Outclass Bangladesh in the final by 41 runs

India registered a convincing margin of 41 runs and nine balls to spare over Bangladesh in the summit clash of the inaugural ACC Women's U19 Asia Cup 2024 played at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday.

Put in to bat first, India, riding on opener Gongadi Trisha brilliant half-century (her second fifty in the tourney against the same rivals), managed to score 117 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Trisha, the mainstay of the Indian batting added 23 runs off 27 balls with G Kamalini (5) for the first wicket and followed it up with a useful 41 runs off 42 balls with her skipper Niki Prasad (12) for the third wicket before the latter was dismissed by Habiba Islam Pinky in the 12th over with the score reading 66 at this stage. Trisha too fell soon after scoring 52 runs off 47 balls, which included five fours and two sixes, to Bangladesh’s most successful 15-year-old young bowler Farjana Easmin who finished with figures of 4-0-31-4 in the death overs soon after. A brief cameo of 12-ball 17 by Mithila Vinod provided some momentum with a crucial 12-ball 17 to ensure India post the highest score in the tourney.

Bangladesh, in their run chase, lost two early wickets in the powerplay like their rivals, with 24 runs on the board (India 25 for 2 in 5 overs). Except for opener Fahomida Choya (18) and Juairiya Ferdous (22) none of the Bangladesh batters, including their skipper Sumaiya Akter (4) managed to reach double figures and lost their last seven wickets for 21 runs in 40 balls to be bowled out for 76 in 18.3 overs.

Left-arm spinners of the likes of Aayushi Shukla, who was the Asia Cup tourney top wicket-taker (10 wickets) finished with figures of 3.3-0-17-3, while Sonam Yadav (Best economy rate of 2.08 in the tourney) who picked up the key wicket of rival skipper, along with Parunika Sisodia too contributed with two wickets each in India’s maiden Women’s continental cup triumph.

Earlier, India which topped Group B with three points after defeating Pakistan by nine wickets in mere 7.5 overs after restricting them to 67 for 7 in 20 overs, saw their match washed out by nonseasonal rains against Nepal who had scored 94 for 8 in their allotted overs after being 28 for no loss in 3.1 overs. The reigning U-19 World Cup champions India, remained unbeaten in the Super Four stage too by defeating Bangladesh by eight wickets in 12.1 overs after being set a target of 81 and Sri Lanka by four wickets with 5.1 overs to spare while chasing a target of 99.Gongadi Trisha who was also the tournament’s top run scorer, was named the Player of the Match.

Photo Cover: Indian opener Gongadi Trisha, who slammed her second fifty against Bangladesh, was named the Player of the Match.

Photo Above: Indian team along with their coach and support staff are elated after winning the ACC Women's U19 Asia Cup 2024 title (Photos courtesy ACC)