Senior Women's One Day League: Top 5 teams from Elite Group A & B 

The senior women's one-day league is entering into the next phase. The group stage is over, and now, the qualified teams are gearing up for the next round. But the group stage can't be disregarded for its contribution as it was the real crux of this tournament. It was a perfect mixture of some dramatic, conspicuous, breathtaking and formidable performances.

Some teams were so dominating throughout that they didn't even lose a single game, whereas some, despite their best efforts, couldn't even take a single victory home. In other words, enthralling for the champions, but teasing for the non-achievers.

Top five teams from Elite Group A & B, top two from the Elite Group C and one from the Plate Group will play against each other in quarterfinals in Bengaluru. On the other side, according to the relegation and promotion policy, the bottom two teams from the elite group A & B will replace top two teams in elite group C, whereas the lowest ranked team in group C will replace the top team of the plate group.

While the qualified teams are preparing for the next battle, let's take a look at their performances in the group stages and journey to the knockouts.

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#1 Railways Women's Cricket Team (8 Matches, 7 Won, 1 N/R)

Undefeated, unstoppable or indomitable, all sorts of adjectives fall short to the consistency of Railways. Unbeaten run in the group stage is the proof of their on ground performance. Batting, bowling or fielding, they are just super in all the departments of the game.

With 7 wins in 8 games, where 1 match washed out due to rain against Saurashtra, Railways is sitting at the top of the table. Perhaps, Mithali Raj led Railways is the most powerful of the lot.

They have shown the character of a champion in the first half of the championship. The way Railways have carried themselves on the field is inspirational for other teams.

They are the only team in the competition which has experimented their bench strength throughout. Seniors were rested periodically, whereas youngsters were trusted in their roles and abilities to lead the team to victory.

The calculative experiment turned out as a success for the team and the coaching staff. In brief, youngsters got enough time in the middle, and senior players got the desired rest and enough practice sessions.

With Mithali Raj & Co. breathing fire this tournament, it won't be easy for other teams to breach their citadel. They rule this championship and they are here to prove a point.

#2 Andhra Women's Cricket Team (8 Matches, 7 Won, 1 Lost)

Lost their captain because of injury at the halfway stage of the tournament, Andhra Women have very smartly dealt with the blow. Stand-in captain, Ellutla Padmaja didn't let the momentum break away rather, hold the team together in the absence of regular skipper and finished at no. 2 in the points table at the end of the group stage.

Andhra Women is among the most consistent performers of the tournament. Their only loss at the group stage came against the most dominating team of the format, i.e. Railways. However, Andhra Women are qualified for the quarters, and there is no chance they would be battling against Railways before semis. But they would love to brush off negative vibes as they enter into the next round.

Andhra women will kick off their quarterfinal campaign against the Odisha Women, who had a mixed kind of tournament. But it would be big a blunder if Padmaja & Co. underestimates them.

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#3 Mumbai Women's Cricket Team (8 Matches, 6 Won, 2 Lost)

Despite the loss in the first round, Mumbai emerged out as the group topper

Shweta Haranhalli led Mumbai Women's cricket team, had some hiccups at the beginning of the tournament but later, it was just flawless. Jemimah Rodrigues yet again turned out to be the most organised player for Mumbai. She is already among the highest run-getters as well as wicket-takers of the championship.

Despite Jemimah's heroics, Mumbai is not a one-woman army. They have got consistent performers in Haranhalli, Vrushali and Mugdha in the batting department, whereas Naik, Kazi and Thakor in the bowling.

Now, when the knockout is on the cards, Mumbai can't afford to make any mistake against the Elite group C table topper, i.e. Himachal Pradesh. HP have won all their group stage games, thus they would definitely be high on the confidence.

#4 Bengal Women's Cricket Team (8 Matches, 6 Won, 2 Lost)

Jhulan Goswami with her Bengal teammates after a win

Jhulan Goswami led Bengal women's team, had not exactly a perfect, but a very well balanced outing this tournament. Moreover, defeating two strong teams like Delhi and Baroda in the group stage would be the highlights of their campaign as of now.

Especially, the Indian all-rounder, Deepti Sharma has done a very good job for her captain this season. From carrying her international experience into the domestic circuit and unleashing some magnificent performances, she has been outstanding.

There were a couple of delightful performances from other teammates as well, but Jhulan would love to see them all together against the Baroda in the quarterfinal clash.

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#5 Baroda Women's Cricket Team (8 Matches, 6 Won, 2 Lost)

Mumbai, Baroda, Bengal, Punjab and Delhi were in a close fight to make it to the quarters. Out of the five teams, only three could make it to the final five. Mumbai had a positive run rate and an extra win in hand, whereas remaining teams had to either win with a great margin or just a win to qualify.

Punjab lost the final game, so they were clear cut out of the race. Bengal, Baroda won and made a cut to the final list, whereas Delhi remained a win shy from the qualifying mark, thus failed to qualify.

Baroda women's cricket team owes its major share of success to the deadly duo of Tarannum Pathan and Radha Yadav. They both share as much as 40 wickets and 343 runs among them. But their combined performance in the final game of the group stage would definitely be going to stay with them for a while.

In a small total of 136 runs, they added valuable 72 runs, and during fielding, they spun the web around the opposition and made them surrender 7 runs shy of the target. Both of them walked away with 7-wickets among them. Indeed a clinical performance at the crucial juncture of the tournament.

Baroda girls will definitely look to rub off the past against the Bengal and start afresh after a decent break with a more positive mindset.

Elite Group A & B Points Table (Only top five will qualify for the quarters)

Top five teams will qualify for the quarters, whereas bottom two will relegate to Group C

Elite Group C Points Table (Only top two will qualify for quarters)

Top two teams will be promoted to group A and one team from the bottom will relegate to plate

Plate Group Points Table

The only top team will qualify for the quarter-finals

An exciting phase of the tournament is over and now, the knockout round of the tournament will start from 26th of December. Initially, it was scheduled for December 24-29, but due to the scheduling conflict with Ranji Trophy led to the shortage of umpire and match officials.

Group stage had witnessed some spectacular performances in the last 20 days. Hope the knockout will surprise us with more. All the eams have a tough road ahead.