Player-of-the match Jasia Akhtar’s blazing century powered Celeste Superwomen to a commanding 31-run victory over Venture XI in the Goa Women’s Premier League at GCA ground, Porvorim on Tuesday evening.
Jasia Akhtar, one of the national team campers and Delhi Capitals squad member, became the first centurion of the ongoing GWPL as she rained boundaries and sixes on the way to scoring 120 runs off 72 balls. The powerfully-built opener hit 16 boundaries and four maximums to deliver a strike rate of an incredible 166.67 as Celeste Superwomen posted 177/2 in the allotted 20 overs. Jasia was the major contributor to the second-wicket partnership of 149 runs, with Vinavi Gurav (31 not out). Preeti Yadav remained unbeaten on 18 off 10 balls (3×4).
In reply, Venture XI did show a stomach for a fight and reached 70/3 in 10.3 overs as the dangerous third-wicket partnership of 42 runs between Tamana Nigam (70 not out off 52 balls; 9×4, 1×6) and Tarannum Pathan (27 off 22balls, 4×4) was broken by Sweety Parab.
Tamana kept Venture XI hopes alive and combined with Diksha Gawde (18) to add 74 runs for the fifth wicket but they could not keep up with the rising asking rate, the team were restricted to 146/5. Celeste Superwomen’s Pooja Nishad took two wickets while Poorva Bhaidkar and and Sayali Lonkar picked up a wicket each.