da esport bet： Holders Railways sent last year’s runners-up Air India on a leatherhunt on the opening day of their three day CricInfo Trophy Nationalwomen’s cricket championship final at the Jorhat stadium in Jorhat onSaturday
25-Mar-2000Holders Railways sent last year’s runners-up Air India on a leatherhunt on the opening day of their three day CricInfo Trophy Nationalwomen’s cricket championship final at the Jorhat stadium in Jorhat onSaturday. After winning the toss, Railways rattled up 353 runs off89.5 overs before being all out shortly before close.Air India had the initial comfort of taking three wickets quickly.The batswomen to be dismissed were Balvir Kaur (11), Rajani Venugopal(13) and Reshma Gandhi (2) with only 65 runs scored. But then openerRajini Sharma and Hemlata Kale (32) added 54 runs for the fourthwicket off 14 overs to initiate the recovery process. Hemlata faced 57balls and hit five of them the ropes. Rajini Sharma, who anchored theinnings very well despite the early loss of wickets, finally fell inthe 42nd over. She was fifth out at 146 having scored 75 off 129 ballsinclusive of 12 fours. Deepa Kulkarni and Renu Margaret then gottogether to add 46 runs for the sixth wicket off ten overs. Renudominated the partnership scoring 34 off 38 balls with six hits to thefence. This was followed by a seventh wicket association of 47 runsoff 15 overs between Deepa and Rupanjali Shastri (23). Deepa, who wasgoing well, was now joined by Poornima Choudhury and the two increasedthe score by 54 runs during an eighth wicket partnership that lasted11.3 overs. Deepa, who had come in at 119 for four in the 36th over,was finally out with the total 293 in the 79th over. She scored 69off 127 balls with six fours.The tail now wagged to make Air India’s misery complete. Poornima andSunija Kanojia (24 off 22 balls with three fours) added 36 runs off6.3 overs. And finally Poornima and skipper and veteran Diana Edulji(11) put on 24 runs for the last wicket off five overs. Poornimaremained unbeaten with 48 off 72 balls with three fours.It was a tiring day in the field for the Air India bowlers. UshaBogade sent down 28 overs to pick up three wickets for 113. SmitaHarikrishna, skipper Poornima Rau and Seema Pujare picked up twowickets each for 41, 90 and 58 runs respectively.