Allround India B register victory over India A

Allround India B defeated India A by three wickets to kick off proceedings in the first match of the Under-23 T20 Challenger Trophy at Siechem Stadium in Puducherry on Wednesday (December 11). Minnu Mani starred with the ball to help restrict India A to a small total before skipper Ayushi Soni held the chase together for India B.

Electing to field first India B made very good use of the conditions on offer reducing the opposition to 17 for 3 in the power play. Only Richa Ghosh, the 16-year-old batter from Bengal, offered some sort of resistance with her knock of 15 runs. Her innings, however, was cut short thanks to a run out courtesy Minnu.

From then on, India A lost their way falling to 36 for 6 in 12.5 overs. It was the 34-run eighth-wicket partnership - the highest of the innings - between Monica Patel (17) and Kshama Singh that allowed them to put up a relatively competitive score in what were clearly difficult batting conditions. India A thus finished with 80 for 8; Kshama top scoring for India A unbeaten on 22 off just 16 balls.

Four of the six bowlers used by India B chipped in with wickets, but it was Minnu who stood out with figures of 2 for 21, also effecting a couple of run outs.

Chasing just 81, India B didn't have the best of starts losing early wickets - Vrushali Bhagat, N Anusha and Minnu all dismissed within the first seven overs. Shubha Sateesh, the left-hander, held one end up for the first half of the innings, but when she fell for 16 in the 10th over India B were tottering at 32 for 4.

Skipper Ayushi was joined by Delhi teammate Simran Dil Bahudar in the middle, and there was an immediate shift in gears. Bahadur took the onus upon herself to lift the scoring rate, collecting a 15-ball 13 while Ayushi looked to bat through. However, just when the side looked like they would get over the line with no further damage, Maya Sonawane, the leg-spinner saw the back of Bahadur and Tejas Hasabnis in consecutive deliveries.

Pratyoosha Kumar and Ayushi's 24-run stand was enough to then snuff out any hopes of an India A victory. The former departed for 17 with only five runs required for a win. However, in the company of Anajali Sarvani, Ayushi (21 not out) made sure to tick those off and take her team home with 10 balls to spare.

Brief scores: India A 80/8 in 20 overs (Kshama Singh 22*, Monica Patel 17; Minnu Mani 2-21, Rashi Kanojiya 1-3) lost to India B 81/7 in 18.4 overs (Ayushi Soni 21*, Prathyoosha Kumar 17; Maya Sonawane 2-15) by three wickets.