UP women lose Super League opener in T20

LUCKNOW:Uttar Pradesh were off to poor start in their Super League round of the Women’s Senior Twnety20 Trophy, losing to Bengal by 31 runs in a lowscoring game, at the Devineni Venkata Ramana Praneetha Ground at Mulapadu on Sunday.

Needing 130 to win at the strike rate of 6.5 runs per overs, Uttar Pradesh could make 98/9 in reply. Barring opener Muskan Malik and Anita Lodhi, no other batswomen could touch the double figure mark.

Before being caught by Jhumia Khatun off Gouher Sultana, Malik scored 37-ball 44, which contained seven hits to the fence, whereas Lodhi made 17 in 14 balls with the help of two fours before edging a regulation catch to Dhar off SP Aich.

Shrayosi Pranay Aich remained the star performer for Bengal, bagging 3/24, whereas Gouher Sultana had 2/19. Rumeli Dhar, Mita G Paul and Jhumia Habibur Rahman Khatun shared three wickets between them. Earlier, Bengal batswomen come up with good showing and helped the side score 129/5 while batting first after winning the toss. Opener Mita G Paul before being fell leg before wicket to Rashi Kanojiya, struck run-a-ball 30 with the help of five fours, whereas Rumeli Dhar (27, 25b, 4x4), Richa Manabendra Ghosh (24, 21b, 3x4), Prativa Gopal Rana (24*, 17b, 3x4) and Mandira Manik Mahapatra (15, 18b, 1x4) also made useful contributions.

Anjali Singh took 2/24, whereas Meghna Singh and Rashi Kanojiya had a wicket each. Now, Uttar Pradesh take on Andhra Pradesh in their second match on Monday, before playing against Karnataka.

NEEDING 130 TO WIN AT THE STRIKE RATE OF 6.5 RUNS PER OVERS, UTTAR PRADESH COULD MAKE 98/9 IN REPLY. BARRING OPENER MUSKAN MALIK AND ANITA LODHI, NO OTHER BATSWOMEN COULD TOUCH THE DOUBLE FIGURE MARK