Andhra Women Clinch Thrilling Victory Over Rajasthan to Advance to Semifinals
In a nail-biting quarterfinal match of the Senior Women's One-Day Trophy held in Ropar, Punjab, Andhra secured a dramatic four-wicket win against Rajasthan on Monday. The low-scoring encounter saw Andhra storm into the semifinals after a tense finish in the last over.
Rajasthan's Batting Struggles
Put into bat first, Rajasthan managed to post a total of 165 runs before being all out in their full 50 overs. The innings featured several players getting starts but failing to convert them into substantial scores. Opener Ayushi Garg top-scored with 38 runs, supported by Sangita Kumawat (31), Suman Meena (23), and Tanuja Vaishnav (20). However, the lack of big partnerships hindered their progress, with B Anusha leading Andhra's bowling attack by taking 3 wickets for 26 runs, while E Padmaja and K Dhathri contributed with two wickets each.
Andhra's Resilient Chase
Chasing a modest target of 166 runs, Andhra faced early setbacks, stumbling to 73 for 5 at one stage. The match seemed to tilt in Rajasthan's favor, but a crucial partnership turned the tide. Henrietta Pereira played a pivotal innings, scoring 51 runs, and was ably supported by E Padmaja, who remained unbeaten on 47. Together, they forged a match-winning 78-run stand for the sixth wicket, steering Andhra towards victory. V Pushpa Latha (31) and P Ranga Lakshmi (24) also made valuable contributions to the chase.
Rajasthan's Bowling Efforts
Despite the loss, Rajasthan's bowlers put up a spirited fight. Sonal Kalal was the standout performer, claiming 3 wickets for 27 runs, while Suman Meena took 2 for 24. Koushalya Choudhary also chipped in with a wicket, but their efforts were not enough to defend the total as Andhra reached 166 for 6 in 49.3 overs.
Brief Scores and Semifinal Berth
Rajasthan: 165 all out in 50 overs (Ayushi Garg 38, Sangita Kumawat 31; B Anusha 3-26, E Padmaja 2-34, K Dhathri 2-34).
Andhra: 166/6 in 49.3 overs (Henrietta Pereira 51, E Padmaja 47*, V Pushpa Latha 31; Sonal Kalal 3-27, Suman Meena 2-24).
Andhra won by 4 wickets, securing their place in the semifinals of the Senior Women's One-Day Trophy, while Rajasthan's campaign came to an end in a closely contested match.
