Dubai, January 16, 2023 (PPI-OT):India shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the first team to score over 200 runs in an innings at the inaugural ICC Under19 Women’s T20 World Cup in their commanding, 122-run victory against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Having been put in to bat at Willow Moore Park in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, Shafali Verma’s side made the UAE regret the call with an explosive innings that began aggressively and never let up as they rocketed to a record score of 219/3.
After doing the damage against hosts, South Africa, in chasing a potentially tricky total in their tournament opener, India’s openers, Shweta Sehrawat and Verma again set a blistering tone with a first wicket partnership of 111 by the time the latter was dismissed for an innings top score of 78 midway through the ninth over. The approach between the two seems to dovetail nicely: Sehrawat (92 not out against South Africa and 74 not out against the UAE) dropped anchor while Verma – whose runs against the UAE came off 34 balls and featured 12 fours and four sixes – goes the fierce route.
As a result, Sehrawat has hit 30 fours but is yet to clear the ropes in her unbeaten 166 runs, while Verma has smashed 21 boundaries and five sixes for a strike rate well above 200. On a day of carnage for the bowlers’ economy rates, medium pacer Samaira Dharnidharka’s 1/33 off her four overs was the nearest to reining the rampant Indians in. The UAE threatened to respond in kind when it was their turn to bat, with opener Theerta Satish (16) dusting up Shabnam for four fours in an opening over which would go for 17 runs. But the moment the skipper was dismissed off the fifth ball of that over, it was all downhill for the UAE.
While they resisted the mortification of being bundled out as well in their innings, a combination of accurate bowling by India – Titas Sadhu was the pick with 1/14 off her four overs – and scoreboard pressure meant they never had a realistic chance of winning.
Scores in brief:
Toss: UAE, who elected to bowl.
India 219 for 3 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 78, Shweta Sehrawat 74 not out, Samaira Dharnidharka one for 33, Indhuja Nandakumar one for 47)
UAE 97 for 5 in 20 overs (Mahika Gaur 26, Lavanya Keny 24, Titas Sadhu one for 14, Mannat Kashyap one for 14)
India won by 122 runs after 20 overs.
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