Scoring their fourth consecutive victory in the group stage, MCC Estilo Legends topped the five-team league and booked their berth in the final of the ongoing Goa Women’s Premier League at GCA Academy ground, Porvorim.
MCC Estilo Legends, who brushed off bottom-placed Venture XI challenge by three wickets on Thursday night, have been the most consistent team on their way to notching up eight points in the league stage. They will take on the winner of Saturday’s Eliminator to be played between Celeste Superwomen (6 points) and Manas Panjim Gymkhana 4 points), in the grand finale on Sunday night.
Venture XI, who finished at the bottom with an-loss record, struggled all through in tonight’s last league match. Apart from Madhuri Aghav with 29 runs off 19 balls (4×4, 1×6) and captain Tarannum Pathan (23), no other batter made a notable contribution. Sunanda Yetrekar, Siddhi Savase and Gautami Naik took two wickets each for MCC.
But the team total of 104/9 was never going to be a winning score against the power-packed Margao-side.
However, MCC Estilo Legends seemed to wobble a bit in the chase, but recovered in time thanks to an unbeaten run-a-ball 26 by Tanvir Shaikh in the middle order after opener Shreya Parab, who was named the player of the match, had scored 27 runs. MCC Estilo Legends captain Sunanda Yetrekar scored 19 runs off 13 balls (2×4) as the team overhauled the target, ending up with 107/7 in 18.3 overs. Savali Kolambkar (3/24) was the most successful bowler for Venture XI.
Earlier, Celeste Superwomen put themselves into contention for the Goa Women’s Premier League Final, with a narrow 10-run victory over Geno Dragons.
Celeste Superwomen finished their quota of four league matches with six points from three wins. On the other hand; Geno Dragons, who had started the league with an impressive victory, have gone on to lose three successive games and bow out.
Jasia Akhtar and captain Vinavi Gurav provided a fantastic start to the Superwomen as they put on 96 runs for the opening wicket in 10.4 overs when J&K batter Jasia departed after making 68 runs off 36 balls. Her inning was studded with nine boundaries and 3 sixes.
Goa wicketkeeper Vinavi, who has grown in confidence as the GWPL has progressed, also scored a half-century. A run a ball knock of 50 runs by Vinavi, comprised three hits to the fence. Sayali Lonkar (28) and Poorva Bhaidkar (13) chipped in with the bat as Celeste Superwomen put up a strong total of 174/4 in the allotted 20 overs. Among the Geno bowlers, Tanishka Sen (2/22), and Tanaya Naik (1/34) tasted success with the ball.
Geno Dragons were in the game till the end of the 10th over where they had a superb launch pad of 103/2 with 72 more runs needed with eight wickets in hand, while captain Anuja Patil was well set. But it did not work out that way as the Dragons lost their next seven wickets for the addition of 61 runs.
A good start with openers Kiran Navgire (28 off 13) and Purvaja Verlekar (40 off 25) putting on 40 runs in 3.2overs, provided a nice foundation. The second-wicket partnership of 51 runs off 32 balls, between Purvaja and Anuja, added further impetus to the Mapusa-based outfit’s chase. However, no other batter coming on could stay with Anuja, who waged a lone battle for some time, before departing for a valiant 66 runs off 44 balls, which included 10 fours and a six. Tanaya was the only other batter to get into double digits, remaining not out on 10.
Celeste Superwomen’s Pooja Nishad was the chief wicket-taker with 3/34 off 4 overs, while Sweety Parab also bowled well with 2/26.
Jasia Akhtar was named the player of the match and was presented the prize by Dezi D’Souza, ICA Member representative.
