Centurion Chetry powers Team B to a 73-run win over Team D in Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy
Riding on Uma Chetry’s power-packed century, Team B racked up a mammoth score of 197/3 in 20 overs against Team D and won the match by 73 runs during the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy in Ranchi on Saturday.
The wicket-keeper and opening batter Chetry smashed 122 off just 71 balls to become the first centurion of this year’s tournament. In her entertaining innings, she peppered the boundary rope 20 times, as she muscled 16 fours and four sixes. Together with her opening partner Shubha Satheesh (28), she piled on 96 runs in 10 overs. Later, she combined forces with Pratika Rawal (12) and Tejal Hasabnis (20 not out) to steer her side close to that 200-run mark. It was only on the final ball of the innings that Team D was able to see the back of Chetry as left arm tweaker Tanuja Kanwer (1/44) cleaned her up.
Chasing almost 10 runs per over from ball one was not going to be easy for Team D. They crumbled under scoreboard pressure as they lost half their side for 62 in 10.3 overs and in the end were restricted to 124/8 in 20 overs. Skipper and opening batter Shafali Verma (18), who picked up two wickets early in the day, could not put up a fight with the bat, as she perished to left arm spinner Mannat Kashyap (2/21) in the fourth over. In the next over, speedster Renuka Singh (2/16) sent Humairaa Kaazi (7) and hard-hitting Kiran Navgire (4) packing. With wickets falling all-around her, Kanwer (51) held the fort from one end but could not take her side home as she fell against the run of play in the 17th over. Wily off spinner Sneh Rana (2/33) put an end to Kanwer’s gritty knock and shattered Team D’s hopes.
With that win, Team B pipped Team E to take the top spot in the points table. Team B has won two of three matches and have eight points in their kitty. On the other hand, Team D is yet to open their account in the points table having lost all their three matches.
Both teams will be seen in action on Monday as Team B will lock horns against Team E and Team D will take on Team A.
Brief Scores: Team B 197/3 in 20 overs (U Chetry 122; S Verma 2/34) beat Team D 124/8 in 20 overs (T Kanwer 51; R Singh 2/16) by 73 runs