Women’s T20 Challenge: TRL vs SPN Review – Radha Yadav leads Supernovas to finale

The third match of the 2020 Women’s T20 Challenge between Trailblazers and Supernovas went right down the wire on Saturday (November 7). Velocity would’ve wanted Supernovas to lose the game for them to make it to the final but the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side sealed a last-ball thriller. Trailblazers will now face the Supernovas in the final on Monday (November 9).

Earlier, Supernovas won the toss and opted to bat first. Chamari Athapaththu was the star for them as she opened the innings and went berserk from the first ball. She took the toll on the opposition bowlers and made the most of the Powerplay. Priya Punia struggled first but then got her composure back to play second fiddle to her partner. 

The opening stand of 89 runs in 12 overs was broken by Salma Khatun who dismissed Priya Punia. However, Athapaththu continued batting well to smash 67 off just 48 balls. But once her wicket fell, the Supernovas lost steam while the Trailblazers also bowled well at the death. The last 10 overs yielded just 66 runs for them as Supernovas finished on 146 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs. 

The chase began on a good note for the Trailblazers with their openers Deandra Dottin and Smriti Mandhana adding 44 runs. Dottin scored a quickfire 27 off 15 balls before being pinned in front off Shakera Selman. Mandhana struggled her way to 33 off 40 balls but her knock made sure that the Trailblazers were in the game. 

Deepti Sharma also batted well with her stitching a crucial partnership. However, it was Harleen Deol who gave the real impetus to the innings. She moved nicely in her crease to confuse the bowlers and played mind games with the opposition. Her 27 off 15 almost won the game for her team. But she got out in the penultimate delivery of the innings and Radha Yadav kept her cool to defend 4 off the last ball to help Supernovas make it to the final. 

Turning Point

Radha Yadav’s last over – A partnership in excess of 50 runs and the batting team needing 10 runs off the last over. Definitely, it was advantage Trailblazers. Despite having Poonam Yadav’s overs up her sleeve, Harmanpreet Kaur went with Radha Yadav’s left-arm spin to do the job. And the left-arm spinner didn’t disappoint at all. She bowled to her field perfectly and never let the batters get away. Moreover, the wicket of Deol on the 5th ball proved to be the only and final nail in the coffin.

Top performers

Records/Personal Milestones

• Rajeshwari Gayakwad played her 100th T20 game in this outing 

Way Ahead

Velocity have been knocked out of the tournament now while Supernovas and Trailblazers will face each other again in the final on November 9.