In a spectacular display of bowling, India’s Vaishnavi Sharma made history by becoming the first Indian to take a hat-trick in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. The left-arm spinner took the spotlight in a thrilling match against Malaysia at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur. Sharma’s incredible effort helped India bowl out Malaysia for just 31 runs, a performance that stunned the crowd and marked an unforgettable moment for Indian women’s cricket.
Sharma’s dream debut in the tournament saw her claim figures of 5-5 in four overs. Her hat-trick, which came in the 14th over, dismantled Malaysia’s top order in style. She first sent Nur Ain Binti Roslan packing, followed by Nur Isma Dania and Siti Nazwah. Sharma’s efforts were a significant blow to Malaysia, who had no answer to her deadly spin.
Along with Sharma, Aayushi Shukla also played a crucial role in India’s dominance with the ball, picking up three wickets. But the real surprise came from the wides – India gave away 10 in total, which, in a way, allowed Malaysia to cross the 30-run mark. Without those extra runs, Malaysia’s total would have been even more embarrassing.
After the collapse of Malaysia’s batting, India’s chase was set to be a mere formality. The target of 32 runs was small, but India made sure to finish the job quickly. Openers Gongadi Trisha and G Kamalini wasted no time, taking on the Malaysian bowlers with aggressive intent. Trisha led the charge, scoring an unbeaten 27, while Kamalini remained not out on 4. Together, they completed the chase in just three overs, one of the fastest chases in the history of the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
India’s dominant performance lasted less than 18 overs in total. The defending champions, who are looking to reclaim the title, didn’t break a sweat as they made light work of the challenge. The fast chase was also the second-fastest in the tournament’s history, a testament to the young team’s confidence and skills.
This massive win placed India at the top of Group A with four points. Their net run rate of 9.1 gave them a solid edge over Sri Lanka, who are also on four points but with a net run rate of 5.5. India’s win here puts them in a strong position as they move forward in the tournament, and it sets a high standard for the rest of the competition.
The win will surely boost the morale of the Indian team, with their bowling attack showing immense promise. Sharma’s historic hat-trick is a milestone that will be remembered for years to come.
The team will now look forward to their next match, confident and determined to continue their winning streak. With players like Vaishnavi Sharma stepping up in key moments, India is proving that they are a team to watch out for in this year’s tournament.