PANAJI
A resolute 62-run ninth-wicket unbeaten stand between middle-order batter Sailee Lonkar (40) and Utkarsha Pawar (37) secured a thrilling two-wicket win for Maharashtra against Goa in the fourth-round 'D' Group fixture in the Senior Women's One-day Trophy at Judges Field, Guwahati on Wednesday.
Asked to bat first, Goa collapsed to 142 all out in 43.1 overs. Makeshift opener Tanaya Naik top-scored with a composed 59 (106b, 8x4). After Goa were rocked early at 24-3 in 5 overs, Tanaya found some support in Sanjula Naik (11) to forge a fourth-wicket stand of 54 runs that endeavoured to salvage the innings. Tanaya was the dominant batter in the stand contributing 32 runs. While another collapse ensued, Divya Naik, at 9, provided some spark with 23 (45b, 2x4). In the Maharashtra attack, left-arm medium Shraddha Pokharkar destroyed Goa's top-order with 3-33 while right-arm leg-break Bhakti Mirajkar impressed as well with 3-23.
In reply, Maharashtra were against the odds for the most part of the chase, tottering at 31-5, 38-6, 56-7, and then 81-8 but the khadoos Maharashtrian spirit was exemplified down to the tail that wagged. Sailee, at number six, anchored the chase well with a determined unbeaten 40 (95b, 3x4) as Utkarsha, at 10, provided the gusto and resolve with an unconquered 37 (51b, 8x4) to see Maharashtra over the line in 47.1 overs. For Goa, right-arm off-break Poorva Bhaidkar was the pick of the bowlers with 4-20.
