Railways started their Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy campaign with a commanding 48-run victory over Himachal Pradesh at the 22 Yards Ground in Salt Lake, Kolkata. Nuzhat Parween’s half-century and a dominant display from the Railways’ spinners and fielders stole the spotlight in this emphatic win.
After winning the toss, Railways skipper Sneh Rana chose to bat first. The openers, Nuzhat and Indrani Roy, had a slow start. Indrani was dismissed for just 16 runs off 35 balls. Soon after, batters like Pratika Rawal and Mona Meshram also fell cheaply. At No. 5, Dayalan Hemalatha walked in, carrying the responsibility for a big score given her skills and international experience.
However, Sushmita Kumari produced a brilliant delivery to dismiss her for just 10. The ball turned slightly, and Hemalatha edged it to Vasuvi Fishta, who took a sharp catch. Following her, Rana departed for a two-ball duck, leaving Railways in deep trouble. Tanuja Kanwer showed resilience with a spirited knock of 31 off 55 balls, and she built a crucial 64-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Nuzhat.
Nuzhat carried her bat and finished unbeaten on 78 off 143 balls, hitting seven fours. While questions may arise about her strike rate, she had little support from the other end, forcing her to adopt a cautious approach. Railways ended their innings at 166/8 in 50 overs. For Himachal, Yamuna V Rana was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for 25 runs in her 10 overs. Neena Choudhary claimed two wickets, while Sushmita and Sonal Thakur picked up one each.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
The pitch appeared slow, with some deliveries staying low, making batting challenging. However, the Railways’ batting lacked intent, a positive approach, and urgency in running between the wickets.
But their spinners proved their worth in the second innings. Tanuja Kanwar, Hemalatha, Rana, and Preeti Bose bowled consistent lines and lengths, troubling the batters throughout. By the 29th over, Himachal was reeling at 79/7. Apart from Rana, each spinner had picked up a wicket by then.
There was a brief injury scare for Rana during a fielding effort. After receiving medical treatment and a 10-minute break, she returned to bowl and delivered decently.
Himachal skipper Sushma Verma faced 42 balls but managed only 19, a knock that highlighted a clear lack of intent. However, for the eighth wicket, Thakur and Fishta put together a 42-run partnership in just 43 balls. Unlike the earlier batters, they showed intensity, used the crease well, and attacked the spinners by stepping out confidently.
Kanwar then produced a brilliant moment in the field, running out Thakur with a direct hit from the point region. Himachal’s innings eventually ended at 118 in 40 overs. Poonam Yadav and Hemalatha picked up two wickets each.
The biggest difference between the two teams was the fielding quality. Railways showcased their class with four run-outs and several excellent saves, setting the tone for their dominant performance. Nuzhat was the Player of the Match for her gritty half-century.