Vidarbha eves go down fighting

 

 

 

 

eves went down fighting against Karnataka during their high-scoring Under-19 Women’s One-Day Trophy’s Elite Group D at NFC Ground in Hyderabad on Saturday. Vidarbha’s decision to bowl first backfired as Karnataka piled up 284 for 7 in 50 overs with opener Rachitha Hatwar smashing a fine 156 off 154 balls with 21 boundaries.

 

At one stage Karnataka were 255-2 in the 44th over, but Vidarbha bowlers came back strongly to restrict them to well below the 300-mark. Dhanashree Gujar, Shweta Tiwari and Nimisha snared two wickets each. Vidarbha faltered in the chase and were 115-5 midway through the innings but Shraddha Nabira and Akshara Itankar put together a 130-run partnership for the sixth wicket to push Vidarbha back on track. Shraddha made 71 off 80 deliveries with five fours and a six while Akshara’s 72 came off 74 balls with seven boundaries.

 

Once both perished in trying to force the pace, the lower order caved in and Vidarbha lost by 29 runs. Brief scores: Karnataka 284-7 in 50 overs (Rachitha Hatwar 156, Shreya Chavan 57; Dhanashree Gujar 2-46, Shweta Tiwari 2-52, Nimisha 2-61) beat Vidarbha: 255 all out in 48.1 overs (Riddhima Maradwar 33, Shraddha Nabira 71, Akshara Itankar 72; Vandita Rao 4-49, Deeksha 3-53) by 29 runs.