Anushka's unbeaten 49 steers Bundelkhand Bulls past Gwalior Shernis in MPL T20 Scindia Cup
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bundelkhand Bulls extended their winning streak in the women's draw of the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup 2026 with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Gwalior Shernis at Daly College, Indore on 7 June. Captain Anushka Sharma's unbeaten 49 proved the difference in a chase that required composure under pressure.
Gwalior Shernis Post a Competitive 117
Asked to bat first, Gwalior Shernis were given a solid platform by openers Nuzhat Parween and Aashna Patidar, who put on 37 runs for the first wicket before Aashna fell for 16 off 15 balls. Parween then combined with Soumya Tiwari to build a 41-run second-wicket stand, keeping the innings on course.
The Shernis, however, lost momentum sharply after skipper Parween's dismissal for 38 off 45 deliveries, surrendering wickets at regular intervals to close on 117/6 in their 20 overs.
Bulls' Bowlers Set the Platform
Shuchi Upadhyay was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 3/30 in her four overs. Muskan Biswas was equally influential, claiming 2/17, while Payal Balmik proved economical with 1 wicket at the cost of just 14 runs from her two overs. The disciplined bowling effort restricted the Shernis to a total the Bulls would back themselves to chase.
Anushka Anchors a Nervy Chase
The Bulls' run-chase was anything but straightforward. They slipped to 31/3 in the early overs before Anushka Sharma and Suhani Sharma combined for a critical 49-run fourth-wicket partnership. Suhani contributed a brisk 25 off 19 balls before her dismissal threatened to revive Shernis' hopes.
A pivotal moment arrived in the 17th over when Mahi Thakur appeared to have been dismissed, only for the delivery to be ruled a no-ball. Reprieved, Mahi went on to add a valuable 16 off 18 balls. A subsequent run-out of Payal Balmik added further tension, but Anushka held her nerve throughout, finishing unbeaten on 49 to seal the win.
Orange Cap and Tournament Standing
The victory keeps Bundelkhand Bulls firmly in contention in the women's competition. Anushka Sharma's match-winning knock also earned her the Orange Cap, with the captain now having accumulated 140 runs across three matches in the tournament. This is the Bulls' continued demonstration that a captain-led batting unit can absorb pressure and deliver — a pattern that has defined their campaign so far.