The third edition of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) commenced at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Raipur on September 21, beginning with the women’s competition featuring two matches.
Dehradun Warriors and Mussoorie Queens recorded victories in contrasting matches, setting the stage for an engaging tournament in the state’s premier T20 cricket event.
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In the opening game, Dehradun Warriors, having won the toss, elected to bowl first against Pithoragarh Hurricanes. Batting first, Pithoragarh Hurricanes were limited to 84 for 7 in 20 overs. Minakshi Joshi was the standout bowler for Dehradun Warriors, taking three wickets. In pursuit of 85, Dehradun Warriors reached the target comfortably, finishing at 85 for 3 in 14.1 overs. Joshi was named Player of the Match for her all-round performance.
The second women’s fixture saw Mussoorie Queens face
The second women’s fixture saw Mussoorie Queens face Bageshwar Aerial. Mussoorie Queens opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Bageshwar Aerial posted a competitive total of 108 for 6 in 20 overs. However, rain interrupted the chase, and Mussoorie Queens secured victory by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method after reaching 62 for 1 in nine overs. Roshni Danu received the Player of the Match award for her significant contribution to the successful chase.
Commenting on the challenging conditions during the match, Mussoorie Queens captain Nandini Kashyap stated, “The pitch was not looking very good after the rain. The ball was staying low and there wasn’t much movement. We saw a low score in the first innings and felt that chasing it would not be easy. But our approach was very clear. From the first innings, we noticed that most of their batters were playing across the line. So, my coach and I decided that we would play with a straight bat. We knew the ball would stay low, so we planned to play in the V. Aarti executed the plan really well and converted the opportunities into boundaries. We had a clear plan and we executed it properly.”
The opening day’s cricket action was followed by a grand opening ceremony featuring Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor and performances celebrating Uttarakhand’s musical heritage.
The women’s competition continues on September 22
The women’s competition continues on September 22 with another double-header, while the men’s competition will commence in the evening with Haridwar Elmas facing Nainital Tigers at 7:30 pm.
The women’s tournament includes four teams: Mussoorie Queens, Bageshwar Aerial, Pithoragarh Hurricanes and Dehradun Warriors. The men’s competition features seven teams and will run until October 1, with the men’s final scheduled for the last day.
Source: thenewsmill.com
