Geeta hits 88 for Bihar

Geeta Samantharay scored a fine 88 to help Bihar score 246 against last year's runners-up Air India at the end of the first day in the semifinal of the CricInfo Trophy Senior Women's National Cricket Championship at the Jorhat Stadium in Jorhat on Wednesday.

Electing to bat, Bihar got off to a sedate start with openers Neetu Singh (37 runs of 70 balls) and Kamini Kumari (10) putting on 30 runs off 13.1 overs. Then Geeta, who got her runs off 99 balls with 17 fours and one six and Neetu Singh increased the score by 59 runs during a second wicket association that lasted 13.4 overs. This was followed by a fourth wicket stand of 48 runs off 12.1 overs between Geeta and Seema Desai (49 runs off 91 balls with five fours).

Even after Geeta's dismissal, the innings was kept going by a fifth wicket partnership of 33 runs in 12.1 overs between Piyali Moitra (6) and Seema Desai and an eighth wicket stand of 36 runs off 20 overs between Gargi De (3 runs off 87 balls) and Babusha (31 runs off 75 balls). Usha Bogada (3 for 60) and Poornima Rau (3 for 64) were the pick of the Air India bowlers.