Great image: undefeated sides, solid bowling units
It may only be edition number two, but India has been affirmed as the team to win in this competition. They have surpassed all the teams on their way to the finals, and have been stronger than the winning team in 2023 with two limited internationals under Shafali Verma.
That the history of South Africa in the world’s glasses has remained from the final of the finals to fall short in the finals could be considered a progress in itself.
After two consecutive final appearances in the T20 World Cup in the T20 in many years, and so many heartbreak, South Africa has put its gaze on the women’s team of children under 19 to bring home a first female title, as India did India in 2023.
Form guide
India Wwwww (the last five full games, the most recent first)
South Africa Wwwww
In The Spotlight: G Trisha and Jemma Botha
Botha could have been competing for similar honors if South Africa batters hit more than the 26.5 overs they did throughout the tournament prior to the semifinal. Its 24 of 24 years with five four and two six at a 154 strike rate in the semifinal against Australia gave South Africa a crucial advantage that turned out to be decisive in what could have been a complicated persecution.
Team news
It is likely that both teams will remain with the same XI of their respective semifinals.
India (probable): 1 G Trisha, 2 G Kamalini (WK), 3 Sanika Chalke, 4 Nikki Prasad (Capt), 5 ishwari Awasare, 6 Mithila Vinod, 7 Aayushi Shukla, 8 Vj Joshitha, 9 Shabnam Shakil, 10 Parasika Sisodia, 11 Vaishnavi Sharma Sharma
South Africa (probable): 1 Jemma Botha, 2 Simone Lourens, 3 Kayla Reyneke (Capt), 4 Karabo Meso (WK), 5 Fay Cowling, 6 Mieke Van Voortst, 7 Seshnie Naidu, 8 Luyanda Nzuza, 9 Ashleigh van Wyk, 10 Monalisa Legodi, 11 Nthabiseng Nini
Pitch and conditions: turn to win
The Bayumeas oval in Kuala Lumpur has two surfaces prepared with the ground imported from Darwin, Australia, and two others with local red soil. Games have been played in both releases in the tournament, with red floor launches that offer more shifts, such as the game between India and Sri Lanka. Australian land releases (numbers 2 and 3) have been conducive to the score and, nevertheless, sports, like Pitch No. 2 it was for Friday’s semifinal. Pitch No. 3 will be used for the final and should play in a similar way.
Regardless of the field, the three left arm spins of India have been outstanding, having taken 35 WICKETS among them, including the eight in the semifinal. South Africa will need to find a way to score against them, given the success that Aayushi Shukla, Parasika sisodia and Vaishnavi Sharma have had against the batters. South Africa batters are the second best team after India against Spin, with an average of 20.3.
South Africa’s spinnings also represented six of the eight Australian Wickets in the first semifinal, with Reyneke (10) leading their wickt carriers list to an average of 5.50.
While the rain has been in the entire tournament, more in Johor and Kuching than in Kuala Lumpur, the prognosis for the final of Sunday is clear with temperatures that reach a maximum of 32 degreescelios and moisture of around 60%. There is a reserve day for the final.
Statistics and trivia
- Together, G Trisha and G Kamalini have obtained approximately 75% of the total careers of India. Sanika Chalke is the only other batter who has faced more than 20 balls, leaving the average order largely not proven.
Raunak Kapoor is an attached editor (video) and main host. @Raunakrk
