TOP-ORDER batters Shivani Dharne and Ashwini Deshmukh smashed fluent half centuries each to help Neco Master Blaster beat Orange Tigresses by four wickets in their Eliminator match of Women’s Vidarbha Premier League played at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Stadium in Civil Lines on Saturday night. Neco Master Blaster will take on India Warriors in the final on Sunday at the Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Jamtha Stadium in the afternoon session. After restricting Orange for 144-4 in 20 overs, Shivani (52; 46b, 6x4) and Ashwini (51; 46b, 5x4) took on the onus and put up a score of 80-1 at the end of 12th over. But in the end, it was Arya Gohane’s blast that gave the team victory. Neco Master Blaster made 147-6 in 19.4 overs.

 

Neco lost their skipper Shraddha Nabira for a two-ball duck. Riya Baniya caught Shraddha off Trupti Lodhe in the second over. But then the duo of Shivani and Ashwini added 88 important runs for the second wicket. Shivani was caught by Vedanti Salodkar off Janhvi Raganathan. Neco lost Nupur Kohale and Diya Bhagwat in quick succession but Ashwini found an able ally in Arya. When Ashwini was dismissed by Janhvi via lbw at 117-5 in 17.1 overs, it looked like Tigresses would make a comeback. Arya denied them with some lusty hitting in the end. Arya scored 24 runs off just 10 balls with two fours and the only two sixes of Neco innings.

 

Earlier, winning the toss, Orange Tigresses chose to bat. Orange opener Mahek Mistry (19; 22b, 3x4), who hit Nupur Kohale for two back to back fours in the second over of the innings, was bowled by Yashshri Soley in the fifth over. Captain and opener Disha Kasat (69; 54b, 7x4, 3x6) and Riddhima Maradwar (48; 43, 5x4, 1x6) batted well to stabilise the Orange innings right up to the final over. Riddhima retired out in the 20th over. Yashshri earned her second wicket of the innings as Disha was caught by Shivani on second last ball of the innings. Riya was run out on the final ball. Having played all their league games under lights at VCA Civil Line ground, it will be a change for the women’s finalists as they will play their summit clash in a day game at Jamtha ahead of the men’s final.