India Storms Into Semifinals with Dominant Win Over Bangladesh in Women’s U19 T20 World Cup

Defending champions India continued their unbeaten run in the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup, securing an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a Super Six match on Sunday. The win not only maintained India’s flawless campaign but also sealed their spot in the semifinals alongside Australia (Group 1) and South Africa (Group 2).

India, led by skipper Niki Prasad, showcased their all-round brilliance in a fourth consecutive victory, restricting Bangladesh to a meager 64 runs in 20 overs. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma led the Indian bowling attack with an outstanding spell of 3/15, while seamers VJ Joshitha (3-1-6-1) and Shabnam Shakil (2-0-7-1) provided crucial early breakthroughs.

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh’s aggression faltered against India’s disciplined bowling. They were reduced to 9/3 within four overs and could only manage 16/3 at the end of the powerplay. Captain Sumaiya Akter and Jannatul Maoua briefly resisted with a 31-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but Sharma’s dismissal of Maoua triggered another collapse, leaving Bangladesh at 64/9 by the end of their innings.

Sumaiya Akter’s valiant 21 off 29 balls and Maoua’s 14 off 20 were the only double-digit scores in a batting order that struggled against India’s relentless attack. Poor running between the wickets and frequent dismissals compounded Bangladesh’s troubles, preventing any meaningful acceleration.

India’s chase was swift and clinical. Trisha Gongadi once again demonstrated her dominance with a scintillating 40 off 31 balls, laced with eight boundaries. She set the tone with an aggressive knock that demoralized Bangladesh’s bowling unit. By the time Gongadi fell after the powerplay, India required just five runs to wrap up the match.

Sanika Chalke (11 not out) and skipper Niki Prasad (5 not out) ensured there were no hiccups, guiding India to victory in just 7.1 overs.

India’s campaign has been defined by their impeccable bowling performances, consistently keeping opponents under 100. Despite conceding their highest total of the tournament in this game, India’s bowlers have been the cornerstone of their success, with Sharma’s match-winning spell against Bangladesh being another testament to their dominance.

As the tournament heads into its final stages, India remains a formidable title contender, aiming to defend their crown with the same consistency and confidence.