Pushpitha slams double ton as Andhra girls create record in U-15 tournament

Sunday (January 4, 2025) will be etched in gold in the annals of Andhra Cricket Association. It was indeed a red-letter day as Andhra girls scripted history in the BCCI’s Under-15 Women’s Elite One-day Tournament at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

In what turned out to be a run-feast, the Andhra girls made merry at the expense of Saurashtra to score a massive 437-run victory. Batting first, Andhra made a massive 472 for three and then dismissed their hapless rivals for a mere 35.

The 472 for three is the tournament’s best score thus far. The earlier best was Delhi’s 466 for four scored against Nagaland in the 2023-24 season.

Saurashtra skipper Krishna Bhatt won the toss and asked her rivals to bat first. Andhra grabbed the opportunity with both hands and made their rivals pay for the decision.

Andhra openers Pushpitha Gowda K and skipper Deeksha Katragadda made merry at the expense of their rival bowlers. For nearly 18 overs, the duo dominated the show and sent the fielders on a cherry hunt as runs came thick and fast. They added a massive 249 for the first wicket in just 106 balls. Deeksha and Pushpitha faced an identical number of balls (53), but the former was more aggressive of them. Deeksha contributed 128 and Pushpitha made 111 before the former fell.

Deeksha made 128 and Greeshma scored 98

Andhra skipper Deeksha Katragadda scored 128 and shared a 249-run first wicket partnership with Pushpitha Gowda, who made 205.

Deeksha finally went when she was run out by Jiya Jadav but not before putting her side on a firm wicket. Her 128 came off 53 balls with 22 fours and four sixes.

Greeshma Saini joined Pushpitha and the duo continued as if nothing had happened. There was no respite for the Saurashtra bowlers and fielders. The pair added 197 for the second wicket with Greeshma contributing a 50-ball 98 and Pushpitha making 93 off 43 balls.

Greeshma was unlucky to miss out on a century by just two runs. she was caught by Pragati Nakar off Bhavya Nagvadiya. Her 98 came off 50 balls and contained 16 fours and three sixes.

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Pushpitha, who had anchored the innings well, was finally sent back when she was stumped by Khushi Solanki off Krishna Bhatt. Her massive 205 came off a mere 99 balls with 31 hits to the fence and six over the ropes.

The Andhra girl became the second player to score a double century in the tournament. The highest of 213 not out was scored by Haryana’s Deeya Yadav against Tripura at Raipur in the 2023-24 season.

After the bashing they got on the field, the Saurashtra girls seemed to have lost the will to fight it out. It looked more like a fashion parade, sans the glamorous clothes, as wickets fell at regular intervals. None of the Saurashtra batters reached the double mark with the highest of 14 being Extras. Saurashtra were bowled out for 35 in 19.2 overs.

Sana was the pick of the bowlers as she picked up three for three in 2.2 overs. P Rishika Krishnan bagged three for nine.

Greeshma Saini was unlucky to miss out on a century by two runs.

Andhra bagged four points from the encounter.  Andhra, who have won both their games thus far, lead Group C with 8 points to their credit.  On the other hand, Saurashtra have lost both their game and are languishing at the bottom of the table.

Brief scores: Andhra 472 for three in 35 overs (Pushpitha Gowda K 205, Deeksha Katragadda 128, Greeshma Saini 98) beat Saurashtra 35 in 19.2 overs (P Rishika Krishnan 3/9, Sana 3/3).

Best Five Totals In This Tournament

472/3: Andhra v Saurashtra in 2025/26

466/4: Delhi v Nagaland in 2023/24

389/3: Delhi v Meghalaya in 2023/24

387/5: Bengal v Arunachal in 2024/25

373/7: Tamil Nadu v Bihar in 2023/24