Hemalata steadies Railways

This led to forcing the officials of the tournament to reduce the tie by three overs (87 overs). Air India skipper, Poornima Rao, was once again lucky calling the toss right.

She consequently put Indian Railways into bat.

Air India failed to capitalise on the early conditions of the pitch as the opening pair of Chandrakanta Ahir and Reshma Gandhi made a steady start for rival team Indian Railways putting on 76 runs for the first wicket. Chandrakanta, who was not really tested by the rivals bowlers misread the off-spinner Poornima to have her wicket disturbed.

In the process she missed her well deserving half century by three runs. Her total of 47 in her innings today included four hits to the ropes. Reshma Gandhi who was rather sedate soon fell after thatbut not before making a useful 33 which came off 85 balls and was studded with three hits to the ropes. Four wickets fell later with the score reading 141 for 6, which changed the tempo of the Railway’s march towards a big margin. Barring Rajni Venugopal (21) the other three, Madhvi Brid (0), Roopanjali Shastri (1) and Poornima Chaudhary fell cheaply, while Hemlata Kala stood strong at one end.

Then a fine partnership of 104 runs for the seventh wicket between Hemlata Kala and Renu Margaret steadied the innings.

This enabled them to breathe easily, with the score at 245 at the end of 83 overs. Hemlata Kala was unlucky to get out on 94, trapped leg before by off spinner Pramila Bhatt. She stayed at the wicket for 180 minutes, and faced 193 deliveries.

Renu Margaret (37) added a few more runs aided by the tail enders before she was run out attempting a second run.

For Air India, Poornima Rao bagged three wickets doing the early damage to the Railway inning. Pace bowler Smita Harikishan and left-arm spinner Deepa Kulkarni took two wickets apiece.

Scoreboard
Indian Railways: Chandrakanta Ahir b Poornima Rao 47, Reshma Gandhi lbw Deepa Kulkarni 33, Rajni Venugopal c Anju Jain b Poornima Rao 21, Madhavi Brid lbw Poornima Rao 0, Hemlata Kala lbw Pramila Bhatt 94, Roopanjali Shastri r.o. Pramila Bhatt 8, Poornima Chaudhary lbw Deepa Kulkarni 1, Renu Margaret r.o, Kusum Lata 37, Diana Eduljee 6 n.o, Sunita Kanojia lbw Smita Harikishan 2, Neetu David b Smita H 0.
Extras: 11.
Total: 260 in 86.5 overs.
Fall of wickets: 1/76, 2/86, 3/87, 4/126, 5/136, 6/141, 7/245, 8/257, 9/260.
Bowling: Smita H 4.5/1/15/2, Kusumlata Agarwal 6/1/26/0, Deepa K 32/7/68/2, Pramila Bhatt 24/0/78/1, Poornima Rao 18/2/51/3, Anjum Chopra 1/0/7/0, Sangeeta Kamat 1/0/4/0.