Watch: ‘Tears of joy’ for Shafali Verma as India drub England to win inaugural U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup | Cricket News – Times of India

<p>India won their maiden ICC title in women’s cricket as a bunch of sprightly and talented teenagers lifted the inaugural U-19 World Cup with an emphatic seven-wicket victory over England.<br /></p>

<p>The Shafali Verma-led India U-19 squad managed to do what their seniors could not do by clearing the final hurdle in a global event.<br /></p>

<p>India first bundled out England for 68 in 17.1 overs and then returned to knock off the paltry target in 14 overs to lift the coveted trophy.<br /></p>

<p>India skipper Shafali credited the support staff for all the effort.<br /></p>

<p>India’s bowling attack, led by pacer Titas Sadhu, set up the comprehensive win on Sunday as they blew England away with a clinical display at Senwes Park.<br /></p>

<p>Sadhu showed that Indian women pace bowling is in safe hands following the retirement of Jhulan Goswami with impressive figures of 4-0-6-2.<br /></p>

<p>Leg-spinner Parshavi Chopra continued her dream run as she snapped two for 13 and gave an able support to Sadhu.<br /></p>

<p>Archana Devi also scalped 2 for 17, while Mannat Kashyap (1/13), Shafali(1/16) and Sonam Yadav (1/3) accounted for one wicket each as England were all at sea after being asked to take first strike.<br /></p>

<p>Following a pep talk from India’s Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, India came out with a specific plan and executed it perfectly as England’s innings never really took off after being reduced to 16 for three in four overs.<br /></p>

<p>Chasing 69, Shafali started with a boundary off Hannah Baker before launching Sophia Smale for a maximum. But Baker came back to get rid of the India skipper, who was caught by Alexa Stonehouse in the 3rd over.<br /></p>

<p>Team’s best batter in the tournament, Shweta Sehrawat, also was back in the hut after giving a simple catch to Baker off Grace Scrivens in the fourth over.<br /></p>

<p>Soumya Tiwari (24 not out) and Gongadi Trisha (24) then dug their heels in with a 46-run partnership.<br /></p>

<p>With four runs needed, Trisha was cleaned up by Stonehouse, as Tiwari knocked off the winning runs.<br /></p>

<p>Earlier, Sadhu bowled 20 dot balls in her quota of four overs. She struck in the fourth ball of the innings with a superb caught and bowled effort to get rid of Liberty Heap (0).<br /></p>

<p>Spinner Archana then cleaned up Niamh Fiona Holland (10), while Gongadi Trisha pulled off a sensational catch to get rid of Grace Scrivens (4) to hand Archana her second wicket.<br /><br /><br /></p>

<p>Ryana Macdonald Gay played a couple of hits to the fence to ease the pressure.<br /></p>

<p>In-form leggie Parshavi then got into the act, trapping Charis Pavely (2) in front of the wicket as England lost half their side for 39 in 10 overs.<br /></p>

<p>Left-arm spinner Kashyap also kept things tight at the other end as Chopra removed Macdonald Gay with Archana taking a superb one-handed catch with a full dive at extra cover. India’s fielding was exemplary in the big game.<br /></p>

<p>While Shafali had a modest outing with the bat, fellow opener Sehrawat emerged as the highest run-getter with 297 runs at an average of 99.<br /><br /><br /></p>