India Crowned World Champs in The First-ever ICC U-19 Women’s T20 Cricket – Achievement to Cherish!

Dear readers… I have portrayed the highlights of the winning match of the World Champs U-19 women cricketers of India, which was played in South Africa this Sunday. I've shared the struggles of some of the players also.

(Image credit: News18)

World Champs India

Indian Captain Shefali Verma raised the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup Trophy following the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup 2023 Final between England and India, at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on 29th January 2023.

Indians became the first-ever ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup victors on Sunday, after a huge 7-wicket triumph over England in Potchefstroom.

First India knocked out England for 68 in 17.1 overs, and then returned to rip off the small target in 14 overs to lift the coveted trophy.

It was another clinical show with the ball that held the clue to India’s drive to win, with Titas Sadhu setting the pace, with the spinners transmitting another crucial performance when it counted. 

Adding the fine bowling was extraordinary fielding. The acquittal of England’s Captain, Grace Scrivens, manifested great enthusiasm in the Indian positions. The left-hander hit Archana towards long-off, where Gongadi Trisha raced in, and then leapt ahead to seize an incredible, dropping catch. 

The fielders would hurl their body into the angle, even on the cleared of grass part of the ground utilized as practice pitches. Both Trisha Gongadi, who achieved a valuable 24, and Archana clenched two spectacular catches that would’ve impressed some of South Africa’s famous fielders.

The toss was won by Shefali Verma, who elected to bowl, and Sadhu hit yet again in the first over. She flung one onto Liberty Heap, who spiraled her attempted pull straight up and back to a joyous Sadhu. 

Titas Sadhu’s figures of two for 6 in four overs deservedly earned her the Player of the Match award with just the onset that India wanted. She was confirmed well by Archana (two for 17) and the unstoppable Parshavi Chopra, who caught two for 13 to close out an amazing match. 

There was one wicket each for Mannat Kashyap, Verma, and Sonam Yadav, as England slipped to 22 for four and then finally 68 all out in 17.1 overs. After a game of free-scoring, only Ryana Macdonald-Gay (19 off 24 balls), Niamh Holland (10), and Sophia Smale (11) could attain double figures. 

England’s hopes were improved when they eliminated Verma (15) and Shweta Sehrawat (5) within the first four overs. Verma hit a four and a six as she tried to put the pressure on England before she top-edged Hannah Baker to short fine-leg. 

World Champs India
World Champs

(Image credit: The Indian Express)

But Soumya Tiwari whacked three fours in her 24 not out from 37 balls, while Trisha became more comfortable as the target came nearer. Her 29-ball stay ended on 24, bowled by Alexa Stonehouse, as she strived to wrap it off in style, in the fairytale win in South Africa. 

The girls came, they saw, and they conquered the fresh crown accessible in women’s cricket. 

A brief score: 

Toss: Won by India, elected for bowling. 

England 68 all out in 17.1 overs (Ryana Macdonald-Gay 19, Sophia Smale 11, Titas Sadhu two for 6, Parshavi Chopra two for 13, Archana two for 17)

India 69 for three in 14 overs (Soumya Tiwari 24 not out, Gongadi Trisha 24, Shafali Verma 15, Alexa Stonehouse one for 8, Hannah Baker one for 13)

India succeeded by seven wickets, with 36 balls or 6 overs left. 

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The conquest for these talented young women was more than defeating the rivals on the pitch. Off the field, for years the girls had to fight multi-layered wars, like rejections, financial hardships, gender stereotyping, and discrimination. 

Archana’s mother, the family’s sole breadwinner, and brother stood firmly by her in her cricketing mission. Left-arm spinner Sona Yadav’s father, a laborer in a glass factory in Firozabad, worked extra shifts to amass some amount for her daughter to buy cricket kits and shoes.

Vice-captain Saumya Tiwari was denied by coach Suresh Chainani as he didn’t train girls at his academy in Bhopal, but eventually, he did. Before she joined the academy, her father would play with paper balls and a wooden stick that was used to wash clothes.

Trisha’s father quit his job as a gym instructor in Bhadrachalam and relocated to Hyderabad to enroll her in a cricket academy. Wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh’s father, a former club cricketer in Siliguri, spent hours in the backyard giving throw-downs to her daughter. Spinner Kashyap’s father had a tough time in Patiala, for no coach would train a girl.

India WOmen U/19 World Champs T20

(Image credit: OdishaTV)

For the players, parents, coaches, and relatives, it is the completion of a journey of labor and tears, of goals and wishes. , In a few weeks, some of the players will turn millionaires in the inaugural players’ auction of the Women’s Indian Premier League. The WIPL could become a game-changer for women’s cricket, and no generation of cricketers would profit as much as the U-19 World Cup winners of 2023, both monetarily and status-wise.

-Shashi Thakur

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4 thoughts on “India Crowned World Champs in The First-ever ICC U-19 Women’s T20 Cricket – Achievement to Cherish!”

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  2. Pingback: Women's World Boxing Championships 2023 - The Fantastic Four Shine - The Momma Clan

  3. Devendra Ghawalkar

    Your post offers a comprehensive overview of the subject. It covers all the essential information in a well-organized manner.

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