On Friday, India, the defending champions, made a strong statement by defeating England by 9 wickets in the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup semifinal at Beaumaris Oval. With this impressive win, India is all set to face South Africa in the final on Sunday. After winning the toss, England chose to bat first and got off to a solid start. Devina Perrin and captain Abigail Norgrove led the charge, putting up a strong 73-2 at the halfway mark. Perrin played a fine knock of 45 runs off 40 balls, hitting two sixes and four fours, while Norgrove added 30 off 25 balls with three fours and a six.
India’s Bowlers Turn the Tide – However, India’s bowlers made a strong comeback in the second half. Parunika Sisodia (3-21) and Ayushi Shukla (2-21) played vital roles in slowing down England’s scoring. Ayushi picked up key wickets, dismissing both Perrin and Norgrove, which stopped England’s momentum. In the 16th over, Vaishnavi Sharma (3-23) put on a brilliant display, taking three wickets and reducing England to 92-8. Despite a late push from Amrita Surenkumar, England could only manage 113/8 in their 20 overs.
India’s Confident Chase
Chasing the target, India began with confidence. During the powerplay, they scored 44 runs without losing any wickets. Trisha Gongadi played a superb innings, making 35 runs off 29 balls before Phoebe struck with a key wicket. Kamalini G and Sunilka Chalkhe then continued the steady progress, taking India to 70-1 by the 10th over. With the chase going smoothly, India comfortably reached the target with four overs remaining, booking their place in the final.
Captain Niki Prasad’s Sense of Pride – After the match, India’s captain Niki Prasad shared her pride in the team’s performance. “As a captain, I’m so proud of the team. As a player, it feels great to be one step closer to lifting the trophy. We’ve worked really hard to get here, and it’s amazing to see our progress. We knew England would be tough, but we stayed calm, focused, and stuck to our plan,” she said. She added, “We’re all clear on our roles. Every day, someone steps up for the team. We’re fully prepared for the final. No nerves, just excitement. We’re ready to go out there and dominate.” Looking ahead, Niki and the team are eager to face South Africa in the final.
