Rayalaseema Xen Stars crowned inaugural Women’s Andhra Premier League champion

Sireesha’s incredible four-wicket haul helped Rayalaseema Xen Stars reduce Godavari Golden Eagles to a paltry 96-run total which the batting order then overhauled comfortably. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Rayalaseema Xen Stars clinched the inaugural Women’s Andhra Premier League title, defeating Godavari Golden Eagles by six wickets in the final at the ACA International Stadium here on Sunday.

Opting to bat, Golden Eagles struggled for runs from the get-go. A. Sireesha ripped through the top order to reduce them to 21 for four by the end of the PowerPlay.

Skipper Henrietta Flavia Pereira took it upon herself to get the scoreboard ticking, especially with wickets tumbling at the other end. Henrietta (45, 44b, 3x4) scored almost half of her side’s total before falling in the penultimate over.

Xen Stars were crowned inaugural champions of the Women’s Andhra Premier League. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Xen Stars’ openers K. Subhasri and V. Setu Sai opted for a risk-free approach to the 97-run chase. Despite Srishti Sekhar striking in consecutive overs to dismiss Subhasri and M. Greeshma, it barely dented Xen Stars’ belief. Setu stayed till the end to wrap up the contest, doing it in style by sending the ball racing to the cow corner boundary to kickstart the celebrations.

The scores: Godavari Golden Eagles 96/9 in 20 overs (Henrietta Flavia Pereira 45, A. Sireesha 4/19) lost to Rayalaseema Xen Stars 98/4 in 17.1 overs (K. Subhasri 30, V. Setu Sai 39 n.o.).