Railways women send Air India on leather hunt

Holders Railways sent last year's runners-up Air India on a leather hunt on the opening day of their three day CricInfo Trophy National women's cricket championship final at the Jorhat stadium in Jorhat on Saturday. After winning the toss, Railways rattled up 353 runs off 89.5 overs before being all out shortly before close.

Air India had the initial comfort of taking three wickets quickly. The batswomen to be dismissed were Balvir Kaur (11), Rajani Venugopal (13) and Reshma Gandhi (2) with only 65 runs scored. But then opener Rajini Sharma and Hemlata Kale (32) added 54 runs for the fourth wicket off 14 overs to initiate the recovery process. Hemlata faced 57 balls and hit five of them the ropes. Rajini Sharma, who anchored the innings very well despite the early loss of wickets, finally fell in the 42nd over. She was fifth out at 146 having scored 75 off 129 balls inclusive of 12 fours. Deepa Kulkarni and Renu Margaret then got together to add 46 runs for the sixth wicket off ten overs. Renu dominated the partnership scoring 34 off 38 balls with six hits to the fence. This was followed by a seventh wicket association of 47 runs off 15 overs between Deepa and Rupanjali Shastri (23). Deepa, who was going well, was now joined by Poornima Choudhury and the two increased the score by 54 runs during an eighth wicket partnership that lasted 11.3 overs. Deepa, who had come in at 119 for four in the 36th over, was finally out with the total 293 in the 79th over. She scored 69 off 127 balls with six fours.

The tail now wagged to make Air India's misery complete. Poornima and Sunija Kanojia (24 off 22 balls with three fours) added 36 runs off 6.3 overs. And finally Poornima and skipper and veteran Diana Edulji (11) put on 24 runs for the last wicket off five overs. Poornima remained unbeaten with 48 off 72 balls with three fours.

It was a tiring day in the field for the Air India bowlers. Usha Bogade sent down 28 overs to pick up three wickets for 113. Smita Harikrishna, skipper Poornima Rau and Seema Pujare picked up two wickets each for 41, 90 and 58 runs respectively.