The 3rd place play-off of the Women’s Continental Cup featured a showdown between Norway Women and Austria Women in Ilfov County.
Choosing to build a solid foundation early on, Norway’s openers took the crease against Austria’s new-ball attack. However, Austria struck quickly to break the initial opening partnership when Komati Reddy removed Bijeyata Kumari for just 1 run off 5 balls, caught behind by Hadia Siddiqui, leaving the score at 13/1 in 1.6 overs. Mallika Pathirannehelage kept the momentum going for Austria by bowling Ayesha Hasan for a duck, triggering an early stumble at 14/2 in 2.5 overs.
Opener Anushka Gorad stabilized the innings alongside Ramya Immadi, forming a resilient 25-run partnership for the third wicket. Their resistance was broken when Andrea-Mae Zepeda delivered a game-changing spell, bowling Ramya Immadi for 12 runs off 17 balls to leave Norway at 39/3. Zepeda turned the game completely on its head during her lethal four-over spell, ripping through the middle order by bowling Alina Aslam (0 off 2) and Prachi Kumari (0 off 1) in consecutive balls to leave Norway reeling at 39/5.
Priya Sabu then trapped Norway’s top scorer, Anushka Gorad, lbw for 23 off 32 balls (including 2 fours), sending Norway to 46/6. Shortly after, Zepeda claimed her fourth victim by bowling Lizzie Stanfergin for 3 off 4 balls, reducing them to 51/7. The lower order offered fleeting resistance as Shangeerthana Raveendrakumar (2 off 9 balls) was bowled by Hadia Siddiqui at 57/8. Nayab Razwan fought valiantly at one end, finishing unbeaten on 13 off 17 balls. She built an 18-run 9th-wicket stand with Vidya Viyala (6 off 9 balls) before Siddiqui struck again, having Viyala caught by keeper Vera Poglitsch at 74/9.
Priya Sabu wrapped up the innings by dismissing opponent skipper Mirab Razwan (1 off 9 balls) via a return catch to bowl Norway out for 81 in 17.3 overs, aided by 20 extra runs. Austria’s disciplined bowling attack was spearheaded by Andrea-Mae Zepeda’s brilliant 4/14, backed up by Priya Sabu (2/10), Hadia Siddiqui (2/15), Mallika Pathirannehelage (1/16), and Komati Reddy (1/18), while Sheetal Bhardwaj conceded 8 runs in her solitary over.
Chasing a modest target of 82 runs, Austria Women’s chase experienced an early bump when Vidya Viyala knocked over Hadia Siddiqui for just 1 run, breaking the opening partnership at 7/1 in 1.5 overs. Skipper Priya Sabu joined opener Sheetal Bhardwaj to reconstruct the innings, constructing a patient 37-run partnership for the second wicket to steady the ship. Mirab Razwan broke through for Norway by bowling Priya Sabu for 14 off 28 balls, leaving Austria at 44/2. Alina Aslam then gave Norway a glimmer of hope by bowling Sheetal Bhardwaj (22 off 46 balls) shortly after at 62/3.
However, Andrea-Mae Zepeda ensured there were no further stumbles, putting on a dominant power-hitting display. Joining forces with Komati Reddy, Zepeda unleashed an explosive 25 not out off just 15 balls (hitting 3 fours and a six). Together, they put on an unbroken 20-run fourth-wicket partnership, with Komati Reddy contributing a quickfire 12 not out off 8 balls (2 fours).
Austria comfortably reached 82/3 in 16.4 overs to secure a stylish 7-wicket victory with 20 balls to spare. Norway’s bowling figures saw Alina Aslam take 1/18, Vidya Viyala claim 1/12, and Mirab Razwan finish with 1/27, while Ramya Immadi (0/14), Prachi Kumari (0/5), and Lizzie Stanfergin (0/5) went wicketless in their respective spells.
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