Shweta Sehrawat's unbeaten 92-run knock helped India outclass hosts South Africa on the opening day of the inaugural Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2023 with a seven-wicket win at Willowmoore Park, Benoni. Chasing 167, India got off to an ideal start with both openers Shweta and captain Shafali Verma firing during fielding restrictions. Shafali went berserk in the sixth over and hit Ntabiseng Nini for five consecutive fours followed by one six. However, Shafali missed her half-century as Miane Smit got her wicket in the eighth over. The opener scored 45 runs from 16 deliveries including nine fours and one six.
Skipper Shafali was in decimating mood as she puverised Nini with some imperious stroke-making. The explosive right-handed opening batter scored 26 runs in an over that includes five consecutive fours and a six.
The first ball went racing over the point fielder while the second ball split the gap perfectly between point and cover. The third delivery was smacked over the mid-on fielder while the fourth ball went racing past the point fielder once again. The penultimate and final deliveries went in the same direction as the third ball of the over. The only difference was that the final sailed into the stands.
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After Shafali's thunderous knock came to an end, Gongadi Trisha walked out with attacking intent as well and scored 15 runs from 11 deliveries before getting stumped in the 11th over off Seshnie Naidu's bowling. Sehrawat got to her half-century with consecutive boundaries. Soumya Tiwari did not take many risks and let Shweta hit boundary after boundary. In the 17th over on the doorstep of victory, Soumya lost her wicket. She scored 10 runs from 14 deliveries including one boundary.Â
Shweta finished the match with another boundary in the 17th over. She hit as many as 20 fours in her unbeaten 57-ball 92 to help India win with 21 balls to spare in the Group D clash.
