A stellar performance by youngster Yastika Bhatia and C H Jhansi Lakshmi helped India A hand India D their first defeat of the tournament, taking the 2021–22 Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy.
Choosing to bowl first, Sneh Rana led India A restricted Pooja Vastrakar’s India D to 219 for 8 wickets in their 50 overs. Leading the bowling attack was the all-rounder from Maharashtra, Disha Kasat who finished her 8 overs spell with 3-39 while Sonal Kalal and Maya Sonawane got a couple each. Trying to keep the scorecard moving and reach a good total despite wickets falling on the other hand were Sabbhineni Meghana and Amanjot Kaur. Opener Meghana made a crucial 45 off 45 balls with seven boundaries at the strike rate of 102.27 before being bowled by Kalal while Kaur remained not out on 55 off 74 with six boundaries.
Chasing the total, India A lost two early wickets when Keerthi James sent opener Shivali Shinde (14 off 21) and in at number 3 Dinesh Vrinda without opening her account, back to the dressing room in quick succession in the seventh over. However, it was all India A after that with Jhansi and Yastika putting up a brilliant 95 run-stand, both reaching their half-centuries. India D’s vice-captain Kaur brought the big breakthrough in the 26th over when Lakshmi departed scoring 64 off 70 with 9 boundaries at the strike rate of 91.43. However, with just 94 runs to get and Bhatia on the crease, it still wasn’t easy for the group stage toppers.
🏆 India A🏆
India A beat India D to Win Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy
India D: 219/8 (50)
India A: 224/7 (45.4)Yastika Bhatia scored 86 Runs of 102 Balls. C H Jhansi Lakshmi scored 64 off 70.
Disha Kasat picked 3 Wickets.#ChallengerTrophy pic.twitter.com/yCySt855sK
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 9, 2021
The 21 years old from Vadodara, Gujarat who made her debut in all the three formats of international cricket in the same series i.e., against Australia earlier this year, went on to bat till the 39th over before the ball by her national side teammate Rajeshwari Gayakwad hit the stumps. Gayakwad who also took the other three wickets finished with a four-wicket haul giving away 36 runs with an economy of 3.60 but was unable to take her team to the trophy. The star of the match Bhatia was adjudged with the Player of the match trophy as India A was able to chase the target with 3 wickets and with over 25 balls to spare.
S Meghana is leading the Run-Chart from the recently concluded One Day Challengers Trophy.
Who else impressed you the most with her batting?#ChallengerTrophy pic.twitter.com/JjDgpaISwz
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 10, 2021
India D’s Meghana ended up as the leading run-scorer of the edition with 207 runs and India B’s V Chandu as the leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets. Just like Bhatia’s, the five-day-long mini-tournament saw many such great performances.
