Former Kerala captain Minnu Mani played a crucial role in Railways’ 35-run victory over her home state in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, held in Lucknow on Tuesday. Having recently transitioned from Kerala to the Railways team, Minnu had received a No Objection Certificate from the Kerala Cricket Association to represent her employer in domestic cricket. This match marked her first encounter against her former teammates since the switch.
Minnu, known for her effective off-spin, took a key wicket that contributed to Railways’ strong performance. Railways posted a competitive score of 146/4 in their 20 overs, with notable contributions from Mona, who remained unbeaten on 53, and Simran Dil Bahadur, who added an impressive 36 not out. Nuzhat Parween also contributed with 28 runs. For Kerala, Shani T and Mrudhula VS put up resistance with their bowling, taking 2/24 and 2/3, respectively.
In response, Kerala struggled to chase the target, managing only 111/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite a fighting 40 not out from star all-rounder Sajana S, and a 24-run contribution from Shani T, Kerala fell short of the required total. Minnu Mani’s economical spell, yielding figures of 1/20, along with Railways’ consistent bowling effort, ensured Kerala couldn’t build enough momentum.
With this victory, Railways continue their dominant run in the tournament, having won all four of their matches so far. Kerala, on the other hand, has had a challenging start, winning just one of their three matches. Minnu Mani’s performance against her former team underscored her importance to the Railways, as they maintain their unbeaten streak in the competition.
