Women’s T20 Challenge | She came out of the box’- Mandhana on Kiran Navgire

After a win over Velocity on Thursday, Trailblazers captain Smriti Mandhana praised Kiran Prabhu Navgire for her brilliant half-century against Mandhana's team in the Women's T20 Challenge. Sabbhineni Meghana and Jemimah Rodrigues scored brilliant half centuries and guided the Trailblazers to a 16-run win over Velocity.

The Trailblazers couldn't keep the opposition team below 158 runs to qualify for the finals. Even after winning the match, the Trailblazers were knocked out of the tournament based on NRR.

"We knew the scenario, and we knew what we were going to get, but really proud of the way the batters batted. We had a good chance, but Kiran Prabhu Navgire, the way she batted, took that final dream away.

I think somewhere I was a little sad that she was hitting against us but a little happy as an Indian player that she is hitting hard and that far," Mandhana said in a post-match presentation. 

Kiran Navgire guided her team to cross the 158 run mark, and they made it into the final even after losing the match. Navgire scored 69 runs with the help of five fours and five sixes. Mandhana lauded Navgire and was surprised when she scored a six off his first ball in the innings.

"It's a sight to watch but not as an opposite captain. Great things to come for her going forward in the Indian setup. The plan was to get their top-order out initially because we knew if Shafali stayed for long, it would be really difficult. 

The ones we planned, we got them all out, but she (Kiran) came out of the box like we knew her abilities because she has done really well in domestic. Still, not many of us have seen her game, and to see her come out and hit the first ball for six and that too in the stands, I was a little surprised, but that's how cricket goes," she added.

In the first innings, Meghana scored 73 runs while Rodrigues smashed 66. Simran Bahadur claimed two wickets, while Kate Cross, Sneh Rana, and Ayabonga Khaka each took one.

The Trailblazers needed to restrict Velocity to 158 runs to qualify for the Women's T20 Challenge final, and Velocity scored 174 in 20 overs.

Velocity and Supernovas will play in the Women's T20 Challenge final on Saturday at MCA Stadium in Pune.