The Hindu : Western Railway rises to the occasion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 29, 2002

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Sport - Cricket

Western Railway rises to the occasion

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA APRIL 28. Western Railway rose to the occasion when it mattered most and annexed the fourth all-India L.P. Ganguly memorial limited overs women's cricket tournament title at the Eastern Railway Sports Complex here on Sunday. Western defeated Air India by eight runs in a keenly fought game.

Having lost to Air India in the first meeting on the opening day of the seven-day tournament by just two runs, Western redrew its strategy and came up with a fine display to avenge the loss in an exemplary manner. The battle between two Mumbai sides brought to fore the relative strength of contestants. Lack of depth in batting proved to be Air India's Achilles heel.

Batting first, Western did not exactly have a sound start losing opening batswoman Sunetra Paranjpe cheaply at 11. But a 68-run partnership for the second wicket between Sulakshna Naik (30, 50b, 3x4) and Arundhati Kirkire (73, 89b, 8x4) and a 47-run association for the third wicket between Arundhati and Hemlata Kala (26, 58b) steadied the innings.

Another small but useful partnership for the fifth wicket between Hemlata and skipper Deepa Kulkarni (27 not out, 36b, 2x4) made sure Air India would have to fight hard to win the game.

The National runner-up had a good start with Anju Jain (36, 72b, 3x4) and Rumeli Dhar (19) putting on 47 runs for the first wicket. Rumeli's dismissal brought in Purnima Rau to the middle and the former India captain waged a lone battle without much support forthcoming from the other end. She was involved in two small partnerships: 35 for the second wicket with Anju and 40 for the third wicket with Sunaina Mehan (17).

Then Hemlata, bowling her slow-medium intelligently, grabbed three quick wickets as the Air India middle and lower order collapsed to leave Purnima stranded on an unbeaten 76 (105b, 4x4).

Air India's running between the wickets was far too sloppy, and the run out of Anju at 82 put a complete break on the chase. Despite these, Purnima had the capability to turn the match around with her strokeplay. Having known the lack of proficiency of her team's middle and lower-order batswomen, Purnima should have gone for the strokes immediately after the fall of Sunaina at 122 for three.

Arundhati's stroke-filled 73 earned her the woman of the match award. Mamta Kanojia of Air India was adjudged the best bowler of the meet with a haul of 10-134 from five matches. Mithali Raj of South Central Railway was declared the best batswoman of the meet. She totalled 201 runs at an average of 67. Air India's wicketkeeper Anju Jain was adjudged the best fielder and Purnima Rau the player of the tournament. She accumulated 217 with an average of more than 100.

The scores: Western Railway 186 for five in 45 overs (Sulakshna Naik 30, Arundhati Kirkire 73, Hemlata Kala 26, Deepa Kulkarni 27 not out) beat Air India 178 for eight in 45 overs (Anju Jain 36, Purnima Rau 76 not out, Rumeli Dhar 19, Sunaina Mehan 17; Hemlata three for 41).

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