India Blue gives India Green the Monday blues; lift Challenger Trophy

 

Electing to bat first, Smriti Mandhana’s India Blue team started in a positive vein. Vanitha VR opened her account with back-to-back boundaries as her partner; Mandhana looked to continue her fine fettle.

 

But as is her won't, Vanitha let go of another promising start when on 19, she tried to chip over the inner circle to present a dolly to Jemimah Rodrigues off the bowling of pacer, Shikha Pandey. India Green could have easily got another wicket shortly after but D Hemalatha on 1, survived a confident leg before appeal against wily slow-left arm spinner Ekta Bisht.

 

Barring this initial hiccup, the team was one-down bat slowly but surely began to grow in confidence in the company of the in-form captain, Mandhana. Bisht eventually had the blossoming second-wicket stand end when she had Hemalatha trapped plumb in front on 24, and the team scores 81/2. Mona Meshram joined her captain in the middle and kept the scoreboard ticking at four runs to the over.

 

Interestingly by the 23rd over, with the introduction of Jemimah Rodrigues into the attack with her off-breaks, the enterprising India Green captain, Anuja Patil had already employed nine bowlers in the attack. As the pair, looked to set a formidable target in excess of 250 disasters struck. Mandhana was involved in a dreaded mix-up with Meshram that resulted in the captain returning to the pavilion on 58 (74b, 7x4) when she looked primed for a big one.

 

With the rollicking third-wicket stand of 63 (79b) of the experienced hands coming to an unfortunate end, the Greens were back in the game. At 144/3 by the end of the 31st over, Meshram dropped anchor and looked for an able ally from the other end. But India Green bowlers, primarily S Asha had other ideas. The Kerala all-rounder returned with impressive figures of 3/29 from her ten overs. At a point, she was on a hat-trick with her deceptive leggies. Meshram, who was waging a lone battle was eventually dismissed for 63 (90b, 6x4) caught and bowled by India Green captain, Anuja Patil.

 

Will the rest of the batting capitulated, Jhulan Goswami provided a late cameo (16*). Patil bowling in the death overs did a reasonably good job and played her part in restricting the opposition to just 42 runs in the last 10 overs while they lost three wickets. Patil with her street-smart off-breaks had good returns of 3/42 from her allotted overs. India Blue ended their innings at 207/9.

 

Defending 207, was a steep ask for Mandhana’s Blues given the rock-solid India Green pair of the Punam Raut and Jemimah Rodrigues to counter at the top. Both the Mumbaikars who were in regale touch leading to the final, looked to continue where they left off two days earlier as the chase ensued. While initially, Raut hogged the strike and scoring, Rodrigues was kept unusually quiet.

 

Early through their partnership, it required the calming influence of Raut to settle the nerves of Rodrigues who seemed to lose a touch of patience and focus. As Raut took on the attack with ease, her reassuring presence and confidence on the wicket began to rub off on Rodrigues who began to bring out her shots as well. The amazing chemistry between the two batters realized their third successive 100-run stand in the tourney from 135 balls.

 

Half of these runs came off singles indicative of their boundless stamina after having racked up impressive scores in each of their previous two outings in the last three days as well. it required a superlative diving catch by C Prathyusha and a moment of impetuousness by 17-year-old Rodrigues 43 (61b, 3x4) to break the entertaining 117-run stand mid-way through the 26th over.

 

With an out-of-form Devika Vaidya not lasting long either, the onus was on Raut and incoming captain, Anuja Patil to continue their run-making ways. But with the dismissal of a well-set Raut run-out on 88 (120b, 6x4) and a plucky Patil for a quick-fire 13, seven runs from each other, the momentum swayed in favour of India Blue.

 

At 157/4 by the 37th over, 51 required from 13 overs may not seem a dicey ask for India Green but the tide had ebbed. With World Cup reserve keeper Nuzhat Parween at No 5 it required her to shoulder experience and responsibility with the all-rounders and lower order to guide the team across the finish line. But Parween was unable to hold her own any further than a 32-ball 15, with her dismissal to C Prathyusha leading to a major collapse that saw the India Green lose their first match in competition in the all-important title clash.

 

India Green caved in lose their last eight wickets for a mere 41 runs to be all out for 174 in 45.2 overs.

 

India Green vs India Blue

India Blue 207/9 (Meshram 63, Asha 3/29)

India Green 174 all out (Raut 88, Pratyusha 4/23)

India Blue win the Challenger Trophy by 33 runs.