Women’s T20 Challenge 2022 | Supernovas kickstart campaign with an oppressing win over Trailblazers

The first fixture of the much-awaited Women’s T20 Challenge 2022 resulted in the Supernovas posting the highest-ever total in the tournament’s history and winning the game by 49 runs. 

Opting to bat first on a batting-friendly surface, the Supernovas had a flying start, with both the openers Priya Punia and Deandra Dottin piercing the gaps at ease. The Caribbean batter was the key aggressor in this delightful stand of 50 runs, which got registered into the history books for the fastest in four editions. 

However, on the last ball of the fifth over, Sharmin Akhter darted an accurate throw from the square leg position to run-out Dottin for a well made 32 off 17 deliveries. Later, Punia (22) was clean-bowled by Hayley Matthews a couple of overs later. 

After that, Harleen Deol and captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 37 for the third wicket partnership in four overs before the former was adjudged LBW off Salma Khatun. 

The Protea all-rounder Sune Luus (10) tried to form a partnership with the captain but gave an easy catch at the covers to Renuka Singh in the 15th over, with the team at 121/4. In the next over, Alana King was dismissed similarly to Luus by Khatun. 

However, the composure and odd boundaries from Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar helped them a bit. But, the team could not get a fine flourish at the end, with five wickets in the last nine balls of the innings and posted 163. 

Chasing a challenging score, Smriti Mandhana and Matthews displayed their attacking intent and used the fielding restrictions well. However, a lavish drive off Matthews caught the edge, which holed out to wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia and Vastrakar provided the first breakthrough for the team in the fifth over. 

Then Jemimah Rodrigues arrived at the crease and continued the well-built momentum. But, Punia’s brilliant diving catch at mid-on saw Mandhana getting dismissed on 34 off Vastrakar. 

The team continued to make further inroads to dismiss Dunkley and Akhter in the space of one over, which initiated a bizarre collapse. Only Jemimah Rodrigues could display resistance and scored 24 off 21, while Renuka Singh decreased the losing margin by contributing 14 not out. 

Brief Scores: 

Supernovas - 163/10 (20)

Harmanpreet Kaur 37 (29), Harleen Deol 35 (19);

Hayley Matthews 3/29 (4)

Trailblazers - 114/9 (20)

Smriti Mandhana 34 (23), Jemimah Rodrigues 24 (21);

Pooja Vastrakar 4/12 (4)

Supernovas won by 49 runs.