Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Saurashtra Women’s Under-23 Cricket Team secured a narrow 12 run victory over Goa Women’s Under-23 Cricket Team in the Women’s Under 23 Elite One Day Tournament match played at the Maharana Pratap College Ground on Thursday.
Batting first, Saurashtra posted a competitive total of 252 for 5 in their allotted 50 overs. P. Bhambi laid a solid foundation at the top of the order, scoring 65 runs from 92 deliveries with six boundaries. Miloni played a steady unbeaten knock of 56 from 73 balls, striking four fours, while Angel added a valuable 41 not out from 41 balls. Captain Hirva V also contributed 40 runs off 47 balls.
A key highlight of the innings was the 76 run partnership between Bhambi and Miloni that helped stabilise the innings. Saurashtra also benefited from 17 extras, including 16 wides, which added useful runs to the total.
For Goa, captain Tanaya Naik was the most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 42 runs in eight overs. Metali Gawandar finished with figures of 1 for 43 in ten overs, while Harshita Yadav claimed one wicket for 51 runs in nine overs.
Chasing a target of 253, Goa began cautiously but found momentum through captain Tanaya Naik, who produced an impressive innings of 84 runs from 92 balls with five boundaries. Presha Naik supported her well with a fluent 58 off 56 balls, hitting six fours.
The pair shared a crucial 107 run partnership, which became the highest stand of Goa’s innings and kept the chase alive. Harshita Yadav added 29 runs while Urvashi Govekar contributed 22, but the rest of the batting lineup struggled to maintain the required momentum.
Goa’s innings was also hurt by four run outs at critical stages, which slowed their progress during the chase. The team was eventually bowled out for 240 in 49 overs, falling just short of the target.
For Saurashtra, Avani Chavda delivered an economical spell of 2 for 29 in ten overs. Hirva V and Ashaba also claimed two wickets each, helping their side secure a hard fought victory in the closely contested encounter.
