Tanushree Sarkar’s appetite for runs refused to take a backseat, as she smashed another nonchalant, unbeaten century (102* off 184 balls), filled with classical and elegant strokes with precision, one of the biggest takeaways for Team C from this Multi-Day Challenger Trophy game as it eventually ended in another draw at Abhimanyu Cricket Academy in Dehradun.
Day 1: Tanushree Sarkar’s 153* and Minnu Mani’s 5-fer headline the day
The Team A skipper Minnu Mani won the toss and opted to field first. Tanushree Sarkar played the role of an anchor to perfection and held the innings together as she saw her partners switch gears from the other end throughout the innings. Team C eventually breached the 300-run mark before getting folded for 313 in 98 overs. Tanushree Sarkar coming in at number three carried her bat throughout the innings, completing an unbeaten century, 153* off 278 balls, en route to her resilient knock, including 21 boundaries and a maximum.
As far as the bowling department is concerned, skipper Minnu Mani (27-4-91-5) stood out as the top performer alongside Tanuja Kanwer (28-6-74-2) with the ball to keep the Jemimah Rodrigues-led side under the 350-run mark.
Day 2: Dinesh Vrinda led the way with a mature 120-ball 78 for Team A
The Minnu Mani-led side responded with equal determination to Team C’s massive total. Shubha Satheesh (48 off 52 balls), Shweta Sehrawat (29 off 81 balls), Vrinda Dinesh (78 off 120 balls), M R Magre (47 off 112 balls) and wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh (22 off 38 balls) stepped up to the task.
However, an impressive fightback from Team C’s bowlers towards the latter half of the 2nd day’s play ensured that the doors were still open for them to make their way back into the contest. Team A ended the 2nd day’s play at 291/9 in 100 overs, trailing Team C by 22 runs. Shuchi Uapdhyay (28-9-90-3), Saima Thakor (13-4-33-2), Shafali Verma (7-2-14-2), Rajeshwari Gayakwad (20-4-42-0), were the stars with the ball for Team C. Tanushree Sarkar rolled her arm over and succeeded as she got the crucial scalp of the opening batter Shweta Sehrawat in her spell (5-1-12-1).
Day 3: Sarkar dazzles with another century as Team C settles for a draw
The Overnight last-wicket pair of Pragati Singh (21* off 47 balls), and Vasavi Akhila Pavani (7 off 29 balls) managed to add another 14 runs to the overnight total of 291/9 reducing the deficit down to just 8 runs before Shuchi Uapdhyay ended the innings at 305 in the 105th over of the innings by sending Vasavi Akhila Pavani back to the pavilion. Shuchi Uapdhyay eventually ended up with impressive match figures (29.5-9-94-4) in her spell for Team C.
The Team C openers Shafali Verma and wicket-keeper batter Riya Chaudhari got their side off to a positive start, scoring at around four runs an over before they lost the wicket of Shafali Verma in the 6th over of the innings. Tanuja Kanwer provided the first breakthrough for Team A. Sarkar joined wicket-keeper batter Riya Chaudhari at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 59-run partnership for the 2nd wicket, stabilising the innings.
M R Magre broke the stand, by sending Riya Chaudhari (32 off 78 balls) back to the pavilion in the 27th over of the innings to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side. Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues joined Sarkar at the crease and the duo stitched a massive unbeaten 132-run partnership for the 3rd wicket, taking their side past the 200-run mark. The game eventually ended in a draw with Team C at 211/2 in 61 overs, leading Team A by 219 runs on the 3rd and final day’s play in Dehradun.
Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (55* off 89 balls) stayed unbeaten on an impressive half-century, while Tanushree Sarkar (102* off 184 balls) smashed her 2nd consecutive unbeaten century, which included 13 boundaries. She capitalised on her opportunity with both hands with her impactful performances in the game. M R Magre (9-3-17-1), and Tanuja Kanwer (11-2-26-1) were the only wicket-takers with the ball for Team A.
The Jemimah Rodrigues-led side got those crucial points as they took the first-innings lead. They are now currently placed at the top of the table with four points from 2 games in the Senior Women’s Multi-day Challenger Trophy 2025 so far.
Loves all things female cricket
