* Western Railway retain title

Western retained the trophy in the 15th Inter-Railway women's cricket tournament in Kolkata on Friday. In the decisive final league match, Western defeated Eastern by 45 runs to win the title. Eastern, the hosts finished second, Northern third and South Central last in the four team round robin tournament.

Batting first, Western scored 203 for six in 50 overs. The experienced Hamlata Kala top scored with 68 while Arundhati Kirkire (46) and Vishali Langde (29) came up with valuable contributions. Purnima Chowdhury was the most successful bowler with three for 33.

Eastern in reply were all out for 158 in 47.3 overs. Monica Sumra put up a show of defiance in scoring 47. Purnima Chowdhury chipped in with 22. Reema Malhotra was the leading bowler with three for 33.

* Globe Trotters post imposing total

With most of their main batsmen clicking, Globe Trotters were able to post an imposing total of 366 for nine in the allotted 90 overs on the opening day of their two MAC-TNCA first division championship semifinal at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on Friday.

Former Indian player Aashish Kapoor, who opened the innings, top scored with a stroke filled 84. He faced 103 balls and hit ten fours and two sixes. He and Sridharan Sriram added 115 runs for the second wicket off just 19 overs. Sriram's 74 was compiled off 102 balls and inclusive of eight fours.

The middle order too did their bit in bolstering Globe Trotters. Rajat Bhatia slammed 58 off 124 balls with four hits past the ropes. Tanveer Jabbar scored a bright 54 off 97 balls with five fours and a six. Bhatia and Jabbar added 85 runs in 25.4 overs for the fifth wicket. In the end overs, Thiru Kumaran came up with a breezy 39 not out off 34 balls with two fours and a six. He and last man S Vasudevan (2) added 36 runs for the unbroken tenth wicket. Off Spinner P Subbiah was the most successful bowler with four for 78 and he was well supported by PV Rajesh (3 for 80). Subbiah's four wickets were taken in a spell of 18 deliveries.

© CricInfo