With 52 balls to spare, champions India defended the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in the final against South Africa on Sunday.
All-rounder Gongadi Trisha prevailed with the bat and the ball, hitting an unbeaten 44 out of 33 balls and clinching three wickets (3/15).
Kayla Reyneke-led South Africa hoped to start strong when they opted to bat first, but were quickly outmatched by the Indian spinners, bowling them out for a mere 82.
Left-arm spinner Parunika (4-0-6-2) dispatched South African opener Simone Lourens for a duck and provided the base for the attack, complemented by the other left-arm spinner Aayushi Shukla (4-2-9-2).
South Africa, at a point, were at 33 runs with three down, and couldn’t find the grip back into the game, despite a valiant effort from the duo of Fay Cowling and Mieke van Voorst.
India, with Trisha leading the attack started the chase strong. What proceeded was an unbeaten knock that included eight fours.
South Africa: 82 all out in 20 overs (Mieke van Voorst 23; Gongadi Trisha 3/15)
India: 84* for 1 in 11.2 overs (Gongadi Trisha 44* not out, Sanika Chalke 26* not out)
Trisha not only led the attack in the final but also finished as the top scorer (309 runs from seven innings). She averaged 77.25 with a strike rate of over 147. In the bowling front, the seven innings saw her set a 6.42 economy rate.
Vaishnavi was the tournament’s top wicket-taker, claiming 17 with an economy rate of 4.35 from six innings.
India was unbeaten in this World Cup, prevailing over West Indies, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka (group), Bangladesh and Scotland (super six), and England (semifinal).
