Undoubtedly the two of the best sides of the Under-19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup were up against each other. Niki Prasad-led India finished at the top of the points table in the Super Four stages with 7 points from four games including three victories and a washed-out game. They were up against Bangladesh led by skipper Sumaiya Akter, who finished 2nd with 6 points from four games, including three victories and a defeat, in the Super Four stages of the tournament.
Gongadi Trisha’s fifty and a late flourish helps India post a competitive total
The Indian openers Gongadi Trisha and wicket-keeper batter G Kamalini got their side off to a decent start with a 23-run opening partnership after the opposition skipper Sumaiya Akter won the toss and opted to field first. However, double strikes from Farjana Easmin, to remove Kamalini and Sanika Chalke, in the 5th over of the innings brought Bangladesh back into the contest.
Skipper Prasad partnered with Trisha at the crease and the duo took their side past the 50-run mark with a crucial 41-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Habiba Islam Pinky picked up the big wicket of the opposition skipper to provide the 3rd breakthrough for her side. Post the departure of Prasad, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. As a result, only managing a modest yet competitive 117/7 in their quota of overs, courtesy of a late flourish from the lower order.
Gongadi Trisha (52 off 47 balls), Mithila Vinod (17 off 12 balls), Aayushi Shukla (10 off 13 balls), and skipper Niki Prasad (12 off 21 balls) were the stars with the bat for India. Farjana Easmin (4-0-31-4), Nishita Akter Nishi (4-0-23-2), and Habiba Islam (4-0-20-1) were the top performers with the ball for Bangladesh.
Spinners led the charge to deliver the inaugural Under-19 Asia Cup title for India
Bangladesh needed a substantial partnership as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals, as a result, they were eventually bundled out for 76 with 9 balls to spare. As a result, they fell 41 runs short of the target. The 20-run 3rd wicket partnership between Juairia Ferdous (22 off 30 balls) and Fahomida Choya (18 off 24 balls) was the highest partnership of the run chase, and the duo were the only batters to enter into the double digits with the bat for Bangladesh.
Aayushi Shukla (3.3-0-17-3), Sonam Yadav (4-0-13-2), and Parunika Sisodia (3-0-12-2) were the stand-out performers with the ball for India.
Gongadi Trisha was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning half-century (52 off 47 balls) for India. She alongside the bowlers played a pivotal role in helping India be crowned as the inaugural champions of the Women’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2024.
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