Pune Warriors and Ratnagiri Jets begin their Women’s Maharashtra Premier League campaign with victory

Pune, 5th June 2025: Skipper Rushabh Rathod led from the front as Raigad Royals defeated Satara Warriors by 24 runs in their Adani Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) match at the MCA International Stadium in Gahunje here on Thursday.

Keeper-bat Rathod’s attacking half-century (80, 45b, 6x4s, 5x6s) and Rugved More’s measured 48 (41b, 3x4s, 2x6s) helped Raigad post a competitive 190 for 6 in their 20 overs. Left-arm pacer Nikhil Kadam (3 for 32 in 4 overs) and pacer Tanay Sanghavi (2 for 28 in 4) then restricted Satara Warriors to 166 for 7 to give Raigad a victorious start to their campaign.

Satara Warriors won the toss and inserted the Raigad Royals. It looked like they had made the right decision. Vaibhav Darkunde (2 for 33 in 4) sent back Maharashtra Ranji opener Siddhesh Veer (0, 2b) in the very first over.

In the next over, Rajvardhan Hangargekar (3 for 42 in 4) sent back the other opener Harsh Mogaveera (5, 3b, 1×4) before removing Harsh Sanghavi (18, 8b, 2x4s, 1×6) in his next over. Digvijay Patil (13, 13b, 1×6) handed a return catch to Jagdish Zope to leave Raigad 42 for 4 inside the five overs.

However, coming in at No. 6, Rathod changed the course of the match. He smashed four boundaries off Vivek Shelar’s over to take his side to 65 for 4 at the end of the powerplay. He brought up his 50 in 33 balls, adding 130 runs for the fifth wicket with More.

Satara Warriors began the chase poorly and lost Pawan Shah on the very first ball of the innings. They lost keeper-bat Saurabh Navale (9, 15b, 1×4) in the last over of the powerplay, crawling to 33 for 2.

Harshal Kate (38, 34b, 4x4s, 1×6), Om Bhosale (45, 29b, 2x4s, 3x6s) and Mehul Patel (26, 14b, 1×4, 3x6s) and No. 7 batter Aniket Porwal (31, 14b, 2x4s, 3x6s) tried to breathe life into the chase. However, Satara Warriors could only manage 166 for 7.

Brief scores: Raigad Royals: 190 for 6 in 20 overs (Rushabh Rathod 80, Rugved More 48; Rajvardhan Hangargekar 3-42) bt Satara Warriors: 166 for 7 (Om Bhosale 45, Harshal Kate 38; Nikhil Kadam 3-32) by 24 runs.

Pune Warriors edge past Solapur Smashers
In the opening match of the Adani Women’s Maharashtra Premier League, Pune Warriors defeated Solapur Smashers by five wickets in a nail-biting contest at the MCA International Stadium on Thursday morning.

Opting to bat first, Solapur put on 139 for 6 in their stipulated 20 overs, courtesy of a 101-run third wicket stand between skipper Tejal Hasabnis (69, 54b, 5x4s, 2x6s) and Mukta Magre (36, 46b, 1×4). Khushi Mulla (2 for 19 in 4 overs) was the pick of the bowlers for Pune.

In reply, Pune Warriors were cruising along with India international and captain Anuja Patil (30, 26b, 3x4s) and Shweta Mane (38*, 24b, 5x4s) in the middle, and Pune needed just six runs off the last 9 balls.

However, Ishwari Awsare (2 for 22 in 3) forced Anuja to give a return catch to make it 134 for 3. Pune then lost two more wickets to bring the equation down to 2 off 4 balls. But southpaw Shweta Sawant kept her cool to tonk a boundary over deep midwicket to earn Pune Warriors their first win.

Smriti’s Ratnagiri Jets start with a win
Smriti Mandhana-led Ratnagiri Jets nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory to eventually win by four wickets and a ball to spare in their opening match of Adani Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL) against Raigad Royals at the MCA International Stadium on Thursday evening.

Chasing 160, Gautami Naik (70, 46b, 11x4s, 1×6) and India vice-captain Mandhana (35, 26b, 2x4s, 2x6s) stitched 85 runs for the opening wicket in 9.1 overs to put Ratnagiri on course for the victory.

However, there was a mini-collapse in the middle overs as 116 for 1 became 118 for 4 in the space of 11 deliveries, including a run out of Naik. But, Shivali Shinde (19*, 19b, 1×4) and Rasika Sawant (14, 11b, 2×4) ensured that the asking rate never went overboard.

Needing 12 off the final over, Dnyanada Nikam was run out on the first ball, in a bid to ensure that Shivali retained the strike. Shivali hit the next ball for a boundary before Anushree Swami hit a four and a double to take Ratnagiri Jets home.

Brief scores: Solapur Smashers: 139 for 6 in 20 overs (Tejal Hasabnis 69, Mukta Magre 36; Khushi Mulla 2-19) lost to Pune Warriors: 142 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Shweta Mane 38*, Suhani Khandel 36; Ishwari Awsare 2-22) by five wickets.

Raigad Royals: 159 for 8 (Pradnya Veerkar 34, Yashoda Ghogre 23*; Sanjana Waghmode 2-23) lost to Ratnagiri Jets: 160 for 6 in 19.5 (Gautami Naik 70, Smriti Mandhana 35; Yashoda Ghogre 2-18) by 4 wickets.