Online Reporter
KUALA LUMPUR. — India delivered a dominant performance to defeat South Africa in Kuala Lumpur and win the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025 title yesterday.
India finished the tournament in just the same style they had demonstrated all the way along — with confidence and brilliance as they took South Africa apart in the final and won by nine wickets.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first but struggled against India’s bowlers throughout the innings.
Having bowled South Africa out for 82, India needed just 11.2 overs to knock off the runs in Kuala Lumpur.
Parunika Sisodia made an early impact, dismissing opener Simone Lourens for a duck, while Shabnam followed with the vital wicket of the dangerous Jemma Botha, leaving South Africa at 20/2 by the end of the fourth over.
Aayushi Sharma added to the pressure, removing Diara Ramlakan and reducing South Africa to 29/3 by the end of the powerplay. A brief partnership between captain Kayla Reyneke and Karabo Meso steadied the innings, but both were dismissed in consecutive overs.
Mieke van Voorst and Fay Cowling put on 30 runs — the largest partnership of the match — before falling to back-to-back deliveries. India’s bowlers continued to dominate, bowling out South Africa for just 82 runs.
Gongadi Trisha took three wickets, but Aayushi Shukla was the stand-out bowler, claiming 2/9, including two maidens. Parunika Sisodia, Vaishnavi Sharma, and Shabnam each contributed with two and one wicket, respectively.
India began their chase with a blazing start, racing to 18 without loss in the first two overs and maintaining their momentum to reach 36/0 by the end of four overs. South Africa found their only breakthrough soon after, as captain Kayla Reyneke forced Kamalini G into a rash shot, which was brilliantly caught by Simone Lourens.
However, that was the only bright moment for South Africa’s bowling attack. Trisha Gongadi continued her outstanding form, scoring an unbeaten 44 off 33 balls, including eight fours. She was well-supported by Sanika Chalke, who contributed 26 off 22 deliveries.
The duo guided India comfortably across the finish line, securing a commanding nine-wicket victory and claiming the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2025 title. Both teams had been unbeaten coming into the final, meaning the showdown was hotly anticipated.
Scorecard:
South Africa 82 (20 overs): Van Vorst 23 (18); Trisha 3-15, Sisodia 2-6
India 84-1 (11.2 overs): Trisha 44* (33), Chalke 26* (22); Reyneke 1-14
India won by nine wickets — ICC Cricket.
