Vrushali scores second ton; Sulakshana slams 89 not out

Mumbai, April 4: Maintaining her consistent batting form Vrushali Bhagat smashed a second century, a 53-ball 104 runs, which powered Rajawadi Cricket Club to an emphatic 94-run win against J. Bhatia Sports Club in a Pre-quarter-final match of the 1^st MCA Women’s Cricket League, played at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana ground, on Monday evening.

Vrushali had earlier scored a 37-ball 103 runs against K.R.P. CC in a second round Group-F match and had struck 52 and 59 runs in the other two league matches.

Rajawadi captain and opener Vrushali, deciding to bat first, played aggressively from the start and dominated the rival bowlers. Vrushali scored runs at a quick clip and her innings was laced with 12 well-timed hits to the boundary ropes and four powerfully struck sixes which saw Rajawadi reach 204 runs for 5 wickets from 20 overs. Kshama Patekar who has also batted consistently made 31 runs, while Bhatia bowlers Prachi Pandit 2 for 37 runs and Vedika Joshi 2 for 47 runs were responsible for picking the wickets.

Later, Rajawadi’s off-spinner Niviya Ambre 2 for 4 runs and left-arm spinner Chandani Kanojia 2 for 11 runs tormented the Bhatia SC batsmen and restricted them to 110 runs for 8 wickets from their quota of 20 overs. Radhika Thakkar 31 and Soumya Singh 23 runs were the only two Bhatia SC batters who managed to get some runs on the board.

In another match, former Indian wicket-keeper Sulakshana Naik cracked an unbeaten 89 runs which was the highlight of Bharat CC’s convincing 70-run win against Dahisar CC at the Sachin Tendulkar ground-II, Kandivali.

Sulakshana Naik’s solid knock lifted Bharat CC to 144 runs for 6 wickets from 20 overs. Dahisar bowlers Supriya Pawar 2 for 26 and Priyanka Golipkar 2 for 28 were the pick of the bowlers. In response, Dahisar SC were dismissed for 74 runs in 19.3 overs Sneha Raorane was the top-scorer with 28 runs while Mansi Kedar claimed 3 for 10 runs and secured Bharat CC’s victory.

Brief scores (PQF): Bharat CC 144 for 6, 20 overs (Sulakshana Naik 89*; Supriya Pawar 2/26, Priyanka Golipkar 2/28 ) beat Dahisar SC 74 all out, 19.3 overs (Sneha Raorane 28; Mansi Kedar 3/10). Result: Bharat CC won by 70 runs

Rajawadi CC 204 for 5, 20 overs (Vrushali Bhagat 104, Kshama Patekar 31; Prachi Pandit 2/37, Vedika Joshi 2/47) beat J. Bhatia SC 110 for 8, 20 overs (Radhika Thakkar 31, Soumya Singh 23; Niviya Ambre 2/4, Chandani Kanojia 2/11). Result: Rajawadi CC won by 94 runs.

Regal CC 63 all out, 15.1 overs (Shubhra Raut 3/6) lost to Palghar Dahanu Taluka SA 65 for 2, 9.3 overs. Result: Palghar Dahanu Taluka SA won by 8 wickets.

Sportsfield CC 192 for 2, 20 overs (Shaheen Razak 75*, Punam Raut 50, Shweta Kalpathi 45*) beat Sporting Union Club 121 for 6, 20 overs (Juili Bhekare 41*). Result: Sportsfield CC won by 71 runs.