KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The West Indies Under-19 Women endured a devastating start to their Under-19 T20 World Cup campaign, suffering a humiliating nine-wicket loss to India Under-19 Women in their opening Group A clash on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, the young Windies squad was left in tatters, managing only a paltry 44 runs in 13.2 overs. Their fragile batting order was obliterated by India’s disciplined bowling attack, spearheaded by left-arm spinners Parunika Sisodia and Aayushi Shukla, alongside pacer VJ Joshitha.
The Windies’ innings was a tale of despair, with only Kenika Cassar (15) and opener Asabi Callender (12) managing to reach double figures. The rest of the batting line-up crumbled under relentless pressure, with four batters failing to score.
India’s bowlers dominate
The fiery Joshitha ignited India’s dominance, delivering a sensational spell that dismantled the Windies’ top order. She claimed the prized scalps of captain Samara Ramnauth (3) and Naijanni Cumberbatch in consecutive deliveries during a ferocious fourth over, leaving the Caribbean side tottering at 10 for two.
Further calamity ensued as middle-order batters Jahzara Claxton and Brianna Harricharan fell without troubling the scorers. A brief flicker of resistance emerged when Callender and Cassar added 11 runs for the fifth wicket, but the partnership was swiftly extinguished by India’s spinners.
Sisodia, with figures of 3 for 7, and Shukla, who bagged 2 for 6, polished off the innings in clinical fashion, leaving the Windies in shambles.
India seals victory in style
Chasing a modest 45 for victory, India’s batters wasted no time asserting their dominance. Although opener Gongadi Trishna fell early, caught and bowled by Jahzara Claxton for just 4, it was little more than a minor blip in their pursuit.
The duo of Sanika Chalke (18 not out) and G Kamalini (16 not out) combined seamlessly, guiding India to 47 for one in just 4.2 overs and securing an emphatic opening victory.
A wake-up call for the West Indies
Reflecting on the crushing defeat, Windies captain Samara Ramnauth called for a swift turnaround ahead of their next match.
“This wasn’t the start we hoped for, but we’ll regroup, analyze where we went wrong, and come back stronger. The tournament isn’t over yet,” she said optimistically.
Meanwhile, India’s bowlers received widespread praise for their ruthlessness, with coach Nooshin Al Khadeer commending the team’s clinical execution.
“The girls stuck to the plan brilliantly. It’s always satisfying to see such a disciplined bowling performance,” she remarked.
The West Indies must now regroup as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in a must-win encounter Tuesday. With their tournament hopes hanging by a thread, the young Caribbean side will need a massive improvement in both batting and bowling to stay alive in the competition.
