Smriti Mandhana Blazed 91-runs to Start with a Victory

The much-awaited Women’s T20 Challenge started with some blitzkrieg performance from both sides, Trailblazers and Supernovas, as Trailblazers snatched a thrilling 2-run victory at the end. Supernovas won the toss and opted to bowl first. Trailblazers lost an early crucial wicket of Suzie Bates (1 out; 4b) in the 2^nd over, but Smriti Mandhana’s game was far from over. Harleen Deol along with Mandhana built a strong partnership for the 2^nd wicket putting up 119 on board. Harleen Deol (36 out; 44b; 3X4) however, got out at the start of 19^th over, as Trailblazers stood at 130-2 after 18.2 overs. Smriti Mandhana (91 out; 67b; 10X4, 3X6) played a captain’s innings, almost leading to the end, until in at the start of 20^th over Radha Yadav scalps the wicket of Mandhana. The last 4 balls Trailblazers added 4 more runs on the board and lost 2 wickets of Stafaine Taylor and Deepti Sharma both of whom failed to create an impact, posting 140 runs on board after 20 overs, with the loss of 5 wickets.

Trailblazers had a good start in the 2^nd innings as Sophie Ecclestone scalps Priya Punia’s (1 out; 6b) wicket in the 2^nd over, as Supernova stood at 6-1 after 1.3 overs. However, Chamari Athapaththu and Jemimah Rodrigues (24 run out; 19b; 4X4) started building a steady partnership, until in the 8^th over, Rodrigues gets run out by Shakera Selman. As skipper Harmanpreet Kaur walked up to the crease, the game started turning around in Supernovas favour. But Chamari Athapaththu (26 out; 34b; 2X4) gets out in the 11^th over, Supernovas at 63-3 after 10.4 overs. Natalie Sciver (1 out; 4b) was not much of a show and departs in the 12^th over. As 67 was needed from 45 balls, Harmanpreet Kaur and Sophie Devine put out quiet a show to take the Supernovas close to the winning mark. However, Sophie Devine (32 out; 22b; 2X4, 2X6) gets out in the 19^th over, as Supernovas needed 19 off 7 balls. Harmanpreet Kaur (46 not out; 34b; 8X4) hit 3 boundaries off the last over to meet the target, fails to make a contact of the last ball, and went for a single as Lea Tahahu (0 out; 1b) gets run out, putting an end to Supernovas innings, as Trailblazers records their first victory.