India secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over England in the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup semifinal in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. G Kamalini’s composed fifty, along with exceptional performances from the spinners, set up India’s win. The team will now face South Africa in the final on Sunday.
South Africa advanced to their first-ever ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup final after defeating Australia by five wickets in the first semifinal.
Spinners Dominate England’s Batting Line-Up
Left-arm spinners Parunika Sisodia and Vaishnavi Sharma delivered impressive spells, restricting England to 113 for eight. Sisodia claimed three wickets for 21 runs, while Sharma bagged three for 23.
England’s innings started well, reaching 37 without loss in the fifth over, but they lost momentum as India’s spinners tightened their grip. Key wickets fell to Sisodia, who dismissed Jemima Spence and Trudy Johnson with clever deliveries.
“We stuck to a consistent line and length and focused on letting the ball do the work,” said Sisodia, the player of the match. “It’s crucial to bowl with a batter in front of me to test new strategies.”
Davina Perrin’s 45 off 40 balls and Abigale Norgrove’s 30 off 25 provided some stability, but England collapsed in the latter half of their innings, scoring just 40 runs and losing six wickets in the final 10 overs.
Kamalini Leads India’s Chase
India comfortably chased the target, reaching 117 for one in just 15 overs. Openers G Trisha and Kamalini laid a strong foundation, with Trisha contributing 35 runs off 29 balls, including five boundaries.
Kamalini anchored the chase, remaining unbeaten on 56 off 50 deliveries, striking eight boundaries. Her innings was marked by smart placement and precise shot selection rather than power hitting.
Trisha’s aggressive start saw India race to 44 without loss during the power play. Kamalini survived a crucial chance when England captain Abigale Norgrove dropped a catch off Amu Surenkumar’s bowling.
After Trisha’s dismissal by left-arm spinner Phoebe Brett, Kamalini partnered with Sanika Chalke to add 47 runs for the second wicket. Chalke contributed 11 runs to the partnership.
With this victory, India remains on course for the championship title, showcasing a blend of youthful energy and disciplined gameplay.
