Kuala Lumpur, Jan 22: Defending champions India secured their second consecutive victory in the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday, defeating Malaysia by 10 wickets.
Indian bowler Vaishnavi Sharma made history by becoming the first Indian to claim a hat-trick in the tournament and was named Player of the Match for her exceptional performance.
Vaishnavi’s bowling figures of 5 wickets for just 5 runs in 4 overs, including a maiden over, are the best in the history of the tournament. Her hat-trick also makes her the third bowler overall to achieve the feat in this competition.
Malaysia, batting first, managed only 31 runs before being bowled out in 14.3 overs. India chased the target effortlessly, scoring 32 runs in just 2.5 overs without losing any wickets.
The victory places India at the top of Group A, ahead of Sri Lanka, due to a superior run rate.
India had earlier defeated West Indies by nine wickets, marking a strong start to their title defense. The team’s next match will be against Sri Lanka on January 23.
The tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super-6 round, where they will be divided into two groups of six.
Also, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, with the final scheduled for February 2.
