Defending champions India dominate West Indies in ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup opener

Defending champions India kicked off their ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding nine-wicket victory over the West Indies at Bayeumas Oval, Kuala Lumpur, on Sunday. India’s bowlers, led by a disciplined attack, dismantled the West Indies for just 44 runs, a target they chased down comfortably in just 4.2 overs.

Winning the toss, India elected to bowl first and quickly gained control. Pacers and spinners worked in tandem, with Joshitha VJ breaking the deadlock by dismissing West Indies skipper Samara Ramnath and Naijanni Cumberbatch in consecutive deliveries. The spin duo of Aayushi Shukla and Parunika Sisodia further tightened the grip, with Shukla taking two wickets and Sisodia claiming three.

The fielding unit played a significant role, contributing three runouts as the West Indies batters struggled to form partnerships. The Caribbean side was bowled out for just 44 runs, setting the tone for India’s dominant performance.

Despite losing opener G Trisha in the first over, India’s chase was smooth. Kamalini G and Sanika Chalke steadied the innings, ensuring no further wickets were lost. The pair guided India to a comfortable win, completing the chase in just 4.2 overs and securing a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +8.646 to top Group A.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka registered a massive 139-run win over hosts Malaysia. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive 162/6, thanks to Dahami Sanethma’s well-anchored 55 off 52 balls. Contributions from Sanjana Kavindi (30 off 13 balls) and Hiruni Kumari (28 off 21 balls) bolstered the innings. Siti Nazwah was the standout bowler for Malaysia, taking two crucial wickets in the middle overs.

In response, Malaysia’s batting collapsed against Sri Lanka’s disciplined attack. Chamudi Praboda led with 3/5, while Manudi Nanayakkara and Limansa Thilakaratne also chipped in with wickets. Malaysia was bowled out for just 23, handing Sri Lanka a convincing win.

With their respective victories, India and Sri Lanka have positioned themselves at the top of Group A. India leads with a higher NRR, while Sri Lanka’s all-round performance provides early momentum in the tournament.