Dream Debut for Vaishnavi Sharma

Debutant Vaishnavi Sharma took a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul as India continued the defence of their ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup title with a 10-wicket victory over hosts Malaysia.

The reigning champions dismissed Malaysia for 31 in 14.3 overs with left-arm spinner Sharma ending with incredible figures of five wickets for five runs from four overs – the best bowling analysis in tournament history.

India reached the target without losing a wicket to regain first place in Group A after Sri Lanka’s earlier win over West Indies, with the two sides facing off for the top spot on Thursday.

In making it two wins from two games, Sri Lanka racked up their highest-ever score at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup with an imposing 166 for five.

It was a day for left-arm spinners at Bayuemas Oval as Chamudi Praboda did the damage at the top of the West Indies order, taking three wickets for 16 runs, as her side won by 81 runs.

India dominant

After Malaysia were asked to bat first, Nur Aliya hit Shabnam for four in the opening over but the hosts were unable to stem the flow of wickets falling, starting with wicketkeeper-batter Nur Aliya, being run out in the second over.

The only change to the India side from the Windies win saw one left-arm spinner make way for another as Sonam Yadav was replaced by Sharma.

Sharma shone brightest on her debut as she took the wickets of Ain, Nur Isma Dania and Nazwah in successive balls in the 14th over, rounding off a stunning spell.

It is the third hat-trick in ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup history, after two were taken in the inaugural staging of the event in 2023.

Chasing 32, India got the job done in just 2.5 overs with Gongadi Trisha racing to 27 from 15 balls and striking five fours.

Sri Lanka on song

In the first game of the day in Kuala Lumpur, two powerful partnerships helped lift Sri Lanka to a towering total.

Openers Sumudu Nisansala and Sanjana Kavindi raced to 48 without loss in the powerplay, with Nisansala smacking Selena Ross for an emphatic six over midwicket.

Nisansala chopped onto her stumps in the seventh over but captain Manudi Nanayakkara picked up where her team-mate left off, supporting Kavindi in a second-wicket partnership worth 48 runs.

Nanayakkara scored 37 and Dahami Sanethma chipped in with an unbeaten 31 from 25 balls to put their side in the driving seat.

After a promising start to the run chase, Windies lost three wickets in the powerplay as their hopes faded at the hands of Praboda, who is proving to be one of the outstanding bowlers in the early stages of the tournament.

Praboda ripped through the Windies top order and Aseni Thalagune got the key wicket of skipper Samara Ramnath, who was leading the resistance with 24 from 23 balls, to form the backbone of their team’s second win of the tournament.

Scores in brief

Sri Lanka v West Indies – Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sri Lanka 166/5 in 20 overs (Sanjana Kavindi 38, Manudi Nanyakkara 37; Selena Ross 2/25, Jahzara Claxton 1/20)

West Indies 85 all out in 19.4 overs (Samara Ramnath 24, Jahzara Claxton 15; Chamudi Praboda 3/16, Limasa Thilakaratne 2/7)

Result: Sri Lanka won by 81 runs

India v Malaysia – Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia 32 all out in 14.3 overs (Husna 5, Nur Aliya 5; Vaishnavi Sharma 5/5, Aayushi Shukla 3/8)

India 32/0 in 2.5 overs (Gongadi Trisha 27, G Kamalini 4; Suabika 0/16, Nur Dania Syuhada 0/15)

Result: India won by 10 wickets