India secured a simple eight-wicket win over New Zealand to reach the final of the U19 Women's T20 World Cup and created history by becoming the first team to qualify for the ultimate match in the inaugural tournament. Led by the astute bowling of Parshavi Chopra, who took three wickets, the Indian bowlers reduced the New Zealanders to 107/9.
In response, the Indian teenagers needed just 14.2 overs to chase down the mediocre target with a half-century from Shweta Sehrawat.
Brilliant bowling display
It was a great start for the Indians, who made the most of winning the toss. Skipper Shafali Verma chose to bowl first, and led by Mannat Kashyap and Titas Sadhu, the white ferns were pushed back early in their innings.
Wickets fell at regular intervals for New Zealand, with the team reeling at 42/3 at one point after Parshavi got the wicket of Isabella Gaze (26 off 22). On the non-striker's end, Georgia Plimmer tried her best to get her team back into the game but could only score 35 runs in 32 balls before Archana Devi took her first and only wicket of the game. Skipper Izzy Sharp also tried her best with a 14-ball 13, but eventually, the team was dismissed for 107/9.
While Parshavi's three wickets were the most taken by an Indian bowler, Shafali was economical, conceding just seven runs in her four overs and taking one wicket in the process.
The Sehrawat show
Meanwhile, Shafali's efforts with the bat were once again under the mark, with Shweta lifting the team on her shoulders yet again. The India skipper scored 10 runs in nine balls, while her opening partner Shweta scored 61 runs in 45 balls to help her team chase down the sub-par total.
After a 33-run partnership, Shafali departed for 10 runs after a miscued shot off Anna Browning's bowling saw Plimmer take a skilful catch.
Browning also took the second wicket, that of, Soumya Tiwari, for 22 off 26 balls.
But these wickets did not deter the Indian batters, who kept going. Eventually, it was Gongadi Trisha and Shweta who finished the match for India and ensured their place in the final of the mega event. They will now face the winner of the second semifinal between England and Australia.
