Sheetal Rana stars in India C's thrilling win

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Sheetal Rana stars in India C's thrilling win

Tejal Hasbnis' 47 went in vain. © Tejal Hasabnis/ Faceboook

Bowlers win you matches! Indeed, when the match was slipping out of India C's hands, it was off-spinner Sheetal Rana's five-wicket haul that helped her side beat India B by six runs in the second match of the Under-23 T20 Challenger Trophy at Siechem Stadium in Puducherry on Thursday (December 12).

In pursuit of 112, India B lost Shubha Satish cheaply for five as the opener was caught and bowled by Janhvi Kate. Vrushali Bhagat and Tejal Hasabnis combined and stitched together a solid 86-run partnership to put India B in a comfortable position. With just 16 needed off 18 balls, Sheetal turned the tables. She dismissed both the set batters — Hasabnis (47) and Bhagat (38) — in the space of three balls in the 18th over. From there, panic took over India B.

With 10 runs needed off the final over, India C skipper Prativa Rana entrusted Sheetal to get the side over the line. The off-spinner collected three more wickets in the final six balls to keep India C to a total of 105 for the loss of seven wickets.

Earlier, a four-wicket haul by Bhagat kept India C to a total of 111 for 8 after choosing to field. India C suffered an early hiccup as Minnu Mani got opener Kajal Jena (16) leg before inside four overs, bringing Rashmi Gudhia to the centre.

Gudhia and Indrani Roy (25) combined to add 46 for the second wicket before the side lost four wickets for just 14 runs. Bhagat rattled the line-up, picking all four wickets, including India C's top scorer of the day — Gudhia (28).

In the 12th over, Bhagat cleaned up Gudhia and got Prativa stumped for a two-ball duck before returning in the 14th over to get rid of Roy (25). She completed her four-fer two overs later, removing Sheetal cheaply for 6. Utkarsha Pawar (18) and Kanika Ahuja (11*) combined to help India C to a respectable total.

Brief scores: India C 111/8 in 20 overs (Rashmi Gudhia 28, Indrani Roy 25; Vrushali Bhagat 4-17) beat India B 105/7 in 20 overs (Tejal Hasabnis 47, Vrushali Bhagat 38; Sheetal Rana 5-14) by six runs.
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