Women's U19 World Cup: Shafali, Shweta slay South Africa - Highlights
Captain Shafali Verma (2/31 and 45) and vice-captain Shweta Sehrawat (92*) made light work of India's chase of 167.
Shweta Sehrawat in action vs South Africa (BCCI)
India opened their Women's U19 T20 World Cup campaign against hosts South Africa on Saturday with a resounding 7-wicket win.
South Africa got off to a good start but were eventually restricted to 166/5 in their 20 overs. India, chasing 167 to win, were given a roaring start by Shafali Verma (45) and Sweta Sehrawat (92*). They chased down the target with 3.3 overs to spare.
Highlights:
Soumya Tiwari is out, caught at long on, with the winning line within sight. SA have something to celebrate late in the game. Soumya goes for 10.
Sonia Mehdiya comes in at 5 to join Sehrawat at the end. Sehrawat hits the winning runs - a boundary - to end unbeaten on 92. India have won with 3.3 overs to spare.
Sehrawat is in some hurry! Powers into her 70s with another series of boundaries in the 15th. And she moves into her 80s as the required runs come down to single digits with more than 4 overs left.
IND 160/2 after 15.4, Sehrawat on 84
Soumya takes her time to settle in. She has all the time to, given the charge her vice-captain is giving at the other end.
Sehrawat continues murdering the SA spinners. At the slightest hint of width, she is throwing her handle at it. And SA are giving her too many chances. Sehrawat on 69*.
IND after 141/2 after 14, need 26 in 6 overs
A close call for LBW goes against Trisha. South Africa have struck against the run of play. Soumya Tiwari joins Sehrawat at 4. The Indian opener continues to lob her shots over the infield, taking the chase along. SA try to goad her into giving a catch, to no avail. She gets to her 50 with a boundary off 37 balls.
IND 121/2 after 11, need 46 runs in 9 overs
G Trisha comes in at 3, but it's Sehrawat at the other end who has taken the game by the scruff of the neck. Three boundaries in one over as India continue galloping. Sehrawat not out on 42.
IND 106/1 after 10, need 61 in 10 overs
Big, big blow for India. They have lost their captain Shafali Verma after a whirlwind innings. Miane Smit comes into the attack and Verma tries to take her on straightaway, but only manages to hit it to a fielder.
IND: 77/1 (7.1)
4,4,4,4,4,6 - Shafali Verma pockets 26 runs from the final over of the powerplay against Nini.
India score 70 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket. WHAT A START!
Final over off the powerplay and Shafali Verma brings up the 50 for India with two consecutive boundaries.
IND: 52/0 (5.2)
An interesting innings this from Shweta Sehrawat so far. She has got five boundaries, but has managed only 3 runs in the remaining 17 balls she has faced.
"Hit with a straight bat, wait for the ball to come to you," quips Shafali to her deputy.