributed.
Trisha then took it over with the bat. Despite losing opening partner Kamalini early, she continued to play aggressively, scoring eight boundaries in her innings, while a single in the ninth over moved her to 35.
Sanika Chalke hit four boundaries in a breezy 26 not out to support Trisha, and hit the winning runs in the 12th over.
Scores in brief:
SOUTH AFRICA 82 in 20 overs (M. van Voorst 23, J. Botha 16; G. Trisha 3-15, P. Sisodia 2-6); INDIA 84-1 in 11.2 overs (G. Trisha 44 not out, S. Chalke 26 not out; K. Reyneke 1-14).
Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2025
