Aarati’s 4-fer in vain; Rawal’s 70, Sarkar’s 3-fer powers Team B to a win in Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy

Team B’s Pratika Rawal struck her second straight half-century in as many matches in the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy to power her side to a comprehensive 33-run win over Team C on Tuesday in Ranchi.

Batting first, Team B piled up 168/6 in 20 overs, courtesy of Rawal’s heroics with the bat. Coming into bat at number three, the right-hander batter from Delhi picked up from where she had left in the first match in which she muscled 56, and followed it up with a scintillating knock of 70 from just 53 balls. Rawal plundered half a dozen fours and four sixes in her blitz. While Team C’s left arm spinner Aarati Kedar scalped four wickets (4/41), the Maharashtra tweaker could not stem the run flow.

Chasing a daunting total of 169, Team C succumbed under the scoreboard pressure. They were restricted to 135/8 in their full quota of 20 overs. Saranya Gadwal, who is known more for her bowling than batting top scored with an unbeaten 28 off 22. While for Team B, right-arm seamer from Bengal Tanusree Sarkar, who represents Railways, wreaked havoc with the ball, claiming three wickets (3/24).

The two teams have played two matches in the tournament so far, with both winning one game each. Team B will take on Team D next on Saturday, while Team C will meet Team A on Thursday.

Brief Scores: Team B 168/6 in 20 overs (P Rawal 70; A Kedar 3/41) beat Team C 135/8 in 20 overs (S Gadwal 28 not out; T Sarkar 3/24) by 33 runs