Delhi put up an all-round performance outscoring Andhra by a huge margin of 199 runs in the Women’s One Day Cup Elite semifinal. Delhi, batting first, built the innings right from the time they started off their innings and seemed to be in command, and by the end of the game, they had asserted their dominance over Andhra with both bat and ball.
Delhi, batting first, concentrated on laying a strong foundation. Priya Punia started off on the right note with a solid 60 off 77 deliveries including 6 fours and 1 six, displaying immense maturity and control while playing her shots. She was ably supported by Pragya Rawat, who contributed 65 off 81 deliveries, including 8 fours. Both of them made sure that there were no hiccups in the initial stages of their innings and provided the perfect platform for the middle order to launch their attack.
The momentum truly changed when Shweta Sehrawat got into her attacking mode. Playing with confidence and freedom, she took the attack to the Andhra bowlers and completely altered the tempo of the match. Her 113 off just 73 balls was filled with clean boundaries and aggressive hitting, putting the opposition team under immense pressure. It was the sort of knock that raises the entire team’s morale. While Andhra struggled to restrict the flow of runs, Tanisha Singh was introduced to provide the finishing touches.
Her unbeaten 75 off 55 balls ensured that Delhi did not lose any momentum in the final overs. At the end of 50 overs, Delhi had piled up a massive total of 340/4, which already seemed difficult to reach. Chasing 341 would have always required something special from Andhra, but Delhi’s bowlers ensured that there was no scope for hope. The early wickets disrupted the run flow, and the required run rate began to mount.
Avula Sireesha displayed grit with an unbeaten 30, trying to keep things from falling apart, while Anjali Sarvani and Henrietta Pereira made some decent contributions. But without a strong fight, the pursuit never really got the momentum going. The Delhi bowling attack functioned as a cohesive unit, displaying disciplined lines and keeping everything under control.
Soni Yadav led by example with three vital wickets in 8 overs, while Nazma made an equal contribution with three wickets in her 6.3 overs. Disha Nagar made crucial breakthroughs by taking 2 wickets, and the rest of the bowlers made decent contributions to ensure that there were no easy scoring opportunities. Andhra were eventually bowled out for 141 in 38.3 overs, and the match was put to a decisive end.
It was a clinical display of confidence from Delhi, which came from the strength of partnerships, aggressive batting in the middle overs, and disciplined bowling under pressure. The 199-run win not only showcased their strength but also made a statement about their unity as a side. They will now face the all-conquering Railways in the tournament final.
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