India women’s under-19 cricket team secured a massive victory at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup against England in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Photo: Twitter @asmita_gokhale
U19 Women’s Cricket World Cup: India, the champions no one’s mentioned
India takes home the cup at the 2023 U19 Women’s Cricket World Cup against England hosted in South Africa, North west.
India women’s under-19 cricket team secured a massive victory at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup against England in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Photo: Twitter @asmita_gokhale
Potchefstroom in the North West had been hosting the (postponed from 2021 due to Covid-19) inaugural U19 Women’s Cricket World Cup, a curtain raiser of sorts for the Women’s World Cup in South Africa next month, since 14 January and culminated with a clash between eventual winners India, who bested New Zealand, and England, who took down Australia, earlier in the week to earn their places in the final this past Sunday.
England went into the final as the only unbeaten team with India having lost to Australia earlier in the tournament.
However, batting first, England failed to survive the 20 overs being bowled out for 68 in 17.1 overs. India’s successful chase took just 14 overs for them to reach a total of 69/3 and take home the glory.
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Cricket tournament records:
India’s, Shweta Sehrawat, won most of the batting stats with the most runs (297, making just 5 in the final), and the best batting average (99.00).
England’s Grace Scrivens end the tournament with the highest individual innings (93) with the second most runs (293).
On the bowling side Ellie Anderson of England produced the best bowling figures for innings (5/12) with compatriot Seren Smale a wicket-keeping all-rounder, who must have gone into the final hoping not to be thrown the ball, ending with the best economy of the tournament (0.00).
Australia’s Maggie Clark lead with the most wickets (12) with Parshavi Chopra closing with two wickets in the final (11).
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The Legacy:
As cricket evolves it is important that the women’s game is given a platform to develop, a sentiment the ICC apparently agrees with.
Many of the benefits of sport; physical fitness, teamwork and discipline can best be instilled during one’s youth and tournaments such as these speak to inclusion allowing girls to pursue being professional athletes one day, a path that is often obscured.
For some players that are already established, like India’s Shafali Verma who is hoping to do the double and with the senior side in February this is just one of many tournaments but for others, this will serve as a launch pad to the senior sides or international club contracts elsewhere.
As India celebrates as deserved victors (victorias?) the rest of the cricketing “sorority” can take this as a win for sport. The struggle continues.
Who:
16 teams took to the field throughout the two-week tournament; Australia U19s, Bangladesh U19s, England U19s, India U19s, Indonesia U19s, Ireland U19s, New Zealand U19s, Pakistan U19s, Rwanda U19s, Scotland U19s, South Africa U19s, Sri Lanka U19s, UAE U19s, USA U19s, West Indies U19s and Zimbabwe U19s.
“The inaugural U19 Women’s Cricket World Cup, a curtain raiser for the Women’s World Cup ended Sunday with India beating England”
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