Celeste Superwomen put themselves into contention to take the direct route into the Goa Women’s Premier League Final, with a narrow 10-run victory over Geno Dragons at GCA Academy ground, Porvorim on Thursday evening.
Celeste Superwomen finished their quota of four league matches with six points from three wins. On the other hand; Geno Dragons, who had started the league with an impressive victory, have gone on to lose three successive games and are now out of contention for the final.
MCC Estilo Legends (3 wins in 3 matches) take on bottom-placed Venture XI, who are the only team to have lost all their games so far, with a target of maintaining their 100 percent record and seal the final berth.
While the table-toppers qualify directly for Sunday’s final, the second-placed team will play the third-placed team in the Eliminator on Saturday night.
Jasia Akhtar and captain Vinavi Gurav provided a fantastic start to the Superwomen as they put on 96 runs for the opening wicket in 10.4 overs when J&K batter Jasia departed after making 68 runs off 36 balls. Her inning was studded with nine boundaries and 3 sixes.
Goa wicketkeeper Vinavi, who has grown in confidence as the GWPL has progressed, also scored a half-century. A run a ball knock of 50 runs by Vinavi, comprised three hits to the fence. Sayali Lonkar (28) and Poorva Bhaidkar (13) chipped in with the bat as Celeste Superwomen put up a strong total of 174/4 in the allotted 20 overs. Among the Geno bowlers, Tanishka Sen (2/22), and Tanaya Naik (1/34) tasted success with the ball.
Geno Dragons were in the game till the end of the 10th over where they had a superb launch pad of 103/2 with 72 more runs needed with eight wickets in hand, while captain Anuja Patil was well set. But it did not work out that way as the Dragons lost their next seven wickets for the addition of 61 runs.
A good start with openers Kiran Navgire (28 off 13) and Purvaja Verlekar (40 off 25) putting on 40 runs in 3.2overs, provided a nice foundation. The second-wicket partnership of 51 runs off 32 balls, between Purvaja and Anuja, added further impetus to the Mapusa-based outfit’s chase. However, no other batter coming on could stay with Anuja, who waged a lone battle for some time, before departing for a valiant 66 runs off 44 balls, which included 10 fours and a six. Tanaya was the only other batter to get into double digits, remaining not out on 10.
Celeste Superwomen’s Pooja Nishad was the chief wicket-taker with 3/34 off 4 overs, while Sweety Parab also bowled well with 2/26.
Jasia Akhtar was named the player of the match and was presented the prize by
Dezi D’Souza, ICA Member representative.