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SANGUEM

Diksha Gawde continued her rich vein of form with the ball in the ongoing BCCI Womens U-19 cricket tournament as her five-wicket haul helped Goa crush Jammu and Kashmir by 10 wickets at Sanguem Cricket Ground in Sanguem, on Monday.

Diksha returned with figures of 5 for 13 in 6 overs to help the hosts bowl out Jammu and Kashmir for a paltry 59 in just 21 overs, after the visitors had won the toss and opted to bat first.

In reply, Goa chased down the target in just 9.3 overs with the opening pair of Purvaja Verlekar and Shindiya Naik remaining not out on 30 and 23 respectively. This was Goa’s fourth win in as many matches.

Earlier, winning the toss and opting to bat first Jammu and Kashmir were made to rue their decision as Goa’s disciplined bowling attack tied them from all ends.

Goa’s Sejal Satardekar drew the first blood in the fifth over, removing opener Sadiya Wani for a 13-ball duck as the visitors struggled at 6 for 1. Shindiya Naik (2 for 13 in 7 overs) gave the hosts their second breakthrough as she knocked down another opener Samridhi Choudhary for 6. After that, it turned out to be a Diksha Gawde show as she kept taking wickets at regular interval.

Captain Tejashwini Duragad too helped herself with a wicket as the visitors’ innings folded at 59.

Iqra Rasool, who batted at number six, played a sedate innings of 29 and was the top-scorer for Jammu and Kashmir, while Lalita was the second highest run getter with 12. Barring these two batters, none of the Jammu and Kashmir batters reach the double digit.

Goa’s opening pair of Purvaja Verlekar and Shindiya Naik then made light work of the paltry target as they raced to the target in just 9.3 overs. Purvaja hit 6 boundaries in her unbeaten 30 while Shindiya could add score one boundary in her unbeaten 23.

Goa will next play Saurashtra at MCC ground, Margao on Friday.