Chhattisgarh's Women's Under-19 team secured a commanding seven-wicket victory against Vidarbha in their fourth league match of the BCCI-organised Women's Under-19 One Day Trophy 2025. The match, played in Hyderabad on Friday, was decisively shaped by a spectacular bowling spell from Rishika Shrivastava.
Rishika's Match-Defining Spell Chokes Vidarbha
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Vidarbha's innings was crippled by the right-arm bowler. Rishika Shrivastava delivered a career-best performance, claiming 6 wickets for just 40 runs in her 10 overs. Her incisive bowling never allowed the Vidarbha batters to settle, triggering a collapse that the team could not recover from. Despite a valiant fight from opener Arya Pongde, who scored a resilient 72 runs, Vidarbha kept losing partners at regular intervals.
Riddhima Maradkar (31) and Akshara (14) offered some support, but the team was eventually bundled out for 163 in the 37th over. Rishika's effort was perfectly complemented by fellow bowler Dipika Bhagat, who cleaned up the tail, taking the remaining four wickets to ensure Vidarbha fell well short of a competitive total.
Chhattisgarh's Composed Chase Seals the Win
Chasing a modest target of 164, the Chhattisgarh U19 side approached the innings with calm assurance. The top order provided a stable platform, preventing any early hiccups and keeping the required run rate in check. The chase was then anchored beautifully by Sheikh Naziya, who remained not out on a mature 54. Her composed innings guided the team home with plenty of overs to spare.
Chhattisgarh reached the target comfortably, finishing at 167 for 3 in just 30.5 overs. The comprehensive nature of the win, built on the foundation of a dominant bowling display, highlights the team's growing confidence in the tournament.
Implications for the Tournament
This victory marks a significant boost for Chhattisgarh in the league stage of the Women's Under-19 One Day Trophy. Standout individual performances like Rishika Shrivastava's six-wicket haul are crucial for building momentum. For Vidarbha, the over-reliance on a single batter and the inability to handle quality bowling will be key areas to address before their next fixture. The BCCI's continued focus on age-group tournaments like this is vital for nurturing the next generation of Indian women cricketers.
