PANAJI
After going unbeaten in their first three matches, winning the first two (against Chattisgarh and Team Rajasthan) and a washout (against J&K), Goa women tasted a reverse in a comprehensive seven-wicket defeat against hosts Bengal in the Senior Women's One-Day League Plate Group C tie at Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani. The saving grace in a losing cause for Goa Women came in the form of an all-round performance by skipper and international, Shikha Pandey (43, 2/24)
Put into bat in the Plate Group C clash, Goa posted a meagre 137/9. Vinavi Gurav 20(59balls, 4x4) and Nikita Malik 21 (58balls, 1x4) continued to complement each other well to forge an important first-wicket partnership of 49 with Gurav caught and bowled by Deepti at the start of the 19th over. Shortly after, Deepti pegged back the visitors further at the same score with a leg before verdict against inform one-down bat, Sunanda Yetrekar for nought. With the third-wicket of Malik to fall at 53 to Saika Ishaque, captain Pandey steadied the innings to an extent with Sanjula Naik who tried to weather off the storm to take the score to 82 until Deepti struck again to prise out Sanjula for 5 (32balls, 1x4). From 82/4, Goa Women sank to 105/8 at the end of the 41st over with their captain Pandey (43, 66balls, 5x4) dismissed and the Bengal slow bowlers making inroads. But young turks in Sugandha Ghadi with a plucky unbeaten 24 (34balls, 2x4) and Sindiya Naik 11(21b, 1x4) frustrated the home side to a 24-run stand for the ninth-wicket.
For the home side attack, the spin troika of Saika Ishaque, Deepti and Paramita Roy had a field day. With Ishaque having impressive figures of 4/27, Deepti proved a more than able foil with 3/29 from and Paramita Roy chipping in with two sticks.
Replying to a low target of 138, Bengal were jolted on the fourth delivery of their chase with wicket-keeper and opener, Aparna Mondal dismissed for a duck by Goa pacer, Shikha Pandey. They received another setback with Paramita Roy (13) at one-down, returning to the pavilion under unfortunate circumstances of a hit wicket to a delivery bowled by Sanjula and the team score at 31/2. But that was as far as Goa stayed in contest with Bengal captain, Tanusree Sarkar 39, 62balls, 7x4) walking in to steady their chase with the other opener Deepti 60* (102b, 5x4) who stood rooted at the crease to the end. With Bengal captain Sarkar finally dismissed at 116/3 mid-way through the 30th over, it was only a matter of time that they cruised over the line.
Among the Goa bowlers, Shikha stood out with a return of 2/24 off nine overs, while Sanjula Naik picked up the other wicket to fall.
Goa effected one change in their line-up bringing back Tejashwini Duragad with Diksha Gawde making her way out. Goa will now return to Eden Gardens to take on Tripura in a must-win Round V match on Thursday.
