– ACC Photo

Gongadi Trisha and bowlers starred as India became champions in the inaugural edition of the Under-19 Women’s Asia Cup 2024.

On Sunday, December 22, Trisha, who was an architect of India’s triumph in the Women’s T20 World Cup last year in South Africa, scored a gutsy half-century as Niki Prasad and Co. beat Bangladesh by 41 runs in the final at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.

After being asked to bat first, India could only manage 117 for seven on the board. Barring Trisha, none of the batters could get a big score. Opening the batting, Trisha scored 52 runs off 47 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes. Skipper Prasad got into double digits, but could not convert.

Mithila Vinod injected some late momentum into the innings with a quick-fire 17-run knock off 12 balls. For Bangladesh, fast bowler Farjana Easmin finished with figures of 4-0-31-4. The in-form Nishita Akter Nishi took two crucial wickets and made sure that that Indian batters weren’t allowed to overly dominate.

Bangladesh did not get off to the best of starts as Mosammat Eva and Sumaiya Akhter could not go past single digits. Opening batter Fahomida Choya and Juairiya Ferdous scored 18 and 22 respectively. Skipper Sumaiya Akter faltered after Sonam Yadav accounted for her wicket.

Sonam and Parunika Sisodia picked up two scalps apiece. It was again Aayushi Shukla, who was the pick of the bowlers for India. Shukla, who finished the tournament as the top wicket-taker, rattled the Bangladeshi batting with figures of 3.3-0-17-3.

After VJ Joshitha dismissed Eva for a duck in the second over, India did not look back. Bangladesh also slumped to a batting collapse as they lost their last seven wickets for 21 runs in a space of 40 balls. India, in the meantime, will be looking to carry the momentum into the U19 World Cup next year.

Source: India Today