Railways takes command

By Our Sports Reporter

FARIDABAD, OCT. 22. In a timely and patient innings, Mithali Raj scored an unbeaten 99 and placed Railways in command with an 82- run lead over Air India, on the penultimate day of the three-day final of the National women's cricket championship at the Nahar Singh Stadium here on Monday.

Mithali was unfortunate to miss the century owing to a communication gap as none from the team management conveyed her the individual score, which was not reflected in the scoreboard being maintained at the ground.

With two overs remaining in Railways' first innings, Mithali needed seven runs to become the first player to score a century in this championship. She managed to retain the strike in the last over but was still five runs short of 100. Strike was rotated four times but it fetched her only four runs.

Nevertheless, her effort was enough to ensure the title match stayed in favour of Railways. Replying to Air India's first innings total of 132, Railways survived a middle-order collapse thanks mainly to Mithali holding one end intact. The holder went on to score 214 for seven in its allotted 90 overs.

Aiming for the ninth title, Railways started at eight for one but lost Kavita Roy, who was sent in as a night- watchwoman, in the third over of the day. Kavita was run out without even opening her account. Opener Rajni Venugopal made 25 before she was caught behind by Air India skipper Anju Jain off Anjum Chopra.

From 47 for three, Mithali and Hemlata Kala set the tone for the day. Hemlata in particular was more ruthless as she hit six boundaries in her knock of 34. Mithali also joined in the act, pulling a couple of boundaries to the square leg region. The two added 59 runs for the fourth wicket before Air India's pace bowler Jhulan Goswami (two for 44) trapped Hemlata plumb.

Arundhati Kirkire departed without adding any run to the team's total and Jhulan struck yet another blow, when she won a confident leg-before-wicket appeal against Railways' captain Deepa Kulkarni, out for nought. From 106 for three, Railways was reduced to 108 for six. But, Air India failed to capitalise on such an opening.

Wicket-keeper Sulakshana Naik helped Railways ease the pressure by hitting three boundaries. Sulakshana, who was brilliant behind the wicket on Sunday, promised a big innings. Sulakshana's all the fours came off sweep shots and in an attempt to go for another one she missed the line and was bowled by Usha Bhogade.

Having overtaken Air India's total, Mithali and Rupanjali Shastri (26 not out), played with free hand. Anju would rue the two sitters she missed. She employed eight bowlers to get a breakthrough, but in vain. Key Air India bowler Jhulan twice suffered bruises and was put out of action. Once she slipped on the follow through and later injured her palm attempting to take a return catch.

* The scoreboard:

Air India - 1st innings: 132.

Railways  -  1st  innings: Rajni Venugopal c Anju  Jain  b  Anjum 
Chopra  25,  Vanitha Viola (run out) 0, Kavita Roy (run  out)  0, 
Mithali  Raj (not out) 99, Hemlata Kala lbw b Jhulan Goswami  34, 
Arundhati Kirkire c Purnima Rau b Mamta Kanojia 0, Deepa Kulkarni 
lbw  b  Jhulan 0, Sulakshana Naik b Usha  Bhogade  14,  Rupanjali 
Shastri  (not  out) 26, Extras (b-8, lb-4, nb-1, w-3)  16,  Total 
(for seven wickets in 90 overs) 214.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-18, 3-47, 4-106, 5-107, 6-108, 7-147.

Air  India  bowling:  Jhulan Goswami 20-7-  44-2,  Mamta  Kanojia 
27-12-58-1,  Anjum  Chopra 12-6-31-1, Rumeli Dhar  3-0-5-0,  Usha 
Bhogade 19-8-34-1, Purnima Rau 1-0-2-0, Deepali Patkar  3-0-16-0, 
Mangala Khadekar 5-0-12-0.

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