Comfortable wins for Air India and Andhra

Fine bowling by Saridha Kumari (4 for 22) helped holders Andhra Pradesh to bowl out Karnataka to 57 and complete a five wicket victory in the Senior inter-state South Zone women's cricket championship at the Sri Ramachandra Medical College Grounds in Chennai on Thursday. Andhra so far have won all their three matches.

Opting to bat, Karnataka were never really in the match as Suvarnalaxmi (2 for 16) and Kusumlatha (2 for 15) ran through the top order. Then Saridha took over to bundle out Karnataka in 31.1 overs. S Mala (16) was the top scorer but none of her teammates reach double figures.

In reply, Andhra Pradesh lost both openers Priyadarshini (2) and Sangeeta (1) cheaply. But a third wicket stand of 39 runs between Savita Nirala (13) and Monika (23) put them on the right course. When less than ten runs were required, both Savita and Monika departed but by that time the match was virtually over. With this, Karnataka completed their engagements with two points from four games.

In the other match, Air India scored a thumping eight wicket win over hosts Tamil Nadu. After their loss to Andhra Pradesh in their previous match, Air India made amends to get back into the reckoning. Electing to bat, Tamil Nadu lost opener Tejashree (4) with the score at 10. Then Manjula (14) and Sejal Salva (29) took the score to 42. But Manjula and Shuba (4) fell in quick succession. Thereafter none of the other batswomen built upon their innings and Tamil Nadu could muster only 118 in the 50th over.

In reply, Air India lost opener Mamta Kishen (1) with only one on the board. But India opener Anjum Chopra (60 not out) joined Mangala (39) to forge a 96-run second wicket stand that took the match away from Tamil Nadu. Then Devika helped the southpaw to help Air India seal a convincing win in 28 overs. Anjum Chopra faced 73 balls and hit ten boundaries. Tamil Nadu have two points from three matches while Air India have four points from three games. On the final day tomorrow, Tamil Nadu take on Andhra while Air India play Kerala.