Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa ended their Women’s Under-19 T20 Trophy Elite campaign without a victory after suffering a 53 run defeat against Himachal Pradesh at Alur Cricket Stadium 2 in Bengaluru on Friday.
Batting first, Himachal Pradesh posted an imposing 184 for nine in their allotted 20 overs, powered by an outstanding innings from Ahana Sharma. She smashed 88 off just 44 balls, hitting 12 fours and five sixes to put Goa’s bowlers under pressure. Archana Thakur provided valuable support with 44 off 31 deliveries, including six fours and a six.
Goa’s bowling attack managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals. Usma Khan and Nikhila Naik were the standout performers, claiming three wickets each. Nandini Chauhan, Pooja Kalel and Vidhi Bhandare chipped in with one wicket apiece. Despite their efforts, Himachal Pradesh finished with a challenging total.
In reply, Goa scored 131 for four in 20 overs but fell short of the target. Usma Khan continued her impressive all round performance with 55 off 48 balls, striking four fours and a six. Athashree Shivarkar also delivered a valuable contribution, scoring 51 off 47 deliveries with eight boundaries.
The duo put together a 102 run partnership for the second wicket, giving Goa hope of mounting a serious challenge. However, the required scoring rate and Himachal Pradesh’s bowling effort prevented the team from completing the chase. Joya Meer and Muskan Sab remained unbeaten on 10 runs each.
For Himachal Pradesh, Pallavi Thakur claimed two wickets for 17 runs, while Kunjam Giri and Riya Sharma picked up one wicket each.
The defeat marked the end of a difficult tournament for Goa, who lost all five matches in their Women’s Under-19 T20 Trophy Elite campaign. Despite the disappointing team result, the performances of Usma Khan, Athashree Shivarkar and Nikhila Naik provided individual highlights in the final fixture.
