Trailblazers, on Monday, beat Supernovas by 16 runs to clinch their maiden Women’s T20 Challenge title. With the win, the Smriti Mandhana-led side also denied Supernovas a third straight title. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had won the first two seasons of the Women’s T20 Challenge.
Asked to bat first, Trailblazers could only manage 118 for 8 in the allotted 20 overs despite their captain Smriti Mandhana’s fine fifty. The India star scored 68 off 49 deliveries with the help of five fours and three sixes to lay the foundation for a big score.
She gave Trailblazers a fine start by adding 71 runs with Diandra Dottin for the first wicket. Mandhana scored the bulk of the runs during the partnership as Dottin managed just 20 runs. But once Mandhana was dismissed in the 15th over, Trailblazers’ innings derailed.
After her and Dottin, only Richa Ghosh (10) managed to touch the double-digit mark as Trailblazers failed to finish on a good note. For Supernovas, their in-form spinner Radha Yadav starred with the ball, taking five wickets for just 16 runs off her four overs.
But 118 runs turned out to be more than enough for Trailblazers as they restricted Supernovas to 102 for 7. Barring the phase when Harmanpreet Kaur and Shashikala Siriwardene were batting together and added 37 runs for the fourth wicket, Supernovas never really looked in contention.
They lost wickets at regular intervals and thus their innings never got the impetus. Harmanpreet top-scored for her side, scoring 30 off 36 balls. For Trailblazers, Salma Khatun was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3 for 18 off her four overs while Deepti Sharma took 2 for 9.
Here are some of the reactions to the game:
CHAMPIONS!!#Trailblazers #JioWomensT20Challenge pic.twitter.com/mR4yGwSsHQ
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 9, 2020
? CHAMPIONS! ?
Congratulations to Trailblazers who have won their maiden #WomensT20Challenge title!
They defeated previous winners Supernovas by 16 runs in Sharjah ? pic.twitter.com/k1RGkjXsbM
— ICC (@ICC) November 9, 2020
#Trailblazers WIN the #JioWomensT20Challenge pic.twitter.com/LXJClXZcn3
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 9, 2020
Congrats to #Trailblazers on winning the #WomensT20Challange …is this a sign ahead for tomorrow’s final?!!!
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) November 9, 2020
Women's T20 Challenge Winners
2018 – Supernovas
2019 – Supernovas
2020 – Trailblazers #Trailblazers #smriti #WomensT20Challenge
— Rajesh Khilare (@Cricrajeshpk) November 9, 2020
Most Runs in #WomensT20Challenge
1. C Athapaththu – 117
2. #smriti – 107
3. #harmanpreet – 92
4. D Dottin – 76Most Wickets
1. R Yadav – 8
2. S Ecclestone – 5
3. S Khatun – 4
4. L Kasperek – 3#Cricket #Supernovas #Trailblazers #Velocity— Rajesh Khilare (@Cricrajeshpk) November 9, 2020
Trailblazers deserving winners. @mandhana_smriti led the way and despite the superb effort from Radha managed to hold on. Chamari was the key and then Harman’s injury. Serious talent on show and hope a WIPL happens in 2022 for sure. @BCCIWomen #WomensT20Challenge
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) November 9, 2020
Well tried, @ImHarmanpreet ?? one-woman army…was almost on one leg. But fought till the end.
2020 ain’t anything like 2019…. #WomensT20Challenge has a new champion. It’s @mandhana_smriti #Trailblazers ?✌️?— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 9, 2020