Some of the female cricketers at the event.
Fort Wayne and Warsaw Warriors Do Battle
Fort Wayne, IN – The Fort Wayne Warriors is proud to be associated with the newly formed Women’s Cricket Team, and supports the initiative to promote women’s and youth cricket in the United States. The program is designed to help women and youth players grasp key skills that could potentially matriculate into cricketing careers.
Port Wayne Warriors team.
The first match of an all women cricket format was held on May 31, 2014, between the Fort Wayne Warriors and a Warsaw Warriors XI. The match was historic, because it was the first-ever all women cricket match in Indiana and the surrounding Midwest states. It was held during the annual men’s tournament at Kreager Park. The coin toss was officiated by Jatin Patel, National Director of coaching and Program Development for the American Cricket Federation (ACF), 2nd Vice President of US Youth Cricket Association (USYCA), and founder and President of the Indiana Youth Cricket Association.
In the match, the home and host team Fort Wayne Warriors faced visiting team Warsaw Warriors. The toss was won by Warsaw who elected to field first. Fort Wayne Warriors women batting first scored 48 runs in the allotted 8 overs. Warsaw team chased the target in just 6 overs, and won by 6 wickets. Rutuja Chintawar was adjudged the Woman-of-the-Match, for her brilliant knock of 40 runs.
Fort Wayne Warriors: Saman Lakhe, Gauri Somasundaram, Supriya Patil, Amrit Garcha, Simran Gulati, Anju Sood, Lalita Sood, Revati Balasubramaniam, Sujatha Kulkarni, Atiya Syed
Warsaw Warriors team.
Warsaw Warriors: Pankti Shah, Rakhi Singh, Namrata Bhatnagar, Priyadarsini Alagesh, Rutuja Chintawar, Pooja Chormale, Parinita Nath, Puja Lallad
Supriya Siddha of Fort Wayne Warriors said, “Being a part of this match was a big opportunity for us and we are looking forward with great enthusiasm to playing more matches. It was indeed a difficult task to manage family and kids along with cricket. However, our motive is to inspire more women and girls to take up the sport and experience the enjoyment that comes from playing such a great team sport.”
Ajay Lakhe, an Indiana Youth Cricket Certified Cricket Coach and Instructor since July 2012, contributed his time and Phase 1 coaching, so that the teams may play with hard tennis balls. The Fort Wayne Warriors coach Lakhe, and members are consistently aiming to grow awareness, interest, and participation in cricket for women and youth age groups across the country.
“I am proud to have been involved in preparing both teams through coaching education and the expertise I gained from working and being mentored by Jatin Patel in the last year and half. I am very thankful to my team Fort Wayne Warriors for their support, and the launching of such great initiatives in the Fort Wayne area,” said Ajay Lakhe.“ He continued, “Women’s cricket is just one example as we are also working on youth programs in the North West Indiana area. We are so thankful to Jatin Patel for all his support in cricket development in our area, and we appreciate his quick trip to make this historical game, officiating at the coin toss and his quick tips on the game and bowling to all the women, before the game. With his special presence and local media support during this event, we are confident to advance and expand the sport of cricket in our area.”
Jatin Patel said, “This is just the first step, with high interest by both women’s teams, to play cricket, which is very important for the people who wish to learn and play the game. I am pleased with the progress of Phase 1, and excited to see the interest in women’s cricket in the Fort Wayne area. It’s great work by all involved for the development of the sport. Honors and a special appreciation are extended to Ajay Lakhe, who worked hard in preparing both teams for this event. I am speechless at the interest I have seen in both teams, and I am confident that more progress will be made in women and youth cricket here in the Fort Wayne area. I committed to being there to help them during Phases 2 and 3, when they are ready to go to the next level.”
