Germany Women held their nerve in a thrilling finish to register a four-run victory over Switzerland Women in the fourth T20I of the Switzerland Women Tour of Germany at SSC Karlsruhe. The contest remained evenly balanced throughout, with momentum swinging from one side to the other before Germany’s bowlers produced an excellent finish to defend 116/4, restricting Switzerland to 112/4 in their 20 overs. The victory also helped Germany take a commanding 4-0 lead in the five-match series.
After Switzerland opted to field first, Germany’s innings began steadily but suffered an early setback when Aishani Kishore was dismissed for 12 off 13 balls. She added 16 runs for the opening wicket alongside Wilhelmina Hornero-Garcia, who continued to keep the scoreboard moving with positive intent. Hornero-Garcia contributed 22 from 20 deliveries, striking one boundary before becoming Vani Dhanuka’s first wicket. The opening pair gave Germany a stable platform, but Switzerland struck regularly enough to prevent a major partnership from developing.
Following the second wicket, captain Asmita Kohli assumed responsibility for the innings. Kohli displayed immense patience, rotating the strike effectively while ensuring wickets were preserved. She stitched together a 37-run partnership with Ameya Kanukuntla, who chipped in with a useful 14 off 21 balls before falling in the 17th over. Although the scoring rate remained modest, the stand helped Germany rebuild after losing two early wickets.
Kohli then found another handy ally in Rameesha Shahid, with the duo adding 20 valuable runs for the fourth wicket. Shahid scored 8 off 11 balls, but Kohli remained unbeaten throughout the innings with a composed 43 not out from 59 deliveries, guiding Germany to 116/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Germany also benefited from 17 extras, which proved decisive in such a closely fought encounter.
Switzerland’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to keep the hosts under pressure. Vani Dhanuka emerged as the standout performer and was later deservedly named Player of the Match. She claimed 2 wickets for 20 runs in her four overs, dismissing both Hornero-Garcia and Shahid while maintaining an economy of exactly five runs per over. Naina Metty Saju also impressed with figures of 2/20, removing Aishani Kishore and Ameya Kanukuntla to break promising partnerships.
Samiha Konuganti bowled economically, conceding just 23 runs from four overs, while Meghna Rajan leaked only 19 runs in her spell without taking a wicket. Sejal Vinod, Natalie Clarke, and Danashi Medagoda supported well, ensuring Germany never managed to accelerate significantly during the closing overs.
Chasing 117 for victory, Switzerland’s innings never truly exploded despite a determined effort from their middle order. Germany made the ideal start when Antonia Meyenborg dismissed Sreekumar Divya for just 1, leaving Switzerland at 7/1. Laila Pickard then attempted to rebuild alongside Meghna Rajan, adding 13 runs before Rajan departed for 3, courtesy of Ameya Kanukuntla. The early wickets placed pressure on Switzerland, but Pickard remained composed and gradually settled into her innings.
The defining phase of the chase came through an excellent 94-run third-wicket partnership between Laila Pickard and Vani Dhanuka. Pickard accumulated 30 from 48 balls, anchoring one end, while Dhanuka played the aggressor’s role with a superb 58 off 52 deliveries, including five boundaries. Their stand brought Switzerland within touching distance of victory and shifted the pressure firmly onto the German bowlers.
However, Germany produced timely breakthroughs when it mattered most. Asmita Kohli dismissed the dangerous Dhanuka in the penultimate over, while Antonia Meyenborg removed Pickard shortly afterwards. Switzerland required a late flourish, but Franziska Kuenburg (3*) and captain Danashi Medagoda (3*) could not find the boundaries needed in the closing moments as the visitors finished agonisingly short on 112/4.
Germany’s bowling attack shared the responsibility impressively. Antonia Meyenborg led the way with 2 wickets for 17 runs in four overs, striking at both the beginning and the death to halt Switzerland’s chase. Ameya Kanukuntla continued her all-round contribution by taking 1/15 from four economical overs, while captain Asmita Kohli claimed the vital wicket of Vani Dhanuka despite conceding 23 runs.
Iris Edwards bowled an exceptionally tidy spell, giving away only 10 runs in three overs, while Meghana Lakayil remained wicketless but controlled the scoring with figures of 0/25 from four overs. Caithlyn Bruell completed the attack with two overs, helping Germany squeeze the scoring during the crucial middle phase.
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