Odisha emerged champions in the 3rd Womens National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind, trouncing host Karnataka by eight wickets in the final at Altiore Sports Green Park Ground in Bengaluru today. The tournament was organized by Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI).
This was the second title triumph for Odisha women, who had won the inaugural edition of the tournament, defeating Karnataka by 87 runs in the final at DDA Sports Complex in New Delhi on 19 December 2019.
In the second edition of the tournament, Odisha had finished runners-up after losing to Karnataka by five wickets in the final at Altiore Sports Green Park Ground in Bengaluru on 5 March 2022.
In third edition, Odisha won four matches in a row to reach the final. Placed in Group B, Odisha women won all three of their league matches, defeating Haryana, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. In the semifinals, Odisha beat Andhra Pradesh by 10 wickets. The 14-member Odisha team, featuring five new faces, was led by Fula Soren.
ODISHA TEAM: Fula Soren B3 (Captain), Mamina Naik B1, Jhili Birua B3, Parbati Tudu B3, Smrutirekha Pradhan B1, Sulochana Sing B2 (wk), Parbati Marndi B3, Padmini Tudu B1, Basanti Hansda B2, Rachana Jena B2, Jamuna Rani Tudu B1, Rohi Munda, Rinki Behera, Sunita Murmu. Coaches: Debashish Jena, Sukhram Majhi.
ODISHA RESULTS:
9 January 2023 (League Match, Sachin Tendulkar Ground, Bengaluru): Haryana 45/8 in 17 overs (Fula Soren 2/2, Parbati Marndi 1/3, Padmini Tudu 1/9) lost to Odisha 46/0 in 3.5 overs (Jamuna Rani Tudu 28*) by 10 wickets. PoM: Fula Soren.
10 January 2023 (League Match, Cricbiz Chandapura, Bengaluru): Odisha 169/2 in 17 overs (Jhili Birua 85*, Fula Soren 47*) beat Jharkhand 95/4 in 17 overs (Prabha Kumari 21, Vimla Sandil 20*) by 74 runs. PoM: Jhili Birua.
11 January 2023 (League Match, Cricbiz Nerluru, Bengaluru): Odisha 202/5 in 20 overs (Basanti Hansda 53, Fula Soren 43*, Jhili Birua 35, Jamuna Rani Tudu 30) beat Rajasthan 80/10 in 17.3 overs (Khusbu 17; Fula Soren 2/1, Jamuna Rani Tudu 2/16) by 122 runs. PoM: Fula Soren.
12 January 2023 (Semifinal, Altiore Sports Green Park Ground, Bengaluru): Andhra Pradesh 78/7 in 20 overs (Lalitha 32*; Fula Soren 1/10, Jamuna Rani Tudu 1/14) lost to Odisha 79/0 in 5.4 overs (Basanti Hansda 46*, Jhili Birua 28*) by 10 wickets. PoM: Basanti Hansda.
13 January 2023 (Final, Altiore Sports Green Park Ground, Bengaluru): Karnataka 80/10 in 16.3 overs (Varsha U 18; Parbati Marndi 2/10, Parbati Tudu 2/22) lost to Odisha 81/2 in 12.2 overs (Fula Soren 34*, Basanti Hansda 25*) by 8 wickets. PoM: Basanti Hansda.
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PHOTO: Players of Odisha team pose with the winners trophy in Bengaluru on 13 January 2022.