Women's T20 Challenge FinalWomen’s T20 Challenge Highlights: Smriti Mandhana played a captain’s knock of 68 off 49 balls as Trailblazers beat Supernovas by 16 runs in the Women’s T20 Challenge final. Trailblazers put up 118/3. Supernovas ended with 102/7 in reply.
Radha Yadav scripted a remarkable comeback for Supernovas with a five-wicket haul to restrict Trailblazers to 118 for eight after Mandhana’s knock. Mandhana’s effort was the only bright spot for the Trailblazers in what turned out to be an ordinary batting effort, as they collapsed from 71 for no loss in 11 overs to 118/3 in 20 overs. Yadav, who bowled a match-winning final over against the same opponents on Saturday, ended with figures of five for 16 in four overs. Harmanpreet Kaur (30) anchored the chase in the middle overs, but Supernovas gave in to the pressure of the run rate in the end to lose three wickets in the 19th over and eventually lose by 16 runs.
A tame end to the chase from Supernovas, who lost their remaining chances in the match with the triple stike in the 19th over, including the big wicket of Harmanpreet. Mandhana's 68 turns out to be crucial in a low-scoring tie as Trailblazers win by 16 runs.
Three wickets in one over! That should be the game for Trailblazers. First there is a run out. Harmanpreet then reacts to the required run rate by coming down the track, but misses the line and is bowled. And there's a first-ball duck to follow. Salma Khatun ends with 3/17. SPN 95/7 in 19 overs, need 24 in last over
Harmanpreet loses Siriwardene as she top edges an attempted sweep. Harmanpreet takes charge as the death overs approach, trying to pick up a boundary every over. SPN 91/4 after 18, Harmanpreet on 29, SPN need 28 in 2 overs
Harmanpreet and Shashikala Siriwardene build a partnership in the middle overs. One over from Deepti Sharma is left, she concedes just 9 runs from her first three. The run rate builds up a bit through this partnership. SPN 70/3 after 14, Harmanpreet on 19, Siriwardene on 15, SPN need 49 in 6 overs
Deepti Sharma strikes! Gets both Taniya and Jemimah in back-to-back overs. Bhatiya mistimes one in the 7th over to be out for 14. Jemimah is caught at cover by Chantam in her next over. Harmanpreet and Shashikala Siriwardene the two new batsmen in the middle for Supernovas. SPN 39/3 after 9, need 80 runs in 66 balls.
118 to defend. There was a cracking start to the first innings. The Supernovas are more circumspect in their chase. They know how the Trailblazers fell apart in the second half. Chamari Atapattu and Jemimah Rodrigues open. Atapattu is out LBW in the second over. Gone cheaply. Which brings Taniya Bhatiya in at 3. Runs at a premium in the Powerplay. SPN 28/1 after 6, Jemimah on 7, Taniya on 13
Supernova spinner Radha Yadav tore through the Trailblazers, restricting them to 118/8 in 20 overs. She gets the first five-wicket haul of the tournament ever. Radha’s 5-16 puts the defending champions in a brilliant position in the final.
Radha Yadav dismisses Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh within a space of three balls, both caught by Chamari Atapattu. Athapaththu, who had taken the catch to dismiss Deepti, is once again involved in the dismissal as Ghosh departs for 10. Trailblazers are 113/4 after 18 overs.
Superb from Deepti Sharma, moving across her stumps and smashes Radha to the fence but she's gone next ball, caught at long on. Harleen Deol comes to the crease.
That's a crucial wicket for Supernovas as Trailblazers skipper Smriti Mandhana is dismissed for 68 off 49 with 5 overs to go. Quick glovework from Taniya Bhatia as Shashikala Siriwardene gets the breakthrough. Trailblazers are 101/2 after 15 overs. Deepti Sharma comes to the crease.
Poonam Yadav strikes! She's been leading the Supernovas fightback since the Powerplay ended, and now Dottin succumbs to pressure. Goes for an attacking sweep but cannot find true connection. Out for 20 off 32 balls. Richa Ghosh in at 3. But just as Supernovas threaten to take the upper hand, Smriti decides she wants to have a say. Pulls for four and comes down the pitch to smash a six. Reaches her 50, off 38 balls. TRL 85/1 after 12
Time from some spin from Poonam Yadav in the 8th. And just as Smriti's blitz was looking to take things away from Supernovas, their spinners bring the run rate down. Dottin has been playing out a lot of dot balls, helped so far by the carnage at the other end. Now though, it's beginning to affect the team. Dottin on 18, Mandhana on 45. TRL 66/0 after 10
West Indies' Shakera Selman replaces Khaka in the 5th. She offers some width and Mandhana punishes her outside the off side too. Four more! Radha Yadav continues keeping things tight at the other end. Mandhana smashes a six as Pooja Vastrakar replaces Shakera. 50 comes up for Trailblazers in the 7th over - Mandhana blitzing her way into her 40s. TRL 56/0 after 7
Smriti Mandhana gets into groove in the 2nd over. Ends the over against the spinner with a volley of boundaries - 4,4,6! Crashes a boundary in the next over too as Khaka continues. More spin in the 4th over, Radha Yadav now. TRL 33/0 after 4
Deandra Dottin and Smriti Mandhana will open for Trailblazers. Khaka bowls the first over for Supernovas. Dottin gets the scoring underway with a single down the ground. Dottin gets the first boundary of the day down the ground later in the over. TRL 6/0 after 1
Trailblazers will bat first. Supernovas have won the toss and have opted to field.
Supernovas (Playing XI): Chamari Athapaththu, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Shashikala Siriwardene, Anuja Patil, Radha Yadav, Pooja Vastrakar, Shakera Selman, Taniya Bhatia(w), Poonam Yadav, Ayabonga Khaka
Trailblazers (Playing XI): Deandra Dottin, Smriti Mandhana(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Nuzhat Parween, Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Sophie Ecclestone, Nattakan Chantam, Salma Khatun, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami
A look at the 22 women who are likely to take stage for the final tonight.
Trailblazers: Smriti Mandhana (C), Deandra Dottin, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Nattakan Chantam, Harleen Deol, D Hemalatha, Jhulan Goswami, Sophie Ecclestone, Salma Khatun, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
Supernovas: Chamari Athapaththu, Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Shashikala Siriwardene, Anuja Patil/Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shakera Selman, Ayabonga Khaka, Poonam Yadav