Verma and Sehrawat inspire India to statement win

TWO stunning performances from opening batters Shafali Verma and Shweta Sehrawat saw India overcome South Africa in a run-fest on the opening day of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.

Runs flowed as India got their campaign off to a winning start against South Africa in Benoni, putting down an early marker as tournament favourites.

A stunning flurry of early runs saw South Africa get off to a lightning-quick start, with openers Simone Lourens and Elandri Janse Van Rensburg doing the damage. The score was 56/1 after just four overs when Janse Van Rensburg fell for 23 off 13, and the pace of scoring slowed slightly as the innings went on. Lourens top-scored with 61 from 44, before some late hitting lifted the Proteas up to an impressive 166/5.

India’s reply got off to the perfect start, with star player Shafali Verma putting the host nation to the sword early on. Verma struck 45 from just 16 deliveries, including one over where all six balls went to the boundary, before being caught off Miane Smit.

But Verma’s fellow opener Shweta Sehrawat kept the momentum going, finishing unbeaten on a brilliant 92* from 57 as India chased down their target with still 21 balls remaining.

SRI LANKA PUSHED CLOSE BY USA
Sri Lanka recovered from a sluggish start with the bat to beat USA in their opening match of the tournament.

Dewmi Vihanga Wijerathne was the star with the ball, taking 3/11 from her four overs as the American side struggled to get going.

Disha Dhingra (18 from 26) and Ritu Priya Singh (22 from 23) ensured that a reasonable target was reached, but 96/9 was never likely to seriously trouble a talented Sri Lankan batting line-up.

A cautious Sri Lankan reply saw both openers fall relatively cheaply, with the score just 32/2 after 8.1 overs. But Vishmi Gunarathne (34* from 40) and Manudi Nanayakkara (32* from 31) led the recovery to see the Lankans home with an over to spare.

BANGLADESH STUN AUSTRALIA IN TOURNAMENT OPENER
Bangladesh registered their first-ever win over Australia at any ICC tournament as an inspired run-chase saw the Tigers give an early indication of their title credentials with a shock yet convincing win.

Tournament favourites Australia recovered from two early setbacks, rallying to a competitive total of 130/5 after winning the toss at Benoni. Ella Hayward (35 from 39) and Claire Moore (52 from 51) steadied the ship with their partnership of 76 runs after Disha Biswas (2/25) had removed both of the openers cheaply.

In reply Bangladesh took the fight to the opposition with a strong top-order performance from Dilara Akter (40 from 42) and Afia Prottasha (24 from 22). Though Chloe Ainsworth (2/9) brought Australia back into the game, Sumaiya Akter (31 from 25) ensured that her side crossed the line with seven wickets in hand as Bangladesh reached their target with 13 balls still remaining.

Bangladesh had entered the tournament in fine form after strong performances in the warm-up matches. But this landmark and deserved victory over Australia is an early indication that the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup is going to be wide open.

UAE REGISTER COMPREHENSIVE WIN OVER SCOTLAND
UAE put their first points on board against Scotland with a comfortable win in their opener.

In their Group D encounter against UAE, nothing went Scotland’s way after they were sent in to bat.

The Scots lost wickets at regular intervals and ended up posting 99/9 from their 20 overs. Indhuja Nandakumar (2/20), Vaishnave Mahesh (2/19) and Samaira Dharnidharka (2/22) were the pick of the bowlers, with Emma Walsingham (37 from 33) comfortably Scotland’s top-scorer.

UAE looked to have lost their way after a watchful start to the chase, as three wickets fell in the space of three overs to leave them 45/3 approaching the midway point of the second innings.
But Samaira Dharnidharka (23 from 27) and the impressive Mahika Gaur (33* from 25) moved up through the gears after that flurry of wickets, with Gaur still out in the middle as UAE reached their target with just under four overs still remaining. (ICC Media)