Opener Shweta Sherawat smashed an unbeaten fifty after Parshavi Chopra’s triple strike as India notched up a comprehensive eight-wicket win over New Zealand to storm into the final of the inaugural U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup here on Friday.
India restricted New Zealand to 107/9 with Parshavi (3/20) leading a disciplined bowling effort after skipper Shafali Verma won the toss and elected to bowl in the first semi-final. India then chased down the target with more than five overs still remaining.
“It is good to see the team do as per plans. We are excited to be in the final. We worked on our mistakes and it is good to see this (result),” captain Shafali said after the win.
Parshavi, who bowls leg spin, broke the backbone of the rival batting line-up with three successive wickets to leave them at 74/5 in 13th over.
Adjudged Player of the Match, Parshavi, 16, said: “I am very happy... Semi-final is a big game and it felt good... My role is to bowl wicket-to-wicket and aim for dots.”
Titas Sadhu, Mannat Kashyap, Shafali and Archana Devi scalped a wicket each.
For New Zealand, Georgia Plimmer (35), Isabella Gaze (26) and Izzy Sharp (13) and Kayley Knight (12) reached double figures as they struggled to score runs at Senwes Park.
Chasing 108, the women in blue romped home comfortably after Sehrawat produced a scintillating 45-ball unconquered knock, which was studded with 10 hits to the fence.
Following the early exit of Shafali (10), who has not performed as per expectations in the tournament,
Sehrawat and Soumya Tiwari (22) added 62 runs to take them to the threshold of victory. Sehrawat and Gongadi Trisha (5) then completed the job, with the former bringing up the winning runs with a four off Browning as India scored 110/2 in 14.2 overs.
India will face the winner of the other semi-final between England and Australia.
Brief scores: NZ Women U-19 107/9 in 20 ovs (Georgia Plimmer 35; Parshavi Chopra 3/20). India Women U-19 110/2 in 14.2 overs (Shweta Sherawat 61). India Women U-19 won by 8 wkts.
Written with PTI inputs
