Bose bowls India Blue to victory in women's cricket

India Blue beat India Red in the Challenger Trophy

Mysuru, June 17 (IANS) Off-spinner Preeti Bose took five for 43 to help India Blue beat India Red by 18 runs in the final of the senior women's Challenger Trophy tournament here on Wednesday.

Asked to bat first, India Blue, with solid contributions from the top order batswomen with Harmanpreet Kaur (47, 69b, 4x4) holding the innings together, made 180 all out in 49.5 overs.

In reply, India Red were cruising along at 130 for two in the 29th over, but collapsed to 162 all out as Bose struck telling blows for a five-wicket haul while pacer Harmanpreet Kaur returned a bag of three wickets to round off a convincing victory for India Blue.

For India Red, opener Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 52 (88b, 4x4, 1x6), but her effort went in vain as the lower order caved in under pressure.

Brief scores:

India Blue 180 all out in 49.5 overs (Sarika Koli 26, Thirush Kamini 22, Paramita Roy 31, Harmanpreet Kaur 47, Snehal Pradhan 2 for 27, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2 for 28) beat India Red 162 all out in 48.1 overs (Smriti Mandhana 52, Latika Kumari 24, Poonam Raut 29, Shikha Pandey 21, Preeti Bose 5 for 43, Harmanpreet Kaur 3 for 22) by 18 runs.