Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas win Women’s T20 Challenge despite late Velocity scare

The Supernovas held their nerves to pip Deepti Sharma’s Velocity by 4 runs in a thrilling see-saw finale to lift the 2022 Women’s T20 Challenge. Their latest win means that the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side now holds three of the four titles since the tournament's inception in 2018.

Earlier in the evening, Velocity captain Deepti won the toss and elected to field first at Pune’s MCA Stadium. The Supernovas made early inroads with the bat, with their opening pair forming forces to put on 73 runs inside the first 10 overs.

West Indies star batter Deandra Dottin top scored in the innings with a frugal 62 from just 44 balls. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur herself charted an attacking 29-ball 43. Despite failing to pump up the scoring rate in the death, the Supernovas still managed to pile up 165-7 from their 20 overs.

Velocity’s response began on an unsteady note, as they lost half their side for just 64 on the board by the end of the 11th over. Requiring a further 102 runs to win from just 54 deliveries, Sharma’s side launched a rearguard fightback with a flurry of boundaries in the backend of their run-chase.

South African white-ball expert Laura Wolvaardt scored a calculated 65* from just 40 balls to bring the equation down to the last over. However, her side fell just four runs short of their maiden title.

Supernovas’ West Indies recruit Dottin, who scored 62 with the bat, backed up her batting recital with an inspired bowling spell. She claimed two wickets for just 28 runs and was fittingly adjudged as the ‘Player of the Match’.

Brief scores:

Supernovas 165-7 (20)

Deandra Dottin 62 (44), Harmanpreet Kaur 43 (29);

Deepti Sharma 2/20 (4)

Velocity 161-8 (20)

Laura Wolvaardt 65* (40), Simran Dil Bahadur 20* (10)

Alana King 3/32 (4)

Supernovas won by 4 runs.