In an exciting showcase of talent and leadership, Team A and Team E recorded impressive victories in the 9th and 10th matches of the Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy 2025, held in Chennai on January 13, 2025. Captains Shafali Verma and Shubha Satheesh delivered stellar performances, with significant contributions from players such as Jintimani Kalita and Vasavi Akhila Pavani.
Team E Claims Victory Over Team B
Opting to bat first, Team E, under the captaincy of Shubha Satheesh, set a strong pace early on. The opening collaboration between Nandani Kashyap (37 off 54) and Shubha Satheesh (71 off 86) produced a solid 76-run partnership. A subsequent 54-run partnership between Satheesh and Ayushi Soni (23 off 53) pushed Team E’s score to 130 before a batting collapse allowed them to be all out for 206 in 44.2 overs.
Radha Yadav (3/31) and I M Pathare (3/33) emerged as the standout bowlers for Team B, with solid support from Mita Paul, Nandani Sharma, and Saranya Gadwal.
Chasing a target of 207, Team B struggled to form partnerships, with Mamatha (48 off 59) and Jincy George (45 off 69) being their only sources of resistance. Regular wickets hindered their progress, leading to a total of 148 all out in 37.2 overs, falling short by 58 runs.
Jintimani Kalita (3/16) and Vasavi Akhila Pavani (3/12) excelled in bowling, with further contributions from Madhu (2/34) and Yamuna Rana (1/28). Kalita’s exceptional performance earned her the Player of the Match accolade.
Shafali Verma Excels as Team A Overpowers Team D
After being in a precarious position at 42/4, Team D turned to valuable partnerships from S Anusha (41 off 51), M Dakshini (42 off 48), and captain Saika Ishaque (22 off 22) to finish at a competitive 211/9 in their 50 overs. The lower-order batswomen accounted for a significant 68% of the team’s total score.
Arundhati Reddy (3/27) and Shafali Verma (3/35) spearheaded the bowling efforts, with additional support from Soniya Mendhiya (1/48), Simran Dil Bahadur (1/39), and S B Keerthana (1/27).
While chasing a target of 212, Team A hit the ground running with a 47-run opening partnership. Verma (115 off 70) played a pivotal role in the chase, scoring a swift century, while Pragya Rawat added a noteworthy 33 off 51 runs in a substantial 109-run second-wicket partnership. Late innings efforts from T Sarkar (33* off 37) and M R Magre (20* off 38) saw them clinch the match by six wickets with 83 balls remaining.
Dibyadarshini (4/35) stood out for Team D, claiming four crucial wickets.
Verma’s all-round performance earned her the Player of the Match recognition for her century and three wickets.
These matches highlighted remarkable individual feats and strong leadership, with Shafali Verma and Jintimani Kalita rising to the occasion, leading their teams to commanding victories and elevating the profile of women’s cricket in India.
