Simone Lourens slams first-half century of Women’s U19 T20 World Cup, but it wasn’t enough for team

South Africa’s 15-year-old Simone Lourens became the first U19 player to slam a half-century in the tournament.

Simone Lourens slams first-half century of Women’s U19 T20 World Cup, but it wasn’t enough for team

Simone Lourens

In India’s first match of the Women’s U-19 World Cup, they thrashed South Africa by seven wickets to start their campaign in style on Saturday (January 15). It was India vice-captain Shweta Sehrawat who slammed an impressive unbeaten 92 runs which helped her team secure the victory at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

Earlier, South Africa’s 15-year-old Simone Lourens became the first U19 player to slam a half-century in the tournament. Their skipper Karabo Meso won the toss and decided to bat first. With Simone’s 61 runs from 44 (which also had nine boundaries and a six) and Madison Landsman’s 32 from 17 balls, South Africa put on a defendable 166/5 on the scoreboard.

Indian openers Shweta Sehrawat’s and skipper Shafali Verma’s brilliant knocks were enough to chase away the target easily. Sehrawat scored an unbeaten 92, decorated with 20 boundaries, while Verma batted at a strike rate of 281.25, scoring 45 runs from 16 balls with the help of nine fours and a six.

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India will face UAE next

Simone Lourens
IND vs SA (Women’s U-19 World T20 World Cup)

India will lock horns with UAE and Scotland next. Also, Australia played against Bangladesh on the same day. It was expected of Australia to win the match comfortably but they were stunned by their opponents and lost the match by seven wickets.

Meanwhile, 16 teams participated in the tournament, and they are divided into four groups. India are placed in Group D along with Scotland, South Africa, and UAE. After this, Shafali Verma and Co. will face UAE on Monday (January 16) at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.

The 16 teams are competing in the Super 8. After this, eight teams will advance to the elimination stage and then the final.

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