Sweden Women registered a dominant nine-wicket victory over Austria Women with 62 balls remaining in the opening match of the ECA Women’s European Cup in Ilfov County.
Austria Women faced early trouble after opting to bat, losing their captain Priya Sabu for 6 off 10 balls, bowled by Malyun Yusuf with the score at 19/1. Sheetal Bhardwaj was dismissed without scoring for a three-ball duck by Malyun Yusuf just three balls later at 19/2. Anoushka Vaidya then bowled Isha Joshi for 5 off 8 balls at 22/3, before Sasi Rekha cleaned up Pravitha Ganeshan for 2 off 8 balls to leave Austria reeling at 27/4.
Komati Reddy managed 2 off 10 balls before being bowled by Hareer Chamto at 33/5. Adan Gul joined the wicket-taking spree by bowling Vera Poglitsch, who made 5 off 19 balls, reducing Austria to 41/6. Andrea-Mae Zepeda played a courageous lone hand for Austria, building small partnerships, including an 18-run stand with Anisha Nookala, who was caught by Eman Asim off Hariharan Shreya for 3 off 13 balls at 59/7.
Shreya struck again by bowling Mallika Pathirannehelage for 3 off 9 balls at 71/8. Zepeda was finally stumped by wicketkeeper Anoushka Vaidya off Hareer Chamto for a top-scoring 38 off 33 balls containing a single boundary, leaving Austria at 90/9. Ashi Chopla with 2 not out off 6 balls and Harshita Goyal with 1 not out off 1 ball carried Austria to 91/9 in their 20 overs, supported by 24 extras.
Sweden’s bowlers maintained tight discipline throughout the innings, led by Hareer Chamto with 2/13 in four overs, Hariharan Shreya with 2/12 in four overs, and Malyun Yusuf with 2/18 in three overs. Adan Gul took 1/13 in three overs, Anoushka Vaidya claimed 1/13 in two overs, and Sasi Rekha returned economical figures of 1/16 in four overs.
Chasing a target of 92 runs, Sweden Women made quick work of the pursuit. Openers Anya Vaidya and Adan Gul put together a 12-run opening partnership before Mallika Pathirannehelage caught Gul off her own bowling for 5 off 8 balls in the third over. Eman Asim then joined wicketkeeper-batter Anya Vaidya, and the duo launched a rapid counter-attack to seal the match with an unbroken 80-run second-wicket partnership.
Asim took charge of the chase, smashing an explosive 40 not out off just 18 balls with five fours and a six at a strike rate of 222.22. Vaidya provided solid support from the other end, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 39 off 34 balls including four boundaries. Sweden comfortably reached 92/1 in just 9.4 overs to wrap up a clinical win.
Among Austria’s bowlers, Mallika Pathirannehelage was the sole wicket-taker with figures of 1/6 in two overs. Komati Reddy went for 24 runs in three overs, captain Priya Sabu conceded 8 runs in her single over, Sheetal Bhardwaj gave away 11 runs in one over, and Andrea-Mae Zepeda conceded 42 runs in 2.4 overs.
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