The Maharani Trophy 2025 kicked off in style with two compelling encounters that set the tone for the tournament. Shivamogga Lioness Women held their nerve in a tense finish to register a 15-run win over Hubli Tigers Women, showcasing disciplined bowling and smart partnerships under pressure.
In the second clash of the day, Mangaluru Dragons Women delivered a well-rounded performance to secure a clinical 6-wicket victory over Bengaluru Blasters Women. Anchored by a composed chase and strong middle-order showing, Mangaluru made a strong statement early in the competition.
Match 1: Shivamogga Lioness Women vs Hubli Tigers Women
In a low scoring yet fiercely contested encounter, Shivamogga Lioness Women edged past Hubli Women by 15 runs, successfully defending a modest total of 126/6 in a match defined by disciplined bowling and key partnerships.
Opting to bat first, Shivamogga’s innings had a shaky start with skipper Roshni Kiran falling early for just 6. The top order wobbled further as Isha Prabhakar and Lavanya Chalana departed without scoring. However, opener Advika D Gowda anchored the innings brilliantly with a composed 44 off 48 balls.
Gowda found support in Sloka Veerahyndhavi, who chipped in with a brisk 19 off 13, the pair stitching together a vital 40-run stand to stabilize the innings. The momentum continued in the latter stages due to Soumya Verma’s unbeaten 24 off 20, and Namita D’souza’s quickfire 18* off 12, as the duo added 30 runs in the death overs, pushing Shivamogga to a fighting total. For Hubli, Priya Chavan was the standout bowler, delivering an impactful spell of 4/27, while Monica Patel (1/19) and BG Tejashwini chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Chasing 127, Hubli never truly settled into rhythm. Early wickets derailed their start with Shreya Chavan (6), Krishika Reddy (2), and Bhavika Reddy (8) falling cheaply. BG Tejashwini attempted to rebuild with a patient 16 off 20, but the required rate kept climbing. The only bright spark in the chase came from a gritty 70-run unbeaten stand between Nandani Chauhan (34* off 42) and Annapurna G Bhosale (39* off 30). While the pair showed resilience, the run rate proved too steep, and Hubli fell short at 111/5, ending their innings 15 runs shy of the target.
Shivamogga’s bowlers shared the workload evenly, Lavanya Chalana (1/6) was economical, while Srinithi P Rai (1/17), Saina Kapoor (1/17), Namita D’souza (1/20), and Mithila Vinod (1/24) each played their part in applying pressure throughout the innings.
Match 2: Mangaluru Dragons Women vs Bengaluru Blasters Women
A composed chase helped Mangaluru Dragons Women seal a confident 6-wicket win over Bengaluru Blasters Women, chasing down 103 with ease.
Batting first, Bengaluru Blasters struggled to build momentum on a sluggish surface. Opener T Nireeksha fell for just 10, while Deeksha CD showed some resistance with a fluent 26 off 24 balls, the only bright spark in a largely underwhelming top order. Skipper Kandikuppa Kashvi was dismissed for a duck, and though Sakshi Doijode (17 off 22), Aditi Rajesh (16 off 18), and Chandasi Krishnamurthy (13 off 14) tried to rebuild, the innings lacked a defining partnership. The lower order crumbled under pressure, and the Blasters limped to 102/9 in their 20 overs.
Mangaluru’s bowlers were clinical and consistent. Reethu Gowda led the charge with a sharp spell of 3/17, while Liyanka Shetty (1/6), Shreya Mishra (1/14), and Nirmitha CJ (1/15) kept the middle overs tight, never letting the Blasters break free.
In reply, Mangaluru’s chase had a few early stutters. While Liyanka Shetty added a handy 22 off 24 at the top, skipper Prathyoosha Kumar managed only 3 and Inchara CU was dismissed for 9. But with the game delicately poised, it was Saloni P and Karnika Karthick who turned the tide. The duo batted with maturity and aggression, stitching together a match-winning 49-run unbeaten partnership. Saloni anchored the chase with a composed 32* off 41, while Karnika played the aggressor’s role with a blistering 32* off just 17 balls, accelerating in the death overs to take Mangaluru to 106/4 in 17.4 overs.
For Bengaluru, Aditi Rajesh (2/19) bowled with good rhythm, while Veda Varshini (1/14) and Chandasi Krishnamurthy (1/29) picked up wickets, but the total on board proved too little to defend.
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