On Sunday, Shefali Verma lifted the inaugural ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup trophy in Potchefstroom, South Africa with tears of happiness in her eyes.
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England was able to score just 68 runs in 17.1 overs which our Indian women team chased in just 14 overs and lifted the trophy. The winning run was hit by Soumya Tiwari towards the offside which was bowled by Hannah Baker making India win by 7 wickets. The growth of women cricket in India is evident from the first ever ICC world cup trophy won by an Indian Women’s team.
Shefali is an international cricketer and three years ago the team lost the T20 World Cup Final against Australia in Melbourne.
Shefali turned 19 a day before the final and told the media that winning the final was an emotional moment for her. Since she joined the U-19 team she only dreamt of bringing the World Cup Trophy. She said she will miss her team as they have given her the perfect birthday gift.
This victory will prove to be a catalyst for the growth of Indian women cricket at the ground level.
Shefali also mentioned that in the coming days young girls will have women cricketers as their role models before their male counterparts and the BCCI has invested money in women’s cricket. They need to work hard for the cricket team to grow while playing the tournaments and we need to be equally good in men’s cricket.
Among the women players Shefali and Richa Gosh have already played in senior World Cups and were supposed to be responsible to carry the team with them but players like Shweta Sehrawat, leg-spinner Parshavi Chopra and medium-pacer Titas Sadhu laid the foundation for this historic moment.
Totas set the tone of the match by getting a wicket at the fourth ball and finished at a figure of 2/6 whereas Parshavi and Archana Devi ended with the figures of 2/13 and 2/17 respectively.
The impressive performance of the girls on field like Gingadi Trisha’s catch diving forward to dismiss England’s captain Grace Scrivens at long-off and Archana Devi dismissed Ryana McDonald-Gay.
Shefali asserted that she has not done yet to win the world titles. She will take her confidence to the senior T20 World Cup to be played this month.
India’s Javelin star Neeraj Chopra had visited the girls on the final eve and also Watched the game on the ground. He motivated the team and shared his experience of competing in the finals.
Currently, the nation is feeling proud of them and many wishes are pouring in from all over the world.