Kuala Lumpur, Jan 21 (Agency) Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma’s stunning 5 for 5, including a hat-trick, headlined India’s dominant 10-wicket win over Malaysia in a Group A match of the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup on Tuesday. With their second consecutive victory, India remain unbeaten in the tournament.Vaishnavi’s heroics, ably supported by Aayushi Shukla (3 for 8), saw Malaysia crumble to a mere 31 in 14.3 overs after being put in to bat. No Malaysian batswomen managed to score more than five runs, with extras (11) contributing significantly to the total.India’s chase was a mere formality. Openers Gongadi Trisha (27 off 12 balls) and Kamalini G (4 not out) completed the target in just 2.5 overs, sealing a comprehensive victory. India will next take on Sri Lanka on Thursday in a clash to determine the Group A toppers. With India’s dominant bowling attack – having bowled out their opponents for 44 and 31 – facing Sri Lanka’s high-scoring batting lineup, the match promises to be a thriller.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka posted an imposing 166 for 5 against West Indies, courtesy of significant contributions from Sanjana Kavindi (39), captain Manudi Nanayakkara (41), and Dahami Sanethma (31 not out). The West Indies bowlers added to their own woes by conceding 36 extras.In response, West Indies faltered at the start, with Chamodi Praboda’s lethal spell in the powerplay (3 for 16) leaving them reeling. Captain Samara Ramnath showed some fight with a 23-ball 24, but the team could only muster 90 runs, falling 81 short of the target. Sri Lanka will now face India in their final group-stage match on Thursday, a game that will test the mettle of both sides as they vie for supremacy in Group A.