Potchefstroom (South Africa): India and England will lock horns in a tantalizing final of the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday.
After a groundbreaking month in the Rainbow Nation, which saw emerging nations take their place at cricket’s newest top table, the event has delivered a fitting finale between two well-matched sides.
They took contrasting paths in their respective semifinals, but both will be fully aware that a significant slice of history now beckons for the team that can deliver one more telling performance on Sunday.
India played perhaps, their most clinical cricket in dismantling New Zealand by eight wickets in the first semi-final, with wickets for Parshavi Chopra, fine fielding and yet more runs for the red-hot Shweta Sehrawat at the top of the order.
Skipper, Shafali Verma, will ask for a repeat of that dosage in the final because that will certainly give India a sincere shot at glory. Standing in their way, however, is the only unbeaten team left in the competition.
England had to draw on all their reserves of fortitude to outlast Australia in a cliffhanger of a second semi-final, eventually prevailing by three precious runs. Captain, Grace Scrivens, had the final say as she took the final Aussie wicket amidst unbearable tension.
