CUTTACK 30-Jan-2013 187
Women’s cricket in Odisha received a huge boost with the state team scripting a stunning four-wicket win over Pakistan in the second World Cup warm-up match here at Barabati Stadium here today. With this win Odisha Women’s XI avenged their 95-run defeat against the same opposition in the first warm-up game yesterday. On the other hand, the defeat exposed the weaknesses of the Pakistani team ahead of their opening Group-B World Cup league match against Australia to be played here on February 1.
The Odisha XI seemed to have transformed into a formidable outfit overnight as they put up vastly improved performance in all departments of the game. The bowlers set the platform for the sensational win by dismissing Pakistan, who opted to bat first after winning the toss, for a modest total of 154. The batsmen provided matching contribution by overhauling the target in 48.5 overs.
All-rounder Swagatika Rath starred in the victory, bagging two wickets for 11 runs with his off-break bowling and hitting an elegant half-century. Her 60-ball knock of 51, which included eight hits to the rope, had all the qualities of top-class batsman. Tall and graceful, Rath always kept the scoreboard moving with singles and twos, a vital necessity, which cost Odisha dear in the first match. All the boundaries she hit were sweetly timed ones.
Pragyan Paramita Mohanty and skipper Madhusmita Behera also shone with the bat for the second successive day, hitting an unbeaten 28 and 20 respectively. Rath and Mohanty took the match out of Pakistan`s hands, stitching together 62 runs for the fourth wicket.
In the bowling department, offie Sushree Dibyadarshini Pradhan was most successful with three wickets for 41 runs, while seamer Sujata Mallick and spinner Rath picked up a brace each. The performance of Pakistan women was below par in all three departments of the game. Especially, over-throws and dropped catches cost them dear.
CASH PRIZE: Odisha Cricket Association honorary secretary Asirbad Behera congratulated the players and support staff of the state team for their victory over Pakistan and announced a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each for the 20 players and five support staff of the team.
SCOREBOARD:
PAKISTAN: Nahida Khan c Mohanty b Mallik 0, Sidra Ameen c Rath b Mallik 1, Sana Mir c Mohanty b Pradhan 25, Nain Abidi b Barik 29, Bismah Maroof lbw Pradhan 44, Javeria Khan st Mahakud b G Behera 11, Nida Dar lbw Rath 14, Asmavia Iqbal c Rath b Pradhan 10, Qanita Jalil c S Das b Rath 1, Batool Fatima (not out) 5, Rabiya Shah (run out) 2; Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-10) 12
Total (10 wkts; 46.1 overs) 154
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-52, 4-83, 5-105, 6-133, 7-143, 8-146, 9-152
Bowling: Sujata Mallick 6-2-13-2, Priyanka P Sahu 10-0-32-0, Jyoti Kamal Barik 9-0-28-1, Sushree D Pradhan 9-0-41-3, Gangotree Behera 4-0-20-1, Suchitra Das 3-0-7-0, Swagatika Rath 5.1-0-11-2.
ODISHA: Suchitra Das c Fatima b Siddiqi 15, Madhusmita Behera lbw Dar 20, Kadambini Mahakud c Shah b Dar 8, Swagatika Rath c Dar b Mir 51, Pragyan Paramita Mohanty (not out) 28, Jyoti Kamal Barik (run out) 14, Gangotree Behera b Iqbal 6, Priyanka P Sahoo (not out) 2; Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-6) 11
Total (6 wkts; 48.5 overs) 155
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-47, 3-50, 4-112, 5-133, 6-141
Bowling: Qanit Jalil 2-0-7-0, Asmavia Iqbal 6-0-29-1, Sumaiya Siddiqi 10-1-29-1, Sana Mir 10-3-18-1, Sadia Yousuf 8.5-1-33-0, Nida Dar 8-0-12-2, Bismah Maroof 3-0-15-0, Elizebath Khan 1-0-7-0.
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PHOTO: Odisha`s leading performers (L to R) Swagatika Rath, Pragyan Paramita Mohanty and Sushree Dibyadarshini Pradhan in Cuttack on January 30, 2013.
