In match no. 5 of the Women’s Uttarakhand Premier League (WUPL) 2025, Haridwar Storm Women edged past Pithoragarh Hurricanes Women by 3 wickets, successfully chasing down the target and securing a spot in the final.
Batting first, Pithoragarh Hurricanes Women put up a fighting total of 107/4 in their 20 overs. Their innings began cautiously, with openers Muskan Kumari (3) and Ananya Mehra (11) departing early, leaving the side under pressure.
However, the middle order stepped up, Nandini Kaushik played a brilliant knock of 57* off 45 balls, anchoring the innings with composure and timely boundaries. Captain Mansi Joshi provided valuable support, adding 21 runs off 20 deliveries, ensuring the Hurricanes finished with a competitive score on the board.
With the ball, Safina Aziz (2/23) was the standout performer for Haridwar, while Ankita Shah (1/22) chipped in with an important breakthrough.
In reply, Haridwar Storm Women began positively. Openers Jyoti Giri (19 off 19) and Dipika Chand (24 off 18) set the tone with an aggressive start, keeping the required rate in control. Skipper Sweta Verma anchored the middle phase with a steady 19 off 22 balls, while Kanak Tapraniya (11) added crucial runs in the middle order.
The Hurricanes’ bowlers did fight back as Ananya Mehra shone with the ball as well, claiming 3/29, while Vaishali Tulera’s spell of 2/12 kept the Storm batters in check and added pressure.
However, Haridwar held their nerve in the tense closing stages. With wickets tumbling, Safina Aziz once again proved her all-round value, adding a vital 10 runs lower down the order, guiding her team past the finish line at 109/7 with just enough breathing space.
Haridwar Storm with back-to-back wins have secured a spot in the final, where they meet the unbeaten Tehri Queens, on September 26, starting 3:00 PM IST.
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