The contest between Team B and Team D, in the Senior Women’s Multi-Day Challenger Trophy, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Dehradun, has unfolded into a fascinating battle dominated largely by Team D. The match commenced with Team D winning the toss and opting to bat first, a decision that paid off handsomely as their batters put up a strong first-innings total.
On Day 1, the foundation of their innings was laid by Kashvee Gautam, who played a magnificent unbeaten knock of 106*, showcasing tremendous resilience and shot selection. Team D’s batters built important partnerships, frustrating Team B’s bowling attack and steadily accumulating runs.
Despite Team B’s best efforts, their bowlers struggled to make a lasting impact. Prema (3/78) and Shree Charani (3/73) were the pick of the bowlers, managing to scalp three wickets. However, the consistent partnerships from Team D propelled them to a formidable total of 323 in 93.4 overs, setting a daunting challenge for Team B.
As day 2 commenced, Team B faced an uphill task of matching Team D’s first-innings total. Their batting, however, faltered under the immense pressure created by Team D’s bowling attack. The early dismissals of Pratika (5 for 21) and Yastika Bhatia (0 off 2) put the team on the back foot almost immediately.
Harleen Deol (27 off 57), and Kanika Ahuja (26 off 51) failed to capitalize on their starts, leading to a rapid collapse. The only resistance in the innings came from Ayushi Soni, who fought valiantly with a well-compiled 48* off 74 deliveries. However, her lone effort was not enough to rescue Team B from a major batting collapse.
The real stars of the innings were Team D’s bowlers, particularly Sneh Rana (5 for 47) and Vaishnavi Sharma (5 for 49), who wreaked havoc on Team B’s lineup. Both bowlers displayed exceptional skill and control, each picking up a five-wicket haul. Their relentless attack ensured that Team B was bundled out for just 160 runs in 57 overs, giving Team D a massive first-innings lead.
The fall of wickets at regular intervals—16/1, 16/2, 21/3, 59/4, 71/5, 71/6, 126/7, 137/8, 156/9, and finally all out at 160—illustrated how Team B struggled to stitch together meaningful partnerships, making it easy for Team D to enforce the follow-on.
With a deficit of 163 runs, Team B was forced to follow on, but this time, they showed a far more determined approach. Openers Pratika and Yastika Bhatia led the fight back with an outstanding 131-run partnership. Pratika displayed great patience and temperament, scoring 74 off 113 balls, while Bhatia counter-attacked brilliantly with a fluent 69 off 67 deliveries.
Their solid stand ensured that Team B did not crumble as they did in the first innings, offering a glimmer of hope for a turnaround. Ayushi Soni (22* off 57) and Arushi Goel (5* off 21) remained unbeaten at the close of play, with Team B managing to reach 178/2 in 43 overs.
Despite their improved batting effort, Team B will need to add a lot on to their lead of 15 runs, so the pressure remains on them to continue their resilience on the final day. As for Team D, they will look to bundle out Team B as early as possible.
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