In an exciting display of grit and determination, the Uttarakhand women's under-19 cricket team secured a narrow three-wicket victory over their counterparts from Uttar Pradesh in a Women's Youth One-Day Trophy (List A) match. The contest unfolded at the Infipro Sports ground in Kanpur on Wednesday.
UP's Batting Collapse Sets Up a Low Target
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the Uttar Pradesh team endured a disastrous start to their innings. Their top order crumbled under pressure, losing two wickets with only 7 runs on the board. The situation worsened as they stumbled to a precarious 27 for 3.
Opener Riya Bharti provided some resistance with a score of 40 runs. However, the innings was anchored single-handedly by Saanvi Bhatia, who remained not out on 54 runs from 71 deliveries. Her knock, which included eight boundaries, was crucial in pushing UP's total to a modest 145 all out. A concerning statistic for UP was that eight of their batters failed to reach double figures.
The Uttarakhand bowling attack was disciplined and effective. Vedika and Kanika were the chief destroyers, each claiming three wickets to dismantle the UP batting lineup.
Uttarakhand's Nervy Chase Seals Victory
In response, Uttarakhand's chase was far from straightforward. Openers Dhriti and Sona laid a steady foundation, but regular wickets kept UP in the hunt. The innings faced a critical juncture when Uttarakhand slipped to 69 for 4 in the 27th over.
The match turned on a vital 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Bhoomi Umar and Vaishali. Bhoomi played a aggressive innings, scoring 32 runs off 50 balls with four boundaries and a six, while Vaishali contributed 18 runs. Their stand stabilized the chase before both fell victim to run-outs.
The drama intensified as Uttarakhand lost three wickets to run-outs, and the two openers were stumped by UP's wicketkeeper-spinner Siddhi Mishra. With the game in the balance, the bowling heroes from the first innings, Kanika and Vedika, displayed immense composure. They held their nerve to stitch together an unbeaten 24-run stand, guiding their team to 146 for 7 in 45.5 overs. Kanika finished not out on 18, with Vedika on 11, sealing a hard-fought win.
Brief Scores and Key Takeaways
Uttar Pradesh: 145 all out (Saanvi Bhatia 54*, Riya Bharti 40; Vedika 3/25, Kanika 3/27).
Uttarakhand: 146 for 7 in 45.5 overs (Bhoomi Umar 32, Sona 26; Siddhi Mishra 2/21).
The match highlighted the competitive spirit in women's age-group cricket. While UP will rue their batting collapse and missed chances in the field, Uttarakhand showcased resilience, with contributions from both their bowlers and lower-order batters proving decisive in a tense finish.
