India successfully defended their ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup title with a commanding nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the final held in Kuala Lumpur.
The defending champions made quick work of South Africa's modest total of 82 all out, reaching their target in the 12th over with nine wickets in hand.
After winning the toss, South Africa's decision to bat first backfired as they struggled against India's disciplined bowling attack. The South African batting lineup failed to build momentum and was dismissed for 82 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, India's chase was anchored by Trisha Gongadi, who remained unbeaten on 44, while Soumya Tiwari contributed 26 not out. The pair's steady partnership ensured India's smooth progression to their second consecutive title in this tournament.
This victory marks India's continued dominance in women's youth cricket, following their triumph in the 2023 edition of the same tournament. The successful title defense demonstrates the strength of India's youth cricket program and their emerging talent pipeline.
The tournament, hosted in Malaysia's capital, showcased the growing competitiveness of women's cricket at the youth level, with India emerging as the standout team in the competition.
