Priya Punia guides India Green home for first win

Priya Punia’s unbeaten 46 was the catalyst behind India Green registering their first win of the Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy as they beat India Blue by seven wickets via the VJD method. On a rain-truncated day in Alur on Wednesday, India blue set Green a meek target of 82, which was successfully achieved in 15.3 overs.

After rain reduced the encounter to 17-overs a side, Vanitha Vellaswamy’s 35 formed the major chunk of India Blue’s total. Skipper Mithali Raj, following her half-century on Tuesday, failed with the bat and could only manage six off 12 balls before being dismissed by Arundhati Reddy, who picked up 2/13 from her four overs.

From 39/0, India Blue were restricted to 66/4, before Dayalan Hemlatha and Radha Yadav gave the side and her bowlers something to work with. Radha scalped Jeminah Rodriguez to deal India Blue an early wicket. Anuja Patil and Poonam Yadav removed Monikha Das and Veda Krishnamurthy but between the batsmen, the important runs kept coming. Punia held one end and walloped four sixes and a boundary to see her side through.

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This is India Blue’s second consecutive loss of the tournament, having earlier lost to India Red on Tuesday.

Brief scores: India Blue 82/5 in 17 overs (Vanitha VR 35; Arundhati Reddy 2-13) lost to India Green 78/3 in 15.4 overs (Priya Punia 46*) by seven wickets by VJD method.