Date:27/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/27/stories/2007102756242100.htm

Sport - Cricket

India Blue scrapes through

Ahmedabad: India Blue posted a narrow 12-run win over India Red in the Challenger series limited-overs tournament for the N.K.P. Salve Trophy at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium here on Thursday night.

Chasing a target of 247 India Red had a bad start when it lost opener Gautam Gambhir at the fag end of the first over.

He was run out by Virender Sehwag who unerringly hit the stumps from mid-on.

Finally, Praveen Kumar showed his big-hitting prowess with a 30-ball 37 in a sixth-wicket stand of 62 off 54 balls but it was not enough.

The scores: India Blue: 246 in 49.3 overs.

India Red: R. Ricky c Sehwag b Bose 10, G. Gambhir (run out) 0, M. Kaif c Asnodkar b Joginder 42, V. Kohli b Mishra 30, S. Badrinath b Mishra 41, M. Rawat b Joginder 47, Praveen Kumar c Raina b Sehwag 37, S. Mundhe (not out) 12, S. Trivedi b Joginder 1, P. Ojha (not out) 2; Extras (b-1, nb-2, w-9): 12. Total (for 8 wkts in 50 overs): 234.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-35, 3-70, 4-105, 5-153, 6-215, 7-221, 8-223.

India Blue bowling: Bose 8.1-1-34-1, Joginder 10-1-30-3, Yomahesh 8.5-0-58-0, Mishra 10-0-40-2, Powar 7-0-33-0, N. Patel 1-0-6-0, Sehwag 5-0-32-1. — Special Correspondent