Published: March 7, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Kesari Drithi bowled Hyderabad to an 86-run win over Saurashtra in the third round of the BCCI Women’s Under-23 One-day tournament at the Ayush Cricket Academy ground in Dehradun on Saturday.
Replying to Hyderabad’s 241 for nine, Saurashtra were blown away by Drithi as they fell for 155. Drithi finished with figures of 10-4-20-6.
The win helped Hyderabad move to the second place behind Delhi in Elite Group E. Delhi have 12 points while Hyderabad have eight points to their credit.
After losing to Andhra in the previous game, Hyderabad girls picked up the pieces and came back strongly. Electing to bat first, Hyderabad got off to a modest start with openers Akanksha Semwal and Sandhya Gora adding 38 for the first wicket before Akanksha was caught by Viral V off Angel for 14.
Kesari Drithi finished with figures of 10-4-20-6 which helped Hyderabad bowl out Saurashtra for 155
Sandhya and Kunchala Niteesha then took the fight to the rival camp. The duo added 88 for the second wicket to lay a platform for their side. Both players scored 43 each in the partnership but Sandhya was the more aggressive of the duo. Her 43 came off 49 balls while Niteesh took 61 balls for her 43 which was studded with four fours and a six. She was bowled by Hirva V.
Six runs later Sandhya had to retire out for 67 which came off 85 balls with seven hits to the fence.
Skipper Vanka Pooja (12) did not last long but wicketkeeper Mamatha M and V Prathiksha stitched 45-run partnership off 42 balls. Prathiksha scored 28 off 29 and Mamatha made 17.
Hyderabad went on to make 241 for nine in their 50 overs with Mamata remaining unbeaten on 45 off 38 balls with three fours.
Saurashtra all at sea against Drithi
In reply, Saurashtra found themselves all at sea against the Hyderabad bowlers.
Sirichendhanaa made the first strike when she got rid of Bhindi K (14) and Drithi packed off the other opener P Bhambi (10). Drithi struck off the very next ball when she bowled Hirva V (0).
In the next over, Drithi again struck. This time she bowled Miloni (0) to break the Saurashtra back. Things only got worse for Saurashtra as Drithi bowled Ashaba (1) and then had Angel (0) caught behind by Mamatha to leave Saurashtra tottering at 35 for six.
Saloni and Krishas then tried to undo the damage with a 45-run partnership but it was not enough. Niteesha broke the partnership when she trapped Saloni leg before. The Saurashtra batter made 32 off 29 balls with six boundaries.
Krishas and Viral V then added 43 for the eight wicket to help Saurashtra cross the 100-run mark. Drithi got rid of Krishas to bag her sixth wicket. Krishas made 31 off 69 balls with three fours.
Niteesha then got rid of Dhruvi Bhatasana (6) and Pooja had Viral V stumped by Mamatha to end the resistance. Viral topscored with a 53-ball 37 with six fours.
Brief scores: Hyderabad 241/9 in 50 overs (Sandhya Gora 67, K Niteesha 43, Mamata M 45 not out; Ashaba 3/40) beat Saurashra 155 in 37.3 overs (Saloni 32, Krishas 31; Kesari Drithi 6/20, K Niteesha 2/18).
