BENGALURU: Karnataka batters overcame some anxious moments before thwarting a spirited challenge from Madhya Pradesh to storm into the semifinals of the BCCI women’s One-Day Trophy.
In the quarterfinals at the M Chinnaswamy stadium here on Tuesday, the hosts registered a five-wicket win to set up a clash with Punjab at the Alur cricket stadium on Thursday.
Opting to bowl in a match which was delayed by 30 minutes and reduced to 48 overs a side due to overnight rain, Karnataka restricted MP to 169/9 before overhauling the target in 42.2 overs.
Karnataka bowlers kept the run rate below four an over and reduced the opposition to 42/3 by the 14th over. Skipper Pooja Vastrakar (40, 75b, 3x4, 1x6) held up one end, while Soumya Tiwari top-scored with a patient 73-ball-45 to take the team to 169. For the bowling unit, spinner Chandu V continued with her fine form, claiming 2 for 25. Shreyanka Patil and C Prathyusha too chipped in with two wickets apiece.
In reply, Karnataka lost the in-form D Vrinda (7) early in the chase but Shubha S (43) and G Divya (28) steadied the innings. There was a brief lull in Karnataka's victory march when they lost Shubha and skipper Veda Krishnamurthy (17) in quick succession. But the middle order withstood the pressure, with wicketkeeper-batter K Prathyoosha scoring a 58-ball 45 (4x4) to see her team through.
Brief scores: Madhya Pradesh: 169/9 in 48 overs (Pooja Vastrakar 40, Soumya Tiwari 45; Chandu V 2-25, Shrenya Patil 2-27, C Prathyusha 2-29) lost to Karnataka: 170/5 in 42.2 overs (S Shubha 43, G Divya 28, Prathyoosha 45 n.o; Anushka Sharma 2-34).
