Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Women’s Cricket Tournament 2023 Winners
Table of Contents
With the launch of the illustrious ‘Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament,’ an astonishing story developed in the world of women’s cricket. The
Cricket Association of Lucknow (CAL) was in charge of this historic event, and as the curtains fell on its first edition, Agra emerged victorious, capturing the coveted championship title.
Agra delivered an unexpected punch to the powerful Kanpur in the last match, clinching a dominant 5-wicket victory. It was a spectacular show that left viewers breathless and their hearts racing with excitement.
Let us take a look back at the events that led up to this spectacular climax, beginning with the tense semi-final matches.
Semi-Final 1
CAL Blue, riding high on an unbroken record, held Agra to 84 runs. The match, which was considered to be a straightforward win, took an unexpected turn when CAL Blue experienced an awful nightmare. They lost all ten wickets in record time, tumbling like a house of cards, and managed only 82 runs. Their ambition of reaching the Final was cruelly crushed, leaving them in misery after falling short by a heartbreaking margin of three runs.
Semi-Final 2
The stage was set, where Kanpur, the only remaining undefeated team, demonstrated unflinching supremacy. They set a tough target of 153 runs, losing only four wickets in their batting innings. Carrying the weight of expectations, Kanpur’s impressive performance continued in their bowling innings, limiting Varanasi to 83 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Kanpur extended their winning streak to seven games with a convincing 70-run victory over Varanasi, securing their place in the highly anticipated Final.
Finals
Then came the big finale, in which fate weaved its beautiful tapestry on a difficult wicket. Kanpur’s top three scorers totaled 83 runs, led by the fearsome combination of Babita Yadav, skipper Ekta Singh, and Tripti Singh. However, the 15th over proved pivotal, as Kanpur were reduced to three wickets for 83 runs, all of which were grabbed by the
indomitable Sampda Dixit. Kanpur then buckled under strain, adding only 17 runs to their total while losing seven wickets. Sampda’s outstanding performance resulted in a spectacular 5-wicket haul, which left Kanpur in ruins as they were bowled out for a meagre 100 runs.
In return, Agra watched Sampda’s heroics, as she not only performed with the ball but also demonstrated her batting prowess with a courageous knock of 28 runs. She laid a good platform with a run-a-ball attitude, building a promising 49-run opening partnership with the sturdy Pooja. Despite a few dismissals, Pooja remained steadfast, scoring 33 runs. Anjali’s brief cameo of 19 off 16 balls restricted the target even further, thrilling the crowd. It was left in the capable hands of Disha Singh and Supriya Arela, who remained unbeaten, taking their side over the finish line with scores of 6 (8) and 9 (5), respectively. Agra won by a dominant 5-wicket margin with nine balls to spare.
Agra’s ascension to grandeur was accompanied with a magnificent story of tenacity and triumph. With only one defeat in league play, they engraved their names in history by knocking out the two undefeated powerhouses, CAL Blue and Kanpur, in the knockout stages. They defied expectations, their success a surreal crescendo that touched the hearts of all cricket fans, forever immortalising Agra’s victory in the Hemwati Nandan
Bahuguna Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament.
| Match | Teams |
|---|---|
| Match 1 | Team A vs. Team B |
| Match 2 | Team C vs. Team D |
| Match 3 | Team A vs. Team C |
| Match 4 | Team B vs. Team D |
| Match 5 | Team A vs. Team D |
| Match 6 | Team B vs. Team C |
| Semi-Final 1 | Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 4 |
| Semi-Final 2 | Winner of Match 2 vs. Winner of Match 3 |
| Final | Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2 |