Unbeaten heavyweights India and South Africa lock horns in the U19WC 2025 Final
Both teams have breezed past others en route to the summit clash and have an array of match winners in their units.
The ICC Women’s T20 Under 19 World Cup 2025 is headed for an epic conclusion with India and South Africa set to lock horns in a much-awaited final on Sunday.
The Bayuemas Oval in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur will play host to the grand occasion, with the match scheduled to commence at 2:30 PM local time.
A prominent feature of their respective campaigns is the fact that the two teams arrive at the final on the back of unbeaten runs.
South Africa topped Group C with wins over New Zealand, Samoa and Nigeria. Holding the advantage of carrying four group stage points to the Super Six round, South Africa also bested Ireland before sharing points with USA after the game was abandoned due to rain. In the semi-final, the Kayla Reyneke-led side beat Australia by five wickets to seal their spot in the final.
India, who arrived in the competition as the defending champions, also won all their group-stage fixtures against West Indies, Malaysia and Sri Lanka before getting the better of Bangladesh and Scotland in the Super Six. With a place in the final on the line, India breezed past England to make it six wins from as many games.
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Both the teams have had multiple match winners rising to the occasion across the tournament. For India, Trisha Gongadi has amassed 265 runs from six outings – most in the tournament. Vaishnavi Sharma on the other hand, remains the top wicket-taker at this edition of the tournament with 15 scalps so far. The tweaker also created history by bagging the tournament’s first hat trick against Malaysia.
While the Proteas have had multiple games affected owing to rain, a key strength of the side has been their bowling. Skipper Kayla Reneke has led from the front, with 10 wickets from five appearances. She has been backed by the likes of Monalisa Legodi and Nthabiseng Nini, who have six wickets each to their name.
With no injury concerns in either camps following their semi-final triumphs, it is likely that the two field the same eleven that started in the previous game.
Predicted playing XI
India: Niki Prasad (c), Kamalini G, Trisha Gongadi, Sanika Chalke, Ishwari Awasare, Mithila Vinod, Aayushi Shukla, Joshitha VJ, Shabnam, Parunika Sisodia, Vaishnavi Sharma.
South Africa: Kayla Reneke (c), Jemma Botha, Simone Lourens, Fay Cowling, Karabo Meso, Mieke Van Voorst, Seshnie Naidu, Ashleigh Van Wyk, Luyanda Nzuza, Monalisa Legodi, Nthabiseng Nini.