The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : No derailing the Railways

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 18, 2005

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No derailing the Railways

By Our Principal Correspondent

Indian Railways, winner of the senior National women's championship in Chennai.

CHENNAI, FEB. 17. Soon after medium-pacer Rumeli Dhar knocked back Neelam Patil's off-stump to herald Indian Railways' 137-run victory over Air-India, Mithali Raj, her right knee strapped, shuffled to the boundary line to applaud her girls' professional display.

Mithali, the country's premier batswoman, was the original captain but had to skip the title-clash due to a ligament tear. However, her absence did not stop Railways from retaining the crown on the concluding day of the three-day final in the MNMJEC-sponsored senior National women's cricket championship at the SRMC ground on Thursday.

"The doctor advised me not to strain the tear further. I might have played the final had it been a one-day contest but pushing it for three days was a risk, especially with the World Cup round the corner," said Mithali, who joined the Railways in 2001.

"This is my first season as captain and I was a touch disappointed at missing the victorious home stretch," said the Arjuna Award winner.

There was never any doubt as to who would win, considering that Air-India's target of 212 from 45 overs was a difficult one.

Bad start, worse ending

Air-India got off to a terrible start, and was down 32 for five in quick time. After lunch, Rumeli claimed four for 11 in her second spell of 5.4 overs to send the opposition packing.

"The first innings lead of 49 provided us the cushion. Our bowlers did a splendid job in the first essay to make up for our first innings collapse. The dismissals of their top batswomen — Anju Jain and Anjum Chopra — in the dying moments of the first day opened up the gates for us," said Mithali.

Air-India's Karuna Jain was adjudged `best batswoman of the series,' Neetu David of Railways the `best bowler' and Delhi's Reema Malhotra the `best all-rounder.'

M. B. N. Rao, Chairman & Managing Director, Indian Bank, gave away the prizes.

The scores: Indian Railways 148 and 162 for six beat Air-India 99 and 74 in 37.4 overs (Rumeli Dhar four for 19).

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