Uttar Pradesh's under-19 women's cricket team delivered a commanding all-round display to secure a massive 189-run victory against Pondicherry in the U-19 One-Day Trophy. The match, held at the Vadodara Cricket Academy ground on Friday, saw UP post a daunting total before their bowlers dismantled the opposition's batting lineup.
Riya Bhati's Masterclass Anchors UP's Innings
Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Uttar Pradesh built a formidable score of 317 for 7 in their 50 overs. The innings was built around a spectacular century from opener Riya Bhati, who smashed 140 runs from just 134 deliveries. Her innings was decorated with 19 boundaries and provided the backbone for UP's total.
Bhati forged two crucial partnerships that solidified the innings. She first added 110 runs for the third wicket with KM Disha, who contributed 28 runs before a run out ended her stay. Bhati then combined with Saanvi Bhatia for a rapid 76-run stand for the fifth wicket, scored in only 54 balls. Bhati's brilliant knock finally ended when she was stumped by Varshini Devi off the bowling of Harshini Devi.
Providing excellent support, Saanvi Bhatia remained unbeaten on a fluent 64 off 50 balls, hitting eight fours. Contributions from Priyanshi Yadav (23) and Bharti Singh (26) further bolstered the total. For Pondicherry, BM Shrinidhi was the most successful bowler, taking 3 wickets for 55 runs.
Pondicherry's Batting Collapse Seals the Match
In response, Pondicherry's chase never gained momentum as they lost wickets at regular intervals. They found themselves in deep trouble at 70 for 7 within 19.1 overs, facing a disciplined UP bowling attack.
A brief fightback came from BM Shrinidhi and Renisha Nadar, who put together a fighting 41-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Shrinidhi top-scored for her side with a valiant 48 runs off 78 balls, which included six fours and a six, before being dismissed by Priyanshi Yadav. Nadar scored 14 before falling to Bharti Singh.
However, the resistance was short-lived, and Pondicherry were eventually bowled out for 128 in 35.5 overs, handing Uttar Pradesh a comprehensive win.
Bowling Effort and Key Takeaways
The UP bowling attack shared the wickets effectively. Supriya Arele and Siddhi Mishra were the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets each. Arele was particularly economical, conceding only 2 runs for her two wickets. Khushi Tyagi, Chandani Sharma, Janvi Baliyan, Bharti Singh, and Priyanshi Yadav all chipped in with one wicket apiece.
This dominant performance underscores the strength of the Uttar Pradesh women's U-19 team in the ongoing tournament. The victory, built on a strong batting foundation led by Riya Bhati's century and backed by a collective bowling effort, positions them as a formidable side. For Pondicherry, the match highlighted areas needing reinforcement, particularly in their top-order batting against quality bowling attacks.
Brief Scores: Uttar Pradesh 317/7 in 50 overs (Riya Bhati 140, Saanvi Bhatia 64*, KM Disha 28; BM Shrinidhi 3/55) beat Pondicherry 128 all out in 35.5 overs (BM Shrinidhi 48, Renisha Nadar 14, Dhanushree Sivaraman 23; Supriya Arele 2/2, Siddhi Mishra 2/18) by 189 runs.
