SCORECARD
The sun-drenched Woodley Cricket Field played host to a captivating encounter on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, as the United States of America Women faced off against Brazil Women in the ICC 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier. In a gripping contest, the United States of America Women emerged victorious, securing a 39-run win.
The day began with Brazil Women winning the toss and opting to bowl first, anticipating the challenging task of chasing a target set by their American counterparts. As the game unfolded, it became clear that this decision would be pivotal.
The United States Women’s innings got off to a cautious start as Disha Dhingra faced the first ball. However, her stay at the crease was short-lived as she was dismissed for just 5 runs by a brilliant catch from Maria Luiza Garcia, who made it seem effortless, off the bowling of Carolina Silva.
Jessica Willathgamuwa took the responsibility to stabilize the innings, accumulating 24 runs from 36 balls. Her knock included two well-timed boundaries, but she was eventually caught by Lindsay Vilas Boas off the bowling of Roberta Moretti Avery.
The middle-order struggled to find their rhythm, with Anika Kolan contributing just 4 runs before being trapped LBW by Nicole Monteiro. The scoreboard read 53 for 3, and the Brazilian bowlers sensed an opportunity.
However, the tide began to turn as Sindhu Sriharsha, the captain of the United States Women, showcased exceptional batting skills. She remained unbeaten, scoring a magnificent 52 runs off 42 balls, including four boundaries. Sriharsha’s gritty innings proved to be the cornerstone of her team’s total.
The United States managed to post a competitive total of 106 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
The Brazilian bowling attack displayed resilience, with Renata Dina leading the charge. She bowled a tidy spell, conceding 18 runs and taking a crucial wicket. Carolina Silva and Nicole Monteiro also made significant contributions, each picking up a wicket. However, it was Roberta Moretti Avery who stood out with 2 wickets for 16 runs in her three overs.
As the United States Women completed their innings, they held a slight advantage, but the game was far from decided.
Brazil Women’s chase began with promise as Lindsay Vilas Boas made a brisk start, scoring 18 runs off 14 balls, including three boundaries. However, her promising innings was cut short when she was dismissed, caught by Disha Dhingra, off the bowling of Isani Vaghela.
The Brazilian batting order faced a challenging task as they lost early wickets. Notably, Roberta Moretti Avery, their captain, held her ground, scoring 25 runs from 46 balls, but her dismissal, caught and bowled by Chetna Reddy Pagydyala, was a significant blow.
The middle and lower order struggled to find their footing, with regular fall of wickets. The United States Women’s bowlers applied pressure effectively, with Aditi Chudasama, Suhani Thadani, and Chetna Reddy Pagydyala delivering crucial blows.
Aditi Chudasama and Chetna Reddy Pagydyala were the stars of the bowling lineup, sharing five wickets between them. Chudasama bowled a disciplined spell, claiming two crucial wickets, while Pagydyala wreaked havoc with her three wickets, conceding just four runs.
Isani Vaghela proved to be the ultimate game-changer, bagging three wickets for just 8 runs in her four overs, including some early breakthroughs that dented Brazil Women’s hopes.
In the end, Brazil Women fell short of their target, managing a total of 67 runs, succumbing to the relentless pressure exerted by the United States Women’s bowlers. The United States of America Women clinched victory by a margin of 39 runs, showcasing their dominance in this qualifier match.