The match between Patna and Motihari at the inter-district women’s cricket tournament on the Notre Dame Academy campus in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, May 5: Eight teams, four days and one goal: to win the tournament, a first of its kind for women in Bihar.

As one team after another arrived at Notre Dame Academy to take part in the Sister Jayshree Memorial Inter-District Women’s Cricket Tournament, the zeal to win was out in the open.

Motihari drew first blood: beating Patna by 52 runs. The team from the state capital was bowled out for a meagre 109 in response to Motihari’s 161/5 in the first T20 match.

The Patna team admitted that their wayward bowling cost them the match. The player of the match, however, was from the losing side. Shilpi Sen scored 61, only to see the rest of the team contribute only 48 runs. Former governor of the state Buta Singh gave away the Woman of the Match award to her.

Anushika Goswami from Patna, who took two wickets, said: “The team needs to practise more. Luck did not favour the senior players, even though they played well. There were too many wides. Around 50 per cent of the runs Motihari scored were from wides.”

The captain of the Motihari team, Seema Kumari, said: “Proper co-ordination is needed to perform well. We won because we practised a lot and also had proper co-ordination.”

The second match was played between Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur. Muzaffarpur barely dropped a sweat to get past Darbhanga’s paltry 98/3, as they scored 99/0. Ritika was the Player of the Match for her performance.

Art, culture and youth affairs minister Sukhda Pandey inaugurates the tournament in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

State art, culture and youth affairs minister Sukhda Pandey was the chief guest at the inauguration of the event. She said: “The condition of cricket in the state is improving a lot and we are seeing to it that the future is enhanced. Youngsters should get the maximum number of opportunities to groom and prove themselves.”

Pandey said: “This is the first event of its kind in Bihar. Others should take inspiration and organise similar events so that budding talents can find place for themselves. The state government will promote the good players.”

Patna district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Singh was the guest of honour. He said: “Notre Dame Academy has taken special efforts to organise such a great event. These four days will witness many budding talents.”

Appreciating the facilities in the school, the DM said: “All of you will feel safe and secure in the school. You are in one of the best schools in the state capital.”

Sister Ranitta, the secretary of the school, said: “This is the first such tournament and I’m sure we will see great talents in the future.”

Head girl Twisha Shrivastava led the commentary team, while Mariyam Neaz prepared the logo for the tournament.