In a nerve-wracking match, Supernovas sealed a win by just two runs against Trailblazers to make it to the final of Women’s T20 Challenger. The Supernovas top-order, at first helped the side set a decent target of 147, and then Radha Yadav managing to win it for them in the final over.
Top-order batting
Batting first, Supernovas had a solid start before they lost wickets frequently in the second half of their innings. Priya Punia and Chamari Athapaththu’s opening partnership of 89 runs gave the chance to the Supernovas to go for a big score. After Punia’s dismissal, Athapaththu ran the show with the help of the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Kaur added 31 runs off 29 balls while Atapattu scored a fine 67 off 48 balls with five four and four maximums. Chamari Athapaththu was there till the 17th over of the innings and took the score to 118/2.
Once she was gone, Supernovas lost control. They lost Shashikala Siriwardene, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Anuja Patil in the last over in space of three runs. However, before getting dismissed Kaur hit a six and four in the penultimate over and Supernovas crossed the 140-mark. But they failed to capitalize on the good start provided by the top-order batters, especially the Sri Lankan big hitter in the slog.
Shakera Selman’s early breakthroughs
Needing 147 runs to win the match, Trailblazers had a great start based on Deandra Dottin (27) and Smriti Mandhana (33). However, once the more attacking one of the two Dottin was gone followed by Richa Ghosh in the same over in space of four runs, Mandhana needed an able ally. From 43/0 after six overs Supernovas were suddenly 48/3 and credit goes to Shakera Selman who struck twice in the 7th over. She got Dottin out LBW first and then went on to dismiss Richa Ghosh.
Yadav wins the last battle
Meanwhile, Mandhana got Deepti Sharma at the other end and both added 35 runs together. Supernovas kept the things tight throughout which eventually helped them scalp another couple of quick wickets. However, Trailblazers were always in the game because of the fighting spirit of Deepti Sharma. Sharma looked determined enough and remained not out with 43 runs. Harleen Deol joined her in the middle when
Trailblazers still needed 56 runs in the last five overs. Both brought down the target to 10 runs in the final over. Radha Yadav was given the responsibility to bowl the final over and in a dramatic finish, after conceding six runs in the first four balls, Yadav dismissed Deol (27 off 15) in the 5th ball. With four runs needed to win in the last ball of the innings, Yadav kept her calm and did not let Sharma snatch a win.