Vaishnavi Sharma Becomes First Indian to Take Hat-Trick in U19 Women’s T20 WC
India’s young left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma etched her name in the history books by becoming the first Indian to take a hat-trick in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. The sensational feat came during a Group A match against Malaysia at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. On her debut, Sharma delivered a dream performance, finishing with stunning figures of 5-5 in her four overs.
The milestone was achieved in the 14th over of Malaysia’s innings when she dismissed Nur Ain Binti Roslan, Nur Isma Dania, and Siti Nazwah in consecutive deliveries. Prior to the hat-trick, Sharma had already dismissed Nur Dania Syuhada and Nuriman Hidayah, helping India bundle out Malaysia for a mere 31 runs in under 15 overs.
Vaishnavi’s achievement makes her the second bowler in the tournament’s history to claim a hat-trick. The first was South Africa’s Madison Landsman, who accomplished the feat during the 2023 edition against Scotland with figures of 4-12.
India’s Bowlers Dominate
Apart from Vaishnavi Sharma’s heroics, Aayushi Shukla also made a significant impact, claiming three wickets. Malaysia’s innings could have been even shorter had India not conceded 10 wides.
India Secures Second-Fastest Chase in U19 Women’s T20 WC History
India’s opening batters, Gongadi Trisha and G Kamalini, wasted no time in chasing the modest target of 32 runs. Trisha smashed an unbeaten 27, while Kamalini contributed 4, as India completed the chase in just three overs. This remarkable effort marked the second-fastest chase in the history of the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
The entire match lasted less than 18 overs, showcasing India’s dominant performance.
India Tops Group A
With this comprehensive victory, India climbed to the top of Group A with four points, tied with Sri Lanka but boasting a superior net run rate of 9.1 compared to Sri Lanka’s 5.5.
Vaishnavi Sharma Reflects on Her Dream Debut
Speaking after the match, Vaishnavi Sharma expressed her joy at achieving such a remarkable milestone. “This was a dream debut, to get a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul. My journey has been full of ups and downs,” she said.
Sharma also revealed her inspirations, citing Radha Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja as role models. “I visualized taking wickets last night, and it all worked out today,” she added.
India’s Next Challenge
India will look to continue their winning streak as they face Sri Lanka on Thursday, January 23, aiming to make it three wins in three matches and solidify their dominance in the tournament.
