Women’s U-19 World Cup: India Beat New Zealand By Eight Wicket; Set Up England Date In Final

Parshavi Chopra's 3/20 helped India restrict New Zealand 107/9 in 20 overs. India rode on Shweta Sherawat's 61 to reach the target in 14.2 overs.

Potchefstroom: 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 on Friday.

India restricted New Zealand to 107 for nine with Parshavi (3/20) leading a disciplined bowling effort after skipper Shafali Verma won the toss and elected to bowl in the first semifinals.

The 16-year-old leg-spinner broke the backbone of the Kiwi batting line-up with three successive wickets to leave them at 74 for 5 in 13th over. Titas Sadhu, Mannat Kashyap, Shafali and Archana Devi also scalped one wicket each.

For NZ, Georgia Plimmer (35), Isabella Gaze (26) and Izzy Sharp (13) and Kayley Knight (12) reached double figures as they struggled to score runs at the 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 for 2 in 14.2 overs. Parshavi was adjudged the Player of the Match for her three-wicket haul.

India will face England in the final, who defeated Australia in the other semifinal.

Brief Scores: New Zealand U-19 Women: 107/9 in 20 overs (Georgia Plimmer 35; Parshavi Chopra 3/20) lost to India U-19 Women: 110/2 in 14.2 overs (Shweta Sherawat 61; Anna Browning 2/18) by eight wickets.