As the inaugural Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL) nears its thrilling conclusion, the stage is now set for the ultimate showdown. In the final league fixture, Pune Warriors showcased their dominance once again, defeating Solapur Smashers by 5 wickets, marching confidently into the final. Meanwhile, the Raigad Royals finally had their moment of triumph. In their last match of the campaign, they defeated Ratnagiri Jets by 17 runs, ending their season on a high note, showing the grit they had been searching for all tournament.
From fierce rivalries to rising stars, the WMPL has given Maharashtra a new wave of women’s cricket to cheer for. And now, the wait is almost over – Pune Warriors vs Solapur Smashers – one final battle to crown the first-ever WMPL Champions.
Match 11: Pune Warriors vs Solapur Smashers
Batting first, Solapur’s top-order faltered early. Ishwari Awasare managed just 10 off 13 balls, while only Ishwari Savkar held firm with a fighting 44 off 46. The middle order failed to provide support with captain Tejal Hasabnis bowled for a duck, while Shalmali Kshatriya (14 off 17) and Damini Bankar (17 off 21) offered brief resistance. A dramatic lower-order collapse followed, as Pune’s bowling unit dominated the innings. Anuja Patil shone with a brilliant spell of 3/15 in 3 overs, while Chinmayee Borphale backed it up with 3/22. Ishita Khale was economical and effective, conceding just 11 runs and picking up a wicket. Solapur were restricted to a modest 105/8 in their 20 overs.
In response, Pune Warriors paced their chase well. Opener Suhani Khandal anchored the innings with a steady 43 off 49. Despite a brief middle-order wobble, Pune found their calm through the experienced Anuja Patil (22 off 24), and Shweta Mane chipped in with 10. When the pressure rose, Utkarsha Kadam delivered a decisive late cameo smashing 14* off just 6 balls, sealing the win in 18.3 overs with 5 wickets in hand.
Match 12: Raigad Royals vs Ratnagiri Jets
Batting first, Raigad posted a modest yet competitive 106 in 19.4 overs. The explosive Kiran Navgire gave them a flying start with 32 off just 20. Bhavika Ahire played a patient knock of 19 off 35, while Aditi Gaikwad contributed 23 off 29. However, the middle-order failed to capitalize, with Ayesha Shaikh (3), Yashoda Ghogare (1), and Pradnya Veerkar (3) all falling cheaply. Priyanka Ghodke was the standout for Ratnagiri with a sensational 5/10, while Anushree Swami was equally impressive, finishing with 2/10 in 3 tight overs.
Chasing 107, Ratnagiri Jets never really found momentum. Opener Gautami Naik fought hard for her 22 off 32, but wickets kept tumbling around her. Key batters like Anushree Swami (1) and Shivali Shinde (8) couldn’t settle in. While Rasika Shinde showed resistance with a gritty 29 off 39, the lack of partnerships hurt Ratnagiri. They finished at 89/9, falling short by 17 runs. Raigad’s bowlers kept it tight with Isha Pathare picked up 2/14 in 4 overs, while Yashoda Ghogare redeemed her earlier batting failure with a tidy spell of 1/13.
