da fezbet： Veteran left arm spinner and skipper Diana Edulji and opening bowlerSunita Kanojia put Railways on course to retaining the Nationalwomen’s cricket championship for the CricInfo Trophy at the Jorhatstadium in Jorhat on Sunday
26-Mar-2000Veteran left arm spinner and skipper Diana Edulji and opening bowlerSunita Kanojia put Railways on course to retaining the Nationalwomen’s cricket championship for the CricInfo Trophy at the Jorhatstadium in Jorhat on Sunday. Replying to Railways’ first innings totalof 353, Air India, last year’s runners-up, were all out for208. Railways then extended their 145-run first innings lead to 158 byscoring 13 for two in their second innings by close.In the face of an imposing total, a good start was imperative but AirIndia did not get it. They lost openers Anju Jain (9) and Anjum Chopra(0) with only ten runs on the board. Mithali Raj (30 off 84 balls withfour boundaries) and skipper Poornima Rau (65) then initiated arecovery process by adding 57 runs off 22.3 overs. Mamatha Maben (4)did not last long but Poornima and Smitha Harikrishna (31 off 68 ballswith three fours) kept Air India’s hopes alive with a fifth wicketpartnership of 56 runs off 20 overs.At 138 for four, Air India were still in the game. But then Diana whohas been in women’s cricket for nearly quarter of a century showedthat she still retained much of her skill. She broke the stand byhaving Smitha caught behind by the wicketkeeper. And a little later,in three successive overs, she broke the back of the innings by takingthe wickets of Poornima (65), Manju Nadgoda (4) and V Kusumlatha(2). The experienced Poornima batted 193 minutes, faced 154 balls andhit ten of them to the ropes. But suddenly Air India were now 153 foreight and facing a follow on.Sunaina Mehan (33 off 86 balls with four boundaries) and Seema Pujare(11) however added 40 runs for the ninth wicket off 17.2 overs. ThenSunaina and Usha Bogade (8 not out) averted the follow on by adding 15runs for the last wicket. Diana finished with four for 45 off 22 overswhile Sunita had three for 46.Railways lost two quick wickets late in the day. Reshma Gandhi (1) wascaught behind off Smitha Harikrishna and Poornima Choudhury (6) wasrun out. Opener Rajani Sharma (6) and Rajani Venugopal (0) were at thecrease at stumps.