Date:18/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/18/stories/2008121854941800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Railways keeps crown

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K. RAMESH BABU

WINNERS AGAIN: The Railways team, which retained the title in the All India senior inter-state women’s one-day tournament, in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Railways retained the title in the All-India inter-state senior women’s cricket championship with an emphatic 10-wicket win over Maharashtra in the final at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Wednesday.

Maharashtra elected to bat on a perfect batting strip but failed to make use of the opportunity and finished with a modest score of 153 for nine in 50 overs.

Rescue act

At 37 for two in 20 overs, Maharashtra clearly looked in trouble. But, Anagha Deshpande (40, 120b, 5x4) and Devika Palshika (50, 61b, 3x4) added 53 runs for the third wicket before Anagha was stumped off left-arm spinner Priyanka Roy. This triggered a collapse as Maharashtra was restricted to 153.

In reply, Railways was never in trouble with openers Sulakshana Naik (85 not out, 89b, 13 x 4) and southpaw Jaya Sharma (67 not out, 95b, 10x4) treating the bowling with contempt.

Sulakshana was particularly impressive with some pleasing strokes square on either side of the wicket.

She did not hesitate to come down the track to play the lofted shots with authority.

Railways skipper Mithali Raj was pleased that the team won without losing any wicket. “We always knew that we were in the game and it was only a question of completing the formality,” Mithali said.

Former India cricketer and national selector S.L. Venkatapathi Raju gave away the prizes.

The scores:

Maharashtra 153 for nine in 50 overs (Anagha Deshpande 40, Devika Palshika 50, Priti Dimri three for 29) lost to Railways 154 for no loss in 30.4 overs (Sulakshana Naik 85 not out, Jaya Sharma 67 not out).