Punjab eves conquer T20 League

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13

A timely half-century by Jasia Akhter and a late blitzkrieg by Neelam Bisht helped Punjab register a four-run win over Karnataka in the Senior Women T20 League final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.    

Put in to bat, Punjab lost opener Ridhima Aggarwal early, but Jasia put on 35 runs in company of Taniya Bhatia before stitching another 40-run partnership with Amarpal Kaur to take the side close to the 100-run mark in the 16th over. 

While Ridhima fell to Simren Henry on 11, Taniya was dismissed by C Prathyusha after making a 17-ball 12. Amarpal was caught by S Shubha off Simren on 13.    

Jasia hammered a strokeful 56 before falling to Chandu V. Her 54-ball stay in the middle was studded with six fours and six. 

With Punjab in a spot of bother at 100/4 in 16.5 overs, Neelam took the charge and clobbered 27 runs of just 14 balls to propel the total to 129 runs before holding out to S Shubha off G Divya. 

BN Meena was run out for two, while skipper Parveen Khan was dismissed by Divya on naught as Punjab closed their innings on 131/7.

Simren (2/26) and Divya (2/24) claimed two wickets each for Karnataka, while Chandu and Prathyusha took a wicket apiece.

Defending a modest total, Punjab bowlers pegged Karnataka back with a couple of early wickets. Vanitha VR was dismissed by Komalpreet on 13, while Shubha made run-a-ball 14 before becoming the second victim of Komalpreet.  

Sunita Rani then cleaned up skipper Rakshitha K on seven to reduce Karnataka to 63/3 in 11 overs. 

However, Divya and Prathyusha then got together and threatened to take away the match from Punjab before Rani snapped the 39-run partnership between the two in the 16th over. Divya was bowled after hitting 41 runs off 44 balls with the help of four boundaries and a six.   

Prathyusha though held the fort at the other end and together with Akanksha Kohli (3) took the total to 126 runs in 19 overs. 

Needing just five runs off the final over for victory, Karnataka managed just one as Neelam sent back wicketkeeper-batter K Prathyoosha (0) and a set C Prathyusha (35) to turn the match in Punjab's favour.  

Komalpreet Kaur (2/22), Neelam (2/24) and Sunita (2/19) took two wickets each, while BN Meena accounted for one wicket.

Brief scores 

Punjab 131/7 in 20 overs (Jasia Akhter 56, Neelam Bisht 27; Divya 2/24, Simren 2/26) beat Karnataka 127/7 in 20 overs (G Divya 41, C Prathyusha 35; Sunita Rani 2/19, Komalpreet Kaur 2/22)