A gripping three-day battle between Team C and Team D ended in a hard-fought draw. Tejal Hasabnis’ brilliant 169 and Shafali Verma’s explosive 108 powered Team C to a strong total. In response, Dhara Gujjar’s resilient century and Amanjot Kaur’s attacking 110 kept Team D in the fight. With both teams refusing to back down, the match concluded as an evenly contested thriller.
Day 1: Shafali’s Blitz and Hasabnis’ Marathon Knock Set the Tone
The Senior Women’s Multi-Day Challenger Trophy commenced with Team C asserting dominance through a powerful batting display. Despite early blows from Kashvee Gautam, who rattled the top order, Shafali Verma (108 off 104) and Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 42) built a crucial 103-run partnership. The standout performance came from Tejal Hasabnis, who played a magnificent knock of 169 off 185 balls, guiding Team C to a commanding 405/9 declared in 85 overs.
Sushree Dibyadarshini contributed a solid 67, while Kashvee Gautam (3/57) and Gongadi Trisha (3/32) were the pick of the bowlers. In response, Team D finished the day at 29/0, showing resilience heading into Day 2.
Day 2: Dhara Gujjar Anchors Team D’s Reply with a Gritty Century
Facing a daunting total, Team D found stability through Trisha’s attacking 93 off 137 balls and Nandini Kashyap’s composed 32 off 92. Despite losing quick wickets, Dhara Gujjar rose to the occasion with an unbeaten 103* off 212 balls, holding the innings together. She received crucial support from Sneh Rana (28 off 90) and Amanjot Kaur (39 off 34), helping Team D post 322/5 by stumps.
Saima Thakor (2/78) led Team C’s bowling effort, while Saranya Gadwal, Sushree Dibyadarshini, and Shafali Verma chipped in with a wicket each. With Team D still trailing, the battle was set for an intriguing Day 3.
Day 3: Team D Seizes Control as Amanjot and Dhara Fight Back
Resuming at 322/5, Team D capitalized on their strong position with Dhara Gujjar extending her brilliant innings to 109 before falling. However, Amanjot Kaur shifted gears, playing a fearless 110 off 135 balls, which ensured Team D surpassed Team C’s total. She was well-supported by K P Choudhary (31* off 47) and Kashvee Gautam (39 off 73), pushing the team to a massive 496 all out, securing a crucial first innings lead of 91 runs.
Key partnerships played a vital role, including the 107-run stand between Gujjar and Amanjot, followed by a 74-run partnership between Amanjot and Kashvee. Despite losing wickets at intervals, Team D’s lower order frustrated Team C’s bowlers, with the last few batters chipping in valuable runs.
For Team C, Saima Thakor (2/95), Saranya Gadwal (2/56) and Sushree Dibyadarshini (2/70) emerged as the pick of the bowlers and provided crucial breakthroughs. However, their efforts weren’t enough to restrict Team D from taking the lead.
Trailing by 91 runs, Team C’s openers Uma Chetry and Shafali Verma came out with intent, ensuring a steady start in their second innings. By the time stumps were drawn, they had erased a significant portion of the deficit, reaching 75/1 in 16 overs. Shafali continued her aggressive approach, scoring a brisk 50* off 41 balls, while Tanusree Sarkar with her 24* off 44 ensured no further setbacks after the early wicket of Uma Chetry (1 off 11) vee’s bowling.
Despite the thrilling three-day battle, neither team could force a result, and the match ended in a draw. However, individual brilliance from players like Dhara Gujjar, Tejal Hasabnis, and Amanjot Kaur made it a memorable contest. With momentum shifting throughout, the clash showcased the resilience and skill of both sides, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.
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