The first-ever edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Under-19 Twenty20 (T20) World Cup got underway on the 14th of January in South Africa and the Indian women’s team led by Shafali Verma has had a memorable run at the tournament thus far and have repeatedly stood up to the tag of favorites they are carrying.
Shafali Verma has made 51 appearances for the senior team in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and has accumulated 1231 runs at an average of 24.62, a strike rate of 134.53 and with 5 fifties to her name has got the highest score of 73. She, in two successive games during the U-19 World Cup, has registered scores of 45(16) against South Africa in the opener and 34-ball 78* against the United Arab Emirates.
High on confidence, Shafali Verma, who’s played for India at the elite level and is now with the Under-19 batch, on the difference said, “There is lot of difference because the ball is coming in little slow in the U-19 and the wicket is also in the slower side and we are trying to get used to that. And of course, a little bit of difference, seamers have good pace, a good mind-set here also but they are all learning and I really enjoying playing with them,” in a Star Sports show.
She further said, “I think it’s (U-19 T20 World Cup) very important for women’s cricket as they way Mithali (Raj) said that for growing up and developing talented players, for them it’s very good.”
India’s opener against South Africa saw the latter batting first have opener, Simone top score for the side with a 44-ball 61 that helped South Africa post 166/5 on board. Stepping up for India’s success was the captain-vice-captain pair of Shafali Verma and Shweta Sehrawat who single-handedly impacted in India chasing down 167 for the win in 16.3 overs. While Shafali Verma departed after providing an explosive, 17-ball 45 start, Shweta closed the game out with her blistering 57-ball 92*.
India in their 2nd game against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had Shweta Sehrawat anchor the innings, while skipper, Shafali Verma muscled a 34-ball 78. Richa Ghosh then quick-fired a 29-ball 49 and Shweta too joined in and yet again finished unbeaten on 74 off 49 as India notched up a comforting total of 219/3. UAE in reply lost skipper, Theertha Satish early on 16(5), and resistance from Lavanya Keny (54-ball 24) and Mahika Gaur (26-ball 26) helped UAE see off a collapse but closed out on 97-5 as India scripted a commanding 122-run win.
Reacting to India’s successive wins, Shafali said, “Of course it’s very good feeling. It is my first and last because it’s my last year of U-19. “We have a good team, we are really enjoying with the girls and I hope we will play good cricket and of course we will be here for the world cup and we will try to achieve that. I would say we are doing well in batting, bowling and fielding and as captain, I hope we win the World Cup.”
Speaking on the batters she follows, Shafali said, “I think now-a-days, I like Livingstone’s batting because he’s hitting very well. Of course growing up, playing cricket, I used to watch Sachin Tendulkar sir. So, Sachin sir is also my role model. I love to watch him, how he played the game and remained calm.”