Sheetal Rana takes a fifer, helps India C win over India B

As they say, you can't predict the result till the final ball, once again it was proved during the game between India B and India C in the ongoing Under-23 T20 Challenger Trophy at Siechem Stadium in Puducherry on Thursday (December 12). Sheetal Rana took a five-wicket haul and sealed the deal for her side despite being in a losing position.

While chasing 112, India B lost Shubha Satish very cheaply as she scored a mere five before Janhvi Kate took a return catch. After her dismissal, Vrushali Bhagat and Tejal Hasabnis steadied the ship and added an 86-run partnership. Their partnership ensured a comfortable win for India B at that position.

With just 16 required off 18 balls, Sheetal Rana did the unthinkable. She dismissed both the set batters — Tejal Hasabnis and Vrushali Bhagat for 47 and 38 respectively — in the space of three balls in the 18th over and the fortune turned for India B.

With 10 runs required off the final over, India C captain Prativa Rana gave the ball to Sheetal Rana who kept her captain's faith intact. The off-spinner picked three more wickets in the final over and restricted India B to a total of 105 for the loss of seven wickets.

Earlier in the day, put in to bat, India C got off to a steady start where Kajal Jena and Indrani Roy added 22 runs before the former was trapped before the stumps for 16 off Minnu Mani. Her dismissal brought Rashmi Gudhia at the crease. Both Gudhia and Indrani Roy added 46 runs for the second wicket before they lost four wickets within 14 runs.

In the 12th over, Vrushali Bhagat dismissed Gudhia and trapped Prativa Rana for a two-ball duck before dismissing Indrani Roy (25) in the 14th over. She later cleaned up Sheetal for 6 and completed her four-wicket haul. Later, Utkarsha Pawar (18) and Kanika Ahuja (11*) added the rest of the runs to help India C put up a defendable total.

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