Women’s U-23: Chandigarh girls to face Andhra Pradesh in quarters

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 16

The Chandigarh women’s U-23 team will face Andhra Pradesh in the first quarterfinal of the Women’s U-23 One Day Trophy in Ranchi on March 24.

The side qualified for the quarterfinal stage by logging nine consecutive victories. Chandigarh defeated Bihar by seven wickets, Meghalaya by 10 wickets, Arunachal Pradesh by 10 wickets, Manipur by 255 runs, Nagaland by seven wickets, Sikkim by nine wickets, Jammu & Kashmir by 173 runs and Pondicherry by 153 runs.

In their match against Pondicherry, skipper Amanjot Kaur made a half-century before Kashvee Gautam claimed a five-wicket haul to help them log a 153-run victory at the Ravenshaw University Ground in Cuttack on Saturday.

Batting first, Chandigarh scored 202/6 in 50 overs. Amanjot led from the front with a 119-ball 86, while Shivangi contributed an unbeaten 29 to the total. Janaki (2/6) was the most successful bowler for Pondicherry. In reply, Pondicherry were all out for 49 runs in 41.2 overs. Kashvee Gautam returned with a match haul of 5/2, while Rajni Devi took 3/10 in her 10 overs.

Divya Shanmugam made 14 off 92 balls, while Sonal scored 12 runs for Pondicherry. Kashvee has hogged the limelight in the tournament by claiming a total of 31 wickets with four five-wicket hauls, whereas skipper Amanjot has scored 456 runs and also taken 10 wickets in the tournament.

“The team played well and it’s a desirable result for all of us. The knockout stage will be a real test for the girls and we still have got time to tighten some ends. I hope we will be among the final-four by getting a convincing win over Andhra,” said coach Nagesh Gupta.