Back-to-back Senior Women’s T20 title for Mumbai

Mumbai with the title
Mumbai with the title (PC: BCCI Women/X)

Mumbai registered a dominant 10-wicket win over Bengal in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy 2024 final at Wankhede Stadium. Bengal’s batting  faltered, allowing Mumbai to chase down the modest 86-run target comfortably, with 45 balls remaining.

Bengal captain Saika Ishaque opted to bat first after winning the toss, carrying forward the confidence from their semi-final win over Himachal Pradesh while batting first. However, the decision proved costly, as Bengal collapsed to 85 all out in 20 overs. Their struggles were largely due to poor shot selection and poor running between the wickets, rather than an extraordinary bowling performance from Mumbai. Bengal’s batters showed little intent to build partnerships or find runs throughout the innings.

Experienced batter Richa Ghosh fell cheaply, while opener Dhara Gujjar managed to top-score with just 26 runs at a low strike rate of 68.42. Bengal’s top scorer in the tournament, Tanusree Sarkar (second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, 288 in nine innings, average 48, strike-rate 111) also failed to make a big impact. After 15 overs, Bengal were 51/6. Hrishita Basu’s 18 off 24 balls and Titas Sadhu’s quickfire 17 off 11 balls in the final five overs took the total to 85. For Mumbai, Jagravi Pawar was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for just 13 runs in her four overs. Saumya Singh acconted for two wickets, while Sayali Satghare and Fatima Jaffer chipped in with one each.

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Mumbai vs Bengal in the final
Mumbai vs Bengal in the final (PC: BCCI Women/X)

While Bengal’s poor scoring suggested the pitch might be challenging, Mumbai’s batters soon showed it was not the surface causing trouble. Eventually, this tournament’s top scorer and Mumbai skipper, Humairaa Kaazi (328 runs in 11 innings), scored an unbeaten 41 off 36 balls. Her opening partner, Vrushali Bhagat, contributed 45 not out off 39 balls, as the pair chased down the target with ease, in just 12.3 overs.

The comprehensive win gave Mumbai their second consecutive Senior Women’s T20 title. Jagravi was named the Player of the Match for her economical three-wicket haul, while Humairaa received the Player of the Series award.

With this back-to-back title triumphs, Mumbai became the second team, after Railways (who have won 11 titles), to win the trophy in consecutive years. Bengal, on the other hand, suffered their fourth loss in the tournament final, three of which have come in the last five editions.

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