Team A beat Team B by 5 runs in the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger opener
Uma Chetry’s and Pratika Rawal’s half centuries went in vain as Team B fell shy of five runs while chasing 140 against Team A during the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy in Ranchi on Sunday.
Batting first, Team A posted 139/4 in 20 overs, courtesy of Richa Ghosh’s power-packed knock of 58 from 46 balls. The wicket-keeper-batter, who came into bat at number four, smashed seven fours and two sixes in her entertaining innings. After losing their opening pair of Rubia Syed (15) and Priya Punia (8) inside the powerplay, captain Harleen Deol steadied the sinking ship with an 18-ball 32 blitzkrieg. Deol hammered half a dozen fours and stitched a 47-run partnership with Ghosh for the third wicket. In the end, Arundhati Reddy joined the party with an unbeaten 22 off 25 and put together a match winning stand of 63 runs with Ghosh for the fourth wicket. On the other hand, for Team B, Renuka Singh (2/19), Nikita Singh (1/17), and Prema Rawat (1/23) were the three wicket-takers of the seven bowlers used by captain Sneh Rana.
In reply, Team B fought hard as the match went all the way down the wire. Opening batter and wicket-keeper Chetry plundered 54 from 37, peppering the boundary rope 10 times. After the other opener Nikita Chauhan (0) was retired hurt, Rawal, who came in to bat at number three, muscled 56 from 50, finding the fence on five occasions. Though the top order sparkled for Team B, the lack of contributions from the middle order cost them the match. Bengal off spinner Mita Paul was the lone wicket-taker for Team A as she picked three wickets for 29 runs in her four overs. Team A exhibited an excellent fielding display as they inflicted two run outs.
The two teams will be in action on Tuesday for their second match. Team A will take on Team E and Team B will lock horns against Team C at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.
Brief Scores: Team A 139/4 in 20 overs (R Ghosh 58; R Singh 2/19) beat Team B 134/5 in 20 overs (P Rawal 56; M Paul 3/29) by 5 runs