Day 2 of the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series in Bulgaria delivered a thrilling showcase of competitive cricket, as teams battled it out for spots in the final.
Greece Women continued their impressive run, notching back-to-back wins. In their first match of the day, they defeated hosts Bulgaria by 44 runs with a dominant all-round display. Riding high on momentum, Greece then edged past Serbia Women in a nail-biting finish, clinching victory by just 1 wicket, showcasing grit and composure under pressure.
Meanwhile, Turkey Women stamped their authority with a commanding 166-run win over hosts Bulgaria. Their dominant performance with both bat and ball not only crushed the hosts but also confirmed their place in the tournament final.
As the group stage concluded, Greece and Turkey faced off in the grand finale, a clash of two dominant sides. Bulgaria and Serbia, meanwhile, battled it out in the third-place playoff as both teams look to finish the tournament on a high.
Match 4: Greece Women vs Bulgaria Women
Greece Women continued their winning streak in the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series in Bulgaria with a dominant 44-run win over the hosts, powered by a strong batting foundation and a clinical bowling effort.
Batting first, Greece put up a commanding total of 176/2 in their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a superb 130-run opening partnership between Aggeliki-Ioanna Argyropoulou and Adamantia Makri. Argyropoulou played a steady knock of 51 off 48 balls, while Makri was the aggressor, scoring a fluent 59 off 49 deliveries.
Skipper Maria Syrioti added late fireworks, finishing unbeaten on 24* off just 18 balls to push Greece to a strong finish. For Bulgaria, Detelina Ruynekova was the lone wicket-taker, returning figures of 1/16 from her 2 overs, as the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain the flow of runs.
Chasing 177, Bulgaria made a promising start, thanks to a solid 116-run opening stand between Tanaya Dissanayake and Stanislava Sarandeva. Dissanayake remained unbeaten with a well-compiled 61* off 43 balls at a striking rate of 141, while Sarandeva provided support with a patient 50 off 65 balls. However, once the partnership was broken, the rest of the Bulgarian batting lineup faltered.
The middle and lower order crumbled under pressure, with Vili Nikolova (3), captain Ruynekova (3), Slaveya Galabova (1), and Bilyana Shotorova (1*) all failing to make significant contributions. The innings eventually closed at 132/4, falling short by 44 runs. Adamantia Makri shone once again this time with the ball finishing with exceptional figures of 3/20 in her 4-over spell, ensuring Greece maintained control through the latter half of the chase.
Match 5: Serbia Women vs Greece Women
In a nail-biting contest at the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series in Bulgaria, Greece Women scraped through with a narrow 1-wicket victory over Serbia Women, chasing down 123 in the penultimate over after a tense middle-order collapse.
Batting first, Serbia posted a modest total of 122 before being bowled out in 18.3 overs. The innings was anchored by Ana Mesarovic, who played a lone hand with a gritty unbeaten 52 off 43 balls, holding one end together while wickets tumbled around her. Tamara Trajkovic contributed 14 off 16, but the middle order failed to capitalize on the start.
Magdalena Nikolic (1), captain Sladjana Matijevic (0), and Dunja Demic (8) were dismissed cheaply, and despite a late effort by Maja Jevdjenovic, who added 10 runs, Serbia couldn’t build momentum. Greece’s bowling attack was led by captain Maria Syrioti, who produced a sensational spell, claiming 5/20 in 4 overs. She was ably supported by Maria-Afroditi Vervitsioti, who cleaned up the tail with 3/24 in just 2.3 overs, wrapping up the Serbian innings for 122.
In response, Greece started steadily, with openers Aggeliki-Ioanna Argyropoulou and Adamantia Makri putting together a 48-run partnership to give their side a strong foundation. Argyropoulou scored 14 off 20, while Makri chipped in with a well-paced 24 off 30 deliveries. However, the game took a dramatic turn as Greece’s middle order collapsed under pressure. Aggeliki Savvani (6), captain Syrioti (9), Maria Polimeri (8), and Sofia-Nefeli Georgota (1) all fell in quick succession, putting Greece in a precarious position.
With nerves rising, the lower order held their composure. Kapsokavadi Tereza added a crucial 10 runs, and Elpida Kallous contributed a calm 12 to inch Greece closer to the target. The team eventually crossed the line in 19.3 overs, with just one wicket to spare. Tamara Trajkovic bowled a fiery spell for Serbia, taking 3/31 in 4 overs, while Nadja Nojic picked up 2/27, making it a tense finish. However, Greece’s early momentum and calm finish under pressure were enough to seal their second win of the day and a place in the final.
Match 6: Turkey Women vs Bulgaria Women
Turkey Women produced a commanding all-round performance to register a thumping 166-run win over hosts Bulgaria in the Women’s T20 Quadrangular Series. Their dominant display with both bat and ball ensured they topped the group stage undefeated and marched confidently into the final.
Batting first, Turkey piled on a mammoth total of 221/4 in their 20 overs. The openers set the tone early, with Melike Bayram blasting a quickfire 39 off just 18 balls at a staggering strike rate of 216.67. She and Sila Yildirim put on a 46-run stand for the opening wicket, giving Turkey the ideal start. Yildirim went on to anchor the innings superbly, scoring a fluent 59 off 47 deliveries. Her partnership with Gulce Cengiz proved to be the match-defining one, the pair stitched together a massive 134-run stand for the second wicket.
Cengiz contributed a classy 54 off 44 balls and Suzan Turan added the finishing touches with a steady unbeaten 26, guiding Turkey past the 220-mark. For Bulgaria, it was a tough day with the ball, with only Katrin Sarandeva managing to break through the Turkish batting lineup, finishing with figures of 1/25 in 3 overs.
In response, Bulgaria’s chase never gained momentum. Their innings was rocked early when opener Slaveya Galabova was dismissed for a duck, and wickets continued to tumble rapidly. Vili Nikolova offered some brief resistance with 15 runs, and skipper Detelina Ruynekova added 14, but the rest of the lineup crumbled under pressure. The middle and lower order collapsed, with Katrin Sarandeva, Aleksa Stoilova, and several others dismissed for ducks. Gabriela Ilarionova could manage only 4 as Bulgaria were bundled out for just 55 in 10 overs.
Turkey’s bowlers were ruthless. Ezgi Nur Kilic ripped through the batting with an outstanding spell of 3/9 in 2 overs, while Duygu Tekyildirim was equally lethal, picking up 2/3 in just one over. This massive 166-run victory not only highlighted Turkey’s batting depth and bowling sharpness but also solidified their status as tournament favorites heading into the final against Greece.
