Heartbreak as Proteas Women thrashed by India in U19 T20 World Cup final

By SABC Sport
2nd February 2025

The Proteas Women's Under-19 side fell at the final hurdle in their T20 World Cup campaign after a humbling nine-wicket defeat to India in the final.

India have defended the title they won in 2023, which was the inaugural edition of the global showpiece. It was the spinners who did most of the damage for the Indians much as they have done throughout the tournament. Turners Aayushi Shukla, G Trisha, Vaishnavi Sharma and Parunika Sisodia took nine wickets between them.

This, after South Africa won the toss with captain Kayla Reyneke choosing to bat first.

Things started well for the Proteas Women with opener Jemma Botha dispatching two fours in the opening over but there was trouble in the next over as Simone Lourens was dismissed for a duck by Sisodia's skiddy delivery.

Botha, South Africa's top run-getter of the tournament, hit another boundary before a superb grab from Indian wicketkeeper G Kamalini sent Botha back to the pavilion.

One became two as Shukla skittled Diara Ramlakan with an arm ball that went straight on and the underdogs were in a pickle at the end of the powerplay at 29/3. Runs were hard to come by in the middle overs.

After Reyneke and Karabo Meso, too, were removed, Mieke van Voorst gave the Proteas some respite with an 18-ball 23. The last five wickets fell in just 14 balls as the rest of the batting order capitulated for a total of 82.

Trisha was proving to be the star of the show for the sub-continent side with a devastating start at the beginning of India's reply after taking 3-15 with the ball.

The gulf in class was all too evident with Trisha hitting three fours in the first over and three in the fourth over. Reyneke claimed the scalp of Kamalini but it did nothing to slow things down as the Indians ended the powerplay with only half the total to get.

Trisha continued on her merry way ably partnered by Sanika Chalke, who hit the winning runs in the 12th over. Trisha finished with 44 from 33, won the Player of the Match and the Player of the Tournament with her 309 runs by far the most of anyone.