PANAJI
Goa and Bengal began their campaign in the Senior Women's Elite T20 (Group A) in similar style by comprehensively defeating UP and MP by nine and 10 wickets respectively at the GCA Academy ground, Porvorim on Saturday.
Sunanda Yetrekar (Goa Women) and Paromita Roy (Bengal Women) starred with all-round performances for the winning sides. While Yetrekar had an unbeaten 22 to go with impressive returns of 3/8, Roy came strong with an unconquered 39 to back up her 2/11 bowling effort.
Goa, coming off a successful tournament in Bengal where they clinched the Senior Women's One Day League Plate Championship to get promoted to the Elite Division, continued their stellar form into the shortest format. Uttar Pradesh Women on winning the toss decided to bat first. But a disciplined Goa Women attack backed by brilliant fielding had UP skittled out for 42 all out in 14.2 overs. In an innings which witnessed just two boundaries, one-down Shobha Devi was the only batswoman to reach double digits (12).
A highlight in the field for Goa Women was the fall of wickets triggered by pacer Santoshi Rane midway through the second over. In her follow-through, the rasping straight drive by the striker, Muskaan Malik was met by Rane's diving reflexes palming the delivery dislodging the bails at her end which found Shashi Mathur backing a bit too far and returning to the shed for a duck. In the slide to follow, there were three other run-outs due to brilliant fielding efforts. Sunanda Yetrekar with her guile and tease highlighted the Goa Women attack with 3/8 in 2.3 overs while Nikita Malik's medium pace fetched her two scalps.
Chasing a paltry target, Goa needlessly lost an early wicket. Stumper Vinavi Gurav who played out a maiden in the first over of the chase, lost her cool and her impetuousness had her holing out to Shobha Devi at the start of the third over with the team score on 2. From thereon, UP were unable to have another sniff at the batters.
The incoming batter and vice-captain, Sunanda Yetrekar was in great nick from the outset for her unbeaten 22 (21b, 3x4) with lanky southpaw opener Sanjula Naik (20 not out, 28b, 2x4) playing an ideal foil to her senior partner. Naik hit the winning runs off slow-left-arm bowler, Tanu Kala after 9.3 overs to reach 45/0. Shivangi Raj was the lone successful bowler for MP.
In the earlier match, Bengal Women coasted to a 10-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh Women. Electing to bat first on winning the toss, MP were 86 all out in 19.4 overs. One-down southpaw Preeti Yadav, who top-scored in the innings with a 22-ball 25 including three boundaries, looked good for a longer vigil until she was caught and bowled by offie Paromita Roy.
The only meaningful partnership of 35 runs was raised for the second wicket when Yadav, found an ally in Deepika Shakya (10). The only other batter to reach double digits was number 9 Tarang Jha with a little cameo of 14 not out from 16 balls. The innings was marred by four run-outs and some fine bowling in the Bengal attack. India international with the most number of WODI wickets (195), Jhulan Goswami was at the fore with 2/8 in 3.4 overs. Paromita Roy did a good job with her off-breaks scalping two wickets as well.
In reply, Bengal went about their business unflustered. Their right-hand and left-hand opening pair of Paromita Roy and professional player Deepti Sharma looked largely untroubled at the crease, milking the submissive MP attack and striking the boundaries at will.
While the seasoned Paromita Roy stayed unconquered on 39 (48b, 7x4), her India international partner Deepti Sharma stayed till the end with an unbeaten 40 (51b, 5x4) when they crossed the line at 87/0 in 16.2 overs.
On Sunday, MP Women take on Baroda Women at 9 am while Bengal Women face UP Women at 1.30 pm.
