Kamalini’s Half-Century and Spinners’ Brilliance Secure Nine-Wicket Victory
Kuala Lumpur – Defending champions India booked their place in the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup final with a resounding nine-wicket win over England on Friday. A well-constructed half-century from G Kamalini, combined with an outstanding performance by India’s spinners, ensured a comfortable chase.
India will now face South Africa in the final on Sunday, as the Proteas created history by reaching their first-ever U19 T20 World Cup final after a thrilling five-wicket victory over Australia in the earlier semifinal.
Spinners Dominate as England Falter
India’s left-arm spin duo, Parunika Sisodia and Vaishnavi Sharma, dismantled England’s batting lineup, restricting them to a modest 113 for eight. The English batters struggled against spin, with five players getting bowled while attempting sweep and paddle shots.
England made a promising start, reaching 37 for no loss in five overs, but their innings quickly unraveled. Jemima Spence fell early, misjudging a darted-in delivery from Sisodia, while Trudy Johnson’s failed sweep attempt saw her castled soon after.
Despite a brief 44-run stand between Davina Perrin (45 off 40 balls) and Abigale Norgrove (30 off 25 balls), England’s batting collapsed in the second half of the innings. Their last six wickets fell for just 40 runs, as reckless shot selection proved costly.
Sisodia, who was named Player of the Match, spoke about her strategy:
“I focused on maintaining accuracy and letting the ball do the work. Practicing against batters rather than single-wicket drills has helped me improve.”
India’s Chase: Kamalini Leads with Precision
Chasing 114 for victory, India’s openers G Trisha (35 off 29 balls) and G Kamalini (56 not out off 50 balls) provided a solid foundation. Trisha started aggressively, finding gaps down the ground as India raced to 44 for no loss in the Powerplay.
Despite Trisha’s dismissal—bowled by Phoebe Brett after a 60-run partnership—Kamalini remained unfazed. She stitched an unbeaten 47-run stand with Sanika Chalke (11 not out), steering India to 117 for one in just 15 overs.
Kamalini’s approach was marked by precise placement and clever shot selection, frustrating the English bowlers who struggled for breakthroughs.
India Eyes Back-to-Back Titles
With this emphatic victory, India moves one step closer to defending their U19 T20 World Cup title. Their upcoming clash against South Africa promises to be an exciting contest, as both teams look to etch their names in history.
Can India retain their crown, or will South Africa seize their maiden championship? The final showdown awaits.
