PANAJI
Goa opened their campaign in the Senior Women's One-day Trophy with a comprehensive 91-run win against Hyderabad at Nehru Stadium, Guwahati on Thursday.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Goa batters - Tanaya Naik (46), Sunanda Yetrekar (33), Sanjula Naik (43) and Shreya Parab (43) propped up Goa to a competitive 231-7. In the Hyderabad attack, right-arm offbreak Bhoji Shravani was the pick of the bowlers with returns of 3-46 from her eight overs.
In reply, Hyderabad were in trouble at 38-3 in the 13th over when one-down batter Trisha Poojitha found an ally in Pranavi Chandra to steady the ship. The two batters were involved in an 86-run fourth wicket stand but could not bring any scoring momentum to their chase. Poojitha (53) and Chandra (37) fell in quick succession in the end overs with the game well beyond reach. Hyderabad eventually ended up on 140/6. For Goa, seasoned all-rounder, Sunanda Yetrekar stood out with her leg-breaks with an impressive 2-30 in her quota.
Goa coach Sarvesh Naik, speaking to The Goan after the match, sounded quite satisfied by his side's performance. "We played very well. After losing two early wickets, Tanaya and Sunanda were involved in a crucial third-wicket partnership that realised 55 runs. Sanjula and Shreya later capitalized. The fielding was a bit up and down, but I am happy that our bowlers implemented whatever we planned," the coach reflected.
Goa play Uttarakhand in their second 'D' Group fixture at Amingaon Cricket Ground, Guwahati on Saturday. On their next opposition, Naik was wary. "Uttarakhand may have lost against Himachal Pradesh in their first game, but they are among the stronger teams in our group along with Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. Uttarakhand have three India players in their ranks (Ekta Bisht, Mansi Joshi and Punam Raut) apart from Sarika Koli, who is a good batter."
