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Ahuja and Patil Propel Dominant India-A to Trophy

By Jay Dansinghani

India-A claimed the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup Trophy after bowling out Bangladesh-A for 96 to win by 31 runs. Kanika Ahuja was adjudged Player of the Match for her unbeaten 30 and figures of 2-23. Shreyanka Patil’s 4-13 and Mannat Kashyap’s 3-20 were also instrumental in helping India-A defend their first innings total of 127 for 7.

After choosing to bat first, India-A got off to a solid start as Uma Chhetry smashed Sanjida Akter through the off side for a pair of boundaries off consecutive deliveries. Shweta Sehrawat joined in the party with back-to-back fours of her own, including a lofted straight drive off Marufa Akter.

Nahida Akter sent skipper Sehrawat back to the dugout with an arm ball that disturbed her timber to restrict India-A to 28 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.

Chhetry wrestled back some momentum for her side by slog sweeping Sultana Khatun over deep mid wicket for the first six of the day. Rabeya Khan put the break on the scoring by bowling Chhetry, before Vrinda Dinesh smashed Sanjida Akter over long off for another maximum.

Even after losing Gongadi Trisha, Dinesh remained undeterred, lofting Sanjida over extra cover for four and repeating the dose against the right-arm seam of Marufa Akter.

In spite of taking regular wickets, Bangladesh-A let India-A off the hook with numerous mistakes in the field, including a pair of missed stumpings from Dilara Akter. Kanika Ahuja was the beneficiary on both occasions, capitalizing on the opposition’s unforced errors by smashing back-to-back fours in a crucial 14-run last over.

Chasing 128 for victory, Bangladesh-A began steadily before Mannat Kashyap bowled Dilara Akter for 5 and took a return catch to send back Shathi Rani for 13.

Walking in at number four, skipper Lata Mondal cut Kashyap away for four to open her account. Yet, this would prove to be the only boundary of her innings. She chopped Patil onto her stumps to leave Bangaldesh-A struggling at 29 for 3 in the sixth over.

Murshida Khatun was Patil’s next victim, poking at a delivery outside off stump to get caught behind by Chhetry. Two balls after Shorna Akter slogged Ahuja into cow corner for six, Sobhana Mostary found Patil at long off to leave Bangladesh-A five down for 51 in the tenth over.

Bangladesh-A could not recover from their early loss of wickets, eventually folding for 96 after Kanika Ahuja took a diving catch at fine leg to dismiss Sanjida Akter.

Shreyanka Patil, who finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker with nine scalps earned the Player of the Series Award.

Brief Scores:

India-A 127 for 7 in 20 Overs (Dinesh 36, Ahuja 30*, Nahida 2-13) beat Bangladesh-A 96 All Out in 19.2 Overs (Nahida 17*, Patil 4-13, Kashyap 3-20) by 31 runs

Scorecard and Livestream