Women's T20 Challenge 2022 | Harmanpreet laud Vastrakar for match-winning performance against Trailblazers

India’s T20I and Supernovas' skipper Harmanpreet Kaur heaped high praise on seam-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar for her brilliant performance that guided her side to a comprehensive 49-run win over the Trailblazers in the opening game of the Women's T20 Challenge 2022.

Vastrakar was at her breathtaking best on Monday night as the right-arm seamer ripped the heart out of a star-studded Trailblazer's lineup. 

The Madhya Pradesh cricketer gave away just 12 runs in her spell of four overs and claimed four crucial wickets, including the scalps of a dangerous-looking pair of Smriti Mandhana (34 off 23) and Hayley Matthews (18 off 14).

Her spell triggered a collapse that saw Trailblazers slip from 1-63 to 7-73 in a space of 4 overs.

The Supernovas eventually won by 49 runs, and Harman felt that the bowling unit did an excellent job to defend 163, although she admitted that her side was 20 runs short of the par score.

"The way we wanted to bowl in the second innings, we did really well. Whatever we planned we were able to execute. Pooja did a great job for us – that's what we were expecting from her. Proper game for us,"

"I think we were 20 runs short. Whenever I was thinking to execute myself, we were losing wickets. That's why I had to stay there, look for ones and twos," Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation party.

Batting first, the Supernovas got off to a brilliant start thanks to Priya Punia (22 off 20) and Deandra Dottin (32 off 17), who added 50 runs in five overs.

Harmanpreet (37 off 29) and Harleen Deol, who smashed five boundaries during her 19-ball 35, were the other two contributors, but the rest of the batting unit didn't contribute much.

On Lack of partnership at the end

Further, Kaur rued over the lack of partnerships at the backend of the innings, something she feels that her side must ensure that it does not happen in the forthcoming fixtures.

"We need to look for partnerships. We Weren't able to do that after Harleen and mine. We just need to come back with the same motion. When you win the game, you're happy and relaxed. Because we won, I don't think we're very tired," she added.

The Supernovas play their second fixture on Tuesday against the Deepti Sharma-led Velocity side.