Atlanta, GA – The Atlantis women’s team yesterday advanced to the finals of the Georgia Women Cricket Association 5th Annual Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament in Atlanta, GA, with decisive victories over host Atlanta Pearls and Can Am United, and will now meet a Cricket Council of Ontario (CCO) XI in the final.
Atlantis finalist team with its management staff. Photo courtesy of Neha Anand
Atlantis vs. Atlanta Pearls
Atlantis moved pass host Atlanta Pearls in their opening match of the two-day tournament with an 80-run victory at Creel Park. Atlantis winning the toss and electing to bat scored 121 for the loss of five wickets with Nadia Gruny and Zeenat Kauser retiring, and off the allotted 20 overs. Nadia Gruny scored an unbeaten 50 including five boundaries. Zeenat Kauser contributed 17 not out, before retiring.
The Atlantis wickets fell at 23, 74, 96, 96, 96, 100 and 121. Rita Singh, the diminutive off-spinner grabbed 4 for 29 off her 4 overs, in a remarkable spell of bowling. Claudine Beckford snatched the fifth wicket at a cost of 16 runs off her four over spell of bowling.
In reply Atlanta Pearls reached 41 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs, with Claudine Beckford top-scoring with 19. Monali Patel was the pick of the Atlantis bowlers with figures of 4-1-5-3. Gita Venkat grabbed one wicket for 9 runs off her three over spell.
The Atlanta Pearls wickets fell at 1, 24, 31, 34 and 35.
Atlantis vs. Can Am United
Facing their 2014 finalist opponent, Atlantis rose to the occasion, defeating Can Am United by 37 runs in a match reduced to 15 overs due to a late start and three matches being played at one location.
Winning the toss and electing to take first strike, Atlantis notched up 102 for 2 at the 15 overs conclusion. Nadia Gruny with a spirited knock of 38 not out (3x4s) once again top-scored followed by her skipper Sindhu Ashok with 33 (5x4s). The pair established a 74-run partnership after the loss of Kamara Ragoobar for one run. Neha Anand contributed 13 not out, including two boundaries.
Bowling for Can Am United: Durriya Shabbir and Malika each had one wicket apiece for 10 and 12 respectively.
Set a target of 6.8 runs per over, Can Am United was off to a steady start losing their first wicket – Durriya, 12, run-out with the score at 26 in the seventh over. However, the team failed to increase the scoring rate to sustain the chase, as Can Am United lost two additional wickets reaching 65 for 3 at the end of the 15 th over.
Can Am United’s top-scorer was Jaimie Veale with an unbeaten 25. It was a valiant effort by the tall right-hander who stuck around for the entire 15 overs, but had trouble putting away the aggressive bowling of the Atlantis bowlers. Other contributors to the Can Am United total were Zimbabwean Tazmeen Granger with 14 and opener Durriya, 12.
The Can Am United wickets fell at 26, 43 and 58. Bowling for Atlantis: Rohani Patel and Neha Anand each grabbed one wicket at 13 and 21 respectively.
Final – Atlantis vs. Cricket Council of Ontario XI
In the other matches the Cricket Council of Ontario XI defeated Can Am United and Atlanta Pearls in decisive fashion to also advance to the finals against Atlantis. Can Am United and Atlanta Pearls will play for the third-place ahead of the finals scheduled for 2:00pm today.
The finalists are equally matched and the contest should be a competitive one, as both teams boast players with considerable playing experience at the international levels.