PANAJI
Right-arm medium Tanaya Naik's outstanding returns of 6-19 and middle-order batter Nikita Malik's anchoring unbeaten 29 in a low-scoring chase were instrumental in Goa's win over Himachal Pradesh in the third round 'D' group fixture in the Senior Women's One-day Trophy at Judges Field, Guwahati on Monday.
Electing to bat first, Himachal Pradesh were bundled out for 101 in 37.1 overs. The Goa new-ball pair of right-arm medium Nikita Malik and left-arm medium Metali Gawandar were on the money from get-go, sharing the spoils as Himachal were rocked early, reduced to 6-2 in the second over. A Chitra Jamwal along with her captain, Neena Chaudhary came together for a rescue act and forged a third-wicket alliance of 42 (97b).
With the fall of Jamwal for 24, scalped by Tanaya, Himachal collapsed like nine pins in a bowling alley with Tanaya ripping through the opposition batters' defences with her impeccable control and brilliant bowling on a good batting deck. Chaudhary (24) and Sonal Thakur (22) were the only other batters to reach double digits in the abject batting display.
In reply, Goa were in deep trouble at 26-6 inside 13 overs. All-rounder Nikita Malik kept a calm and mature head to anchor the chase and found an ally in Shreya Parab, who played perfect foil as the pair raised a significant 31 runs. With Parab (17) dismissed at the score of 57-7 in the 23rd over, Himachal Pradesh were back in the contest. Poorva Bhaidkar (12) played her part down the order with Malik, until the former was involved in a run-out.
With Goa at 74-8, Himachal had a strong sniff of continuing their winning streak. But Diksha Gawde dispelled any such thoughts, holding her nerves with a supportive and composed unbeaten 8 (23b) while Malik switched to positive intent to guide Goa over the line in a tense match. The unbroken ninth-wicket association between Malik and Gawde produced 28 runs (34b). For Himachal, right-arm medium Anisha Ansari was the pick of the bowlers with 3-17.
