The third match of the Women’s T20 Challenge saw a complete turn-around as the underdogs the Supernovas beat the Trailblazers in what was a match that went down to the wire. Before going into details, it is now clear that Velocity have been knocked out of the tournament and both the teams will be going head-to-head again to battle for the trophy.
Radha Yadav saved the game for the Supernovas as she successfully defended 10 runs off the last over as Harmanpreet Kaur’s side managed an edgy win. It started with the Supernovas putting 146 on the board, not bad for a slow pitch and keeping in mind their bowling prowess.
Chamari Athapaththu was yet again the batswoman for the Supernovas as she fired a quick 67 from just 48 balls. She got equal support from both, Priya Punia and Harmanpreet Kaur who scored 30 and 31 respectively to help Athapaththu keep up with her pace of scoring. Supernovas did phenomenal with the bowl too as Deandra Dottin and Smriti Mandhana were not given the complete freedom of playing their natural game.
However, Deepti Sharma did cause Harmanpreet and Co. some troubles as she kept the Trailblazers in the game until the end. The problem for Smriti’s side was the continuous flurry of wickets on the other end as no one settled well. Will the Trailblazers get their revenge on D-day? or will Supernovas finish the Challenge in style?
Head to Head
Matches: 3, Trailblazers: 1, Supernovas: 2
Team News
Trailblazers Probable Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana (C), Deandra Dottin, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Nattakan Chantham, Salma Khatun, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami.
Supernovas Probable Playing XI: Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Chamari Athapaththu, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Taniya Bhatia (WK), Shashikala Siriwardene, Radha Yadav, Anuja Patil, Poonam Yadav, Shakera Selman, Ayabonka Khaka.
Pitch Conditions
The Sharjah pitch is expected to behave the same as we have seen in the latest games. The sky will be clear and there are barely any chances for rains. The temperature is unpredictable but anything around 30-degree can be anticipated. It may drop till 26 degrees too maybe but not lower than that.
The team batting first will have to aim for something around 140-150 as the last game was a nail-biting one. Both the departments will be tested equally considering the short boundaries.
Key Battles
Deepti Sharma (Trailblazers) vs Radha Yadav (Supernovas)
Deepti Sharma batted really well when the teams faced each other last time. However, she did not get enough support to turn her innings into a memorable one as the Trailblazers lost their way towards the end of the game. 10 runs off the last over would’ve been possible if Sharma had someone who could at least rotate the strike but the pitch added to the batswomen’s troubles.
She will be against Radha, who bowled the most important over of the game and kept her side alive in the tournament. She may not be the only but she’s definitely one of the important ones for providing the Supernovas a chance to play and compete in the finals. Both the players will look to get ahead in the game without any concerns and make this head-to-head an interesting watch.
Sophie Eccelstone (Trailblazers) vs Chamari Athapaththu (Supernovas)
Ecclestone went wicketless in the previous game against the Supernovas but she kept her economy in control. She had a tough contender in the other team and the rivalry between two great players will be a must-watch, especially in the finals.
Athapaththu has stuck with her form well and she was very clear about her plan. She attacked almost every bowler and she was the biggest reason the Supernovas managed a defendable total. The same will be expected of her in the finals as well while Sophie will be looking to strike back stronger.
Prediction
Now that the teams face each other once again after a day’s game, the result is a difficult one to predict. Both the teams are hungry for the title but it will take something to get there. Both the teams are on equal terms in almost every aspect and it seems we are up for another thriller.
The Women’s T20 Challenge has shown that a four-game competition can also be very entertaining and there is nothing to refute about. Only one game turned out a completely one-sided one but the Trailblazers bowling in that game was another treat to watch.
This final will not just be about the teams but also about which captain performs better and takes her team through. Smriti and Harmanpreet both are India’s elite batswomen and it will interesting to see who gets their hands on the trophy.
Cricwizz predicts Trailblazers to win the Women's T20 Challenge 2020
