Shillong, Mar 19: Simsang Rangers (pictured) and Symper Challengers qualified for the final of the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s Senior Women T20 Challenger Cup by winning their respective league matches here today.
The final will take place tomorrow at Polo Ground.
The day began with Umiam Queens leading the standings after two wins but they lost by 43 runs to Simsang in the second match. Earlier, Symper defeated Myntdu Raiders by 18 runs.
The Raiders were winless in three contests, though they gave a very good account of themselves in each game. Umiam, Symper and Simsang were equal on 4 points each, so net run rate had to be considered and, by this measure, Simsang were first, Symper second and Umiam third.
In the first match, Symper posted 121/4 in their 20 overs after being made to bat first. Player-of-the-match Debasmita Dutta (67 off 59, 12x4s) scored more than half of her team’s runs as Symper hit the biggest total of the tournament up to that point. Daiaka Warjri bagged 2/23 for Myntdu.
Warjri also top-scored in the chase with 15 runs, with three other batters getting into double figures but not pushing on. Myntdu were in the hunt in terms of run rate right until the end but they had lost too many wickets in the process and were all out for 103 in 17.4 overs. Suriti Kumari Ray (3/13) was the pick of the bowlers, with Dutta (2/12), Jayshree Singh (2/19) and Fenny Nongrum (2/20) chipping in with two wickets apiece.
Symper’s record for biggest total did not last long, however, as Simsang amassed 147/6 with an aggressive batting display after being put into bat first. Luiza Tamang top-scored with 32 and Deimaphishisha Lamare contributed 27, while 41 extras also helped a lot. Rubi Chetry claimed the best figures of 3/15.
Umiam were always behind in the chase and, despite Chetry’s 56, they were not able to catch up on the required run rate and finished on 104/6. Zippy fast bowler and player-of-the-match Neelam Roy took 3/12 in four very economical overs, while Tamang (1/21) dismissed Chetry in the final over.
This big deficit ensured that Umiam could not qualify for the final. Instead, Simsang and Symper will meet in the title match; in their league stage clash yesterday, Symper cruised to an eight-wicket victory but the final is sure to be a very different contest.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association photo)