ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup: India Wins Back-to-Back Title

India Wins Back-to-Back ICC Under-19 T20 World Cups.

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Back-to-back successes for India in the ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup, as they wrapped up matters easily with nine wickets against South Africa. The triumph here marked their second title on the trot, with a brilliant all-round show by G Trisha and an outstanding spin-bowling display by the entire Indian unit.

India’s Spin Attack Thwarts Opponents with Brilliance

ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup: India Wins Back-to-Back Title
ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup: India Wins Back-to-Back Title (Credits- ESPN)

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The quartet of Ayushi Shukla, G Trisha, Vaishnavi Sharma, and Parunika Sisodia bowled like a class act throughout the tournament, and they were no different in the final. Together, the four bowlers picked up nine wickets as India managed to limit South Africa to just 82 runs. The performance summed up India’s domination in the tournament, with their spinners proving crucial in both the semi-finals and the final.

South Africa’s batting issues started early. Even though the openers Gemma Botha and Simone Lawrence started aggressively with Botha scoring two boundaries off VJ Joshita, things went wrong when Sisodia sent Lawrence back to the hut in the second over.

The Indian spinners, led by Shabnam Shakeel, strangled the South African batting all through, while Shakeel produced a brilliant catch from Kamalini to dismiss Botha in the fourth over.

At the end of the powerplay, South Africa had lost three wickets and was reeling at just 29 runs. The tight bowling continued throughout the innings, where Shukla and Trisha dismissed crucial wickets to keep South Africa under control.

India Tightens Its Grip in the Middle Overs

ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup: India Wins Back-to-Back Title (Credits- ESPN)
ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup: India Wins Back-to-Back Title (Credits- ESPN)

South Africa’s batting still could not pick up and its spinners just kept at bay during the middle overs; there was no single boundary in this period of seven to 14 overs.

The pressure was maintained with two wickets lost. Here, also, Trisha and Shukla added more. Mieke van Voorst was their highest scorer of this match; after 56 balls, she could break this dry spell and give a single boundary. Damage, however, had been done before this.

Trisha was the find of the later part of the game, picking up two wickets in the 18th over to push South Africa back further. The tail-enders did offer some resistance and Faye Cowling hit the solitary six of the game, but Vaishnavi Sharma responded by removing Cowling and Monalisa Legodi in quick succession.

Sisodia concluded the innings by dismissing Ashley van Wyk, leaving South Africa all out for just 82 runs and overs within 20.

G Trisha Steers India to Easy Win

ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup: India Wins Back-to-Back Title (Credits- ESPN)
ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup: India Wins Back-to-Back Title (Credits- ESPN)

India’s chase of the modest target was nothing but clinical. G Trisha, who had been in phenomenal form throughout the tournament, wasted no time in asserting her dominance. In the very first over, she struck three boundaries off the first five balls. She continued her attacking play in the fourth over, hitting leg-spinner Naidu for another three consecutive fours. Despite losing Kamalini in the 10th over, India’s momentum remained unbroken.

38-year-old Trisha was dropped in the covers in the 10th over, but it went without saying that the match had given away from South Africa. Just 15 runs were needed to chase the target; Sanika Chalke came in to bat with Trisha and played a stylish cover drive off her fourth ball that brought India closer to their target.

Trisha’s excellent batting put her at an aggregate of 309 runs, and she came out as the highest run scorer of the tournament. Her match-winning all-around performance helped her earn the accolades of both Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament.

Chalke finished it off in the best possible fashion, hitting a boundary in the 12th over, as India dominated it to win.
A Historic Back-to-Back Title for India

The team emerged victorious in this match to cement their place at the pinnacle of youth women’s cricket after winning their second consecutive ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup title. Their spinners had a phenomenal match, and the all-round efforts of G Trisha were another testament to the depth of the team.

As India continues to nurture new stars, their future in women’s cricket remains very bright. The relentless quest for excellence in both bowling and batting by the team would certainly allow it to achieve even greater success in the near future.

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