The Indian women’s cricket team on Friday defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets to enter the final of the first Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Parshvi Chopra’s triple strike was followed by an unbeaten half-century from opener Shweta Sherawat as India registered a comprehensive victory.
In the first semi-final, India restricted New Zealand to 107 for nine with Parshvi (3/20) out after skipper Shafali Verma won the toss and elected to bowl. The 16-year-old leg-spinner broke the backbone of the team. The Kiwi batting line-up took three wickets in a row to reduce their score to 74 for 5 in the 13th over. Tita Sadhu, Mannat Kashyap, Shefali and Archana Devi also took one wicket each.
For NZ, Georgia Plimmer (35), Isabella Gaze (26) and Izzy Sharp (13), and Kelly Knight (12) reached double figures as they struggled to score runs at Senwes Park. Chasing 108, the ladies in blue chased home comfortably after a 45-ball unbeaten inning by Sehrawat, who had 10 hits to the fence.
Sehrawat and Soumya Tiwary (22) added 62 runs after the early dismissal of Shafali (10), who did not perform as per expectations in the tournament, brought them to the threshold of victory. Sehrawat and Gongadi Trisha (5) finished the job with the former hitting the winning runs off Browning for four as India reached 110 for 2 in 14.2 overs.
Parshvi was adjudged player of the match for taking three wickets. India will face the winner of the other semi-final between England and Australia.
Abbreviated Score:
New Zealand Women: 107 for 9 in 20 overs (Georgia Plimmer 35; Parshvi Chopra 3/20).
India Women: 110 for 2 in 14.2 overs (Shweta Sherawat 61; Anna Browning 2/18).