Railways rolls into final

By S. Sabanayakan

JORHAT, MARCH 22. There was no stopping Indian Railways as it moved into yet another final of the senior National Women's cricket tournament, with an emphatic display, at the Gymkhana ground here on Wednesday.

The defending champion, excelling in all departments of the game, crushed Punjab by nine wickets on the opening day itself of the two-day semifinal of the 24th edition.

In contrast, Railway's arch rival Air India huffed and puffed to dismiss Bihar for 246 in 88 overs after a whole day's play. Air India needs 247 to win in 90 overs on the second day.

Railways' display was a thoroughly professional one. Champion for 14 times since 1986, the year it was allowed to participate in the Nationals, Railways is yet to be denied a place in the title round since then. And Punjab, an impressive winner in the quarterfinals, found to its mortification the power of Railways when it opted to bat.

Only Gulshan and No. 6 Anjali Sharma with 25 runs each and Rajani Bhalla with 10 reached double figures for Punjab. There were three ducks in the scorecard. Railways took the field with two pacers and four spinners. India star Renu Margaret gave the first breakthrough in the 12th over and another India player and left- arm spinner Deepa Kulkarni polished off the last five batswomen for three runs in 8.5 overs.

Veteran Diana Edulji, who should not be playing at 44, was at hand on the field to inspire the Railway players as Punjab was skittled out for 84 in 57.5 overs.

Though Railways lost opener Hemalata Kala for eight, No. 2 Rajini Sharma and No.3 Rajani Venugopal put on 67 for the second wicket in 25 overs to reach the target of 85 in 29.2 overs. Rajini remained unbeaten on 33 (44b, 3 x 4) and Rajani was not out on 39 (56b, 5 x 4).

When Delhi hit up 179 for eight in 40 overs against Air India in the quarterfinals, it surprised many. And today Bihar exposed Air India's bowling by scoring 246 in 88 overs.

By being Lackadaisical on the field, spilling catches in plenty, and bowling with no plan or purpose, Air India allowed Bihar to put up an imposing target. Though the batting talent in Air India should be able to overcome the stiff total, an early top order collapse might find Air India in trouble.

Bihar opted to bat and openers Neetu Singh and Kamini Kumari put on 30 runs in 13.1 overs to give a good start. After the two pacers Smitha Harikrishna and Sunaina Mehan failed to break the pair, Shilpa Gundecha had Kamini taken at point by Seema Pujari for 10.

In walked Geeta Samantaray, the 22-year-old Cuttack- born Eastern Railway employee, and straightaway showed her penchant for smashing anything loose. And she got them in plenty as the Air India pacers and spinners wavered in line and length.

Playing her first Nationals, Geeta added 59 runs for the second wicket in 13.4 overs with Neetu (37) and put on 48 runs for the fourth wicket with Seema Desai (49, 91b, 5 x 4) before she was caught and bowled by Seema Pujari for a well made 88 (110m, 95b, 17 x 4, 1 x 6).

The fifth wicket produced another 33 runs in 12.1 overs and surprisingly the eighth wicket too got 36 runs in 20 overs. It was a very disappointing day indeed for Air India. Left arm spinner Usha Bogade and captain Purnima Rau toiled to pick up three for 60 and three for 64 respectively. Seema Pujari took two for 41.

The scores:

Punjab 84 in 57.5 overs (Gulshan 25, Anjali Sharma 25, Deepa Kulkarni five for three) lost to Railways 85 for one in 29.2 overs (Rajini Sharma 33 not out, Rajani Venugopal 39 not out). Railways won by nine wickets.

Bihar 246 in 88 overs (Neetu Singh 37, Geeta Samantaray 88, Seema Desai 49, Babusa Singh 31, Usha Bogade three for 60, Purnima Rau three for 64) vs Air India.

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