Uttarakhand Premier League 2024Cricket Association of UttarakhandCricket NewsMatch HighlightsMussoorie ThundersNainital SG PipersUPL 2024Uttarakhand CricketUttarakhand Premier LeagueUttarakhand SportsWomen’s Cricket
Nainital SG Pipers Secure Women’s UPL 2024 Final Spot with Comprehensive Victory Over Mussoorie Thunders
Nainital SG Pipers stormed their way into the final of the Patanjali Uttarakhand Premier League (Women’s Edition) 2024 after a commanding 7-wicket triumph against Mussoorie Thunders in Match 2. The game, held on Thursday, September 19, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, saw a dominant all-round display by the SG Pipers, propelling them to victory with 15 deliveries to spare.
SG Pipers’ Bowlers Shine as Thunders Struggle to Post Competitive Total
Asked to bowl first, the Nainital SG Pipers’ bowling unit was on fire, led by captain Ekta Bisht and Gunjan Bhandari. Bisht (2/19) and Bhandari (2/14) applied immense pressure on the Mussoorie Thunders, limiting their scoring opportunities and picking up crucial wickets at regular intervals. The Thunders struggled to gain momentum and were restricted to a meager 96/8 in their 20 overs.
Mussoorie’s opener, Nandini Kashyap, was the only batter to provide any meaningful resistance. Her fighting knock of 45 off 41 balls kept the Thunders in the game, while skipper Mansi Joshi contributed a slow 14 runs off 31 balls. Unfortunately, their partnership wasn’t enough to push the Thunders to a defendable total. Early wickets, such as the run-out of Anjali Goswami and the dismissal of Shagun Chaudhary, set the tone for a difficult innings. The SG Pipers’ bowling attack executed their game plan to perfection, making it tough for the Thunders to recover.
SG Pipers Ease to Victory with Strong Batting Display
Chasing a target of 97, SG Pipers’ openers, Manisha Kunwar and Megha Saini, provided a solid start. Kunwar remained unbeaten with a composed 31* off 37 balls, while Saini contributed 26 runs from just 18 deliveries. Their 40-run partnership in the first five overs laid a solid foundation for the chase.
Despite Saini’s departure, the SG Pipers maintained control of the game, and Dipika Chand’s useful 23 off 26 balls kept the innings steady. Kunwar continued to anchor the chase, ensuring there were no further hiccups. Skipper Ekta Bisht came in towards the end, scoring 2* off 2 balls, as the Pipers comfortably crossed the finish line with 7 wickets in hand.
Thunders vs Hurricanes: A Virtual Knockout
With this victory, the SG Pipers have secured their spot in the Women’s UPL 2024 final. Meanwhile, the upcoming match between Mussoorie Thunders and Pithoragarh Hurricanes on Friday is now a must-win encounter. The winner will face the SG Pipers in the final showdown on Saturday.
Scores
- Mussoorie Thunders: 96/8 in 20 overs (Nandini Kashyap 45 off 41, Mansi Joshi 14 off 31, Gunjan Bhandari 2/14 off 4 overs)
- Nainital SG Pipers: 97/3 in 17.3 overs (Megha Saini 26 off 18, Manisha Kunwar 31* off 37, Garima Bisht 1/17 off 3 overs)
Result: SG Pipers won by 7 wickets and advanced to the final.
