With a 36-run win over India Blue, India Green continued their winning streak in the Challenger Trophy 2017-18 in Indore. Powered by Punam Raut’s century, India Green set the opponents an imposing 233-run target in the last match of the league phase. She was involved in a 112-run opening stand with Jemimah Rodrigues (52) to set the tone of the game. Skipper Anuja Patil, who had contributed a vital 44 runs, returned (two wickets) to lead the way, with the ball thus helping to hold India Blue to 196 for seven and claim victory.
The two teams will now fight for the Trophy on Monday, 8th January 2018.
After Smriti Mandhana had opted to field, Raut and Rodrigues continued from where they had left in the previous game against India Red. The pair steadily shaped the innings to set the platform for a respectable total as they stitched yet another century opening partnership. They milked the bowlers as they brought up their individual half-centuries en route the 112-run stand. Rodrigues, who was finding the ropes with ease was the first to depart; run out by Mandhana in the 23rd over.
With the vital breakthrough, India Blue claimed a couple of more wickets to get back into the game. Radha Yadav claimed Devika Vaidya and Monikha Das to plug the flow of runs and leave the side on 119 for three. Raut, who had stood determinedly at the other end then forged another solid partnership with Patil. The pair added 84 runs until the opener was sent back by Radha after completing her century. Trapped lbw for 101, Raut’s departure left India Green on 203 for four. Six runs later Nuzhat Parween was dismissed by Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
The skipper was the next to return to the pavilion for 44 leaving the team on 211 for six. Tanusree Sarkar ran out Preeti Bose with the team on 220 and a bit later accounted for Shikha Pandey who had chipped in with a useful 15 runs leaving the team on 228 for seven with four balls left in the innings. Ekta Bisht and Shannti Kumari then took India Green to 232 for eight in their quota of overs.
Patil then returned to give her side an early breakthrough with the wicket of Vanitha VR leaving India Blue on 14 for one. D Hemalatha who then joined Mandhana in the middle helped add 31 runs to the tally before being sent back by Shannti. 22 runs later, Vaidya claimed Mandhana to leave India Blue on 67 for three.
While Mona Meshram toiled to keep the innings in the fray, India Green continued to claim wickets at regular intervals, not allowing for partnerships to build. Taniya Bhatia was out lbw to Bose for four while Radha was bowled by Adila Khanam a while later leaving India Blue struggling on 105 for five in the 30th over. Sarkar then joined Meshram in the middle and the duo joined hands in an effort to keep the innings in the reckoning. However, with the partnership worth 43 runs, Meshram was dismissed by Patil for 56. Two runs later, Prathyusha was removed by Bisht leaving the team on 150 for seven.
Sarkar toiled to keep the innings afloat and was unbeaten on 43 with Gayakwad on 18 when the match ended.
Scorecard 
