Women's T20 Challenge Highlights: Velocity beats Supernovas by 5 wickets in thriller
Women's T20 Challenge 2020 Highlights: Velocity rode in sublime contributions from Sushma Verma and Sune Luss as it beat Supernovas by five wickets in the first match.
Published : Nov 04, 2020 17:43 IST
Hello and welcome to Sportstar's LIVE coverage of Women's T20 Challenge 2020 as Supernovas take on Velocity in the first match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
Result: Velocity beats Supernovas by five wickets. SPN 126/8 (20) | VEL 129/5 (19.5)
What a game we had and Sushma Verma and Sune Luss with a brilliant 51-run partnership ensured Velocity stays in the hunt in chase of 127. Supernovas picked wickets at regular intervals but the stand between Verma and Luss ensured Velocity progresses ahead.
VEL 118/5 after 19 overs: 9 required off six and what a match we have had. The first match and we can even have a Super Over!
VEL 112/4 after 18 overs: Velocity needs 15 off 12 balls and Sushma Verma, unbeaten on 33 and Sune Luss unbeaten on 23 have stitched a 47-run partnership.
VEL 102/4 after 17 overs: Velocity right up there in the chase and Verma pockets another six as the 100 comes up for Velocity.
VEL 91/4 after 16 overs: Excellent from Verma and Luss as they smack Poonam for two sixes as 14 comes from the over.
VEL 77/4 after 15 overs: Time-out! Velocity needs 50 runs off 30 balls and Sushma Verma holds the key along with Sune Luus.
VEL 68/4 after 14 overs: Sushma Verma and Sune Luus have a job in their hands and they need just two good overs to put Velocity back in the chase.
VEL 65/4 after 13 overs: Radha Yadav strikes and she removes the well-set Veda Krishnamurthy. Supernovas back in the game and it seems they might just defend the score.
VEL 59/3 after 12 overs: Veda has got Velocity back into the game and she is playing a valuable knock.
VEL 50/3 after 11 overs: Veda gets a move on with a boundary and it was a much-needed one from Velocity's point of view. The intent to score big is missing.
VEL 44/3 after 10 overs: Class act from Poonam Yadav as she gives just four runs and the required rate has now creeped up to 8 RPO.
VEL 40/3 after 9 overs: This has been top stuff from Supernovas as they have tied down the batswomen and the wicket of Mithali Raj, certainly put them on the top.
VEL 38/2 after 8 overs: Veda finds some momentum with a boundary but Radha finishes well giving just four singles to end the over with a dot.
VEL 30/2 after 7 overs: Excellent start from Poonam Yadav as she gives just four runs from her opening over and both Mithali and Veda need to open up and they need a partnership.
VEL 26/2 after 6 overs: Just two runs from Radha Yadav's over and Supernovas in complete control at the moment.
VEL 24/2 after 5 overs: A crisp shot through the extra cover gets Veda going as Mithali has scored just 1 run off six balls. Important to build a partnership.
VEL 19/2 after 4 overs: Mithali Raj and Veda Krishnamurthy are off the mark and they have a job in their hands after losing two wickets. Supernovas in the game.
VEL 17/2 after 3 overs: Shafali Verma attacks and collects a hat-trick of boundaries before hitting a full toss straight into the hands of the fielder at deep mid-wicket. An opportunity went begging.
VEL 5/1 after 2 overs: Shafali Verma attacks and she has smacked Selman over the mid-on for a boundary as Mithali Raj joins the dashing opener.
VEL 0/1 after 1 over: Khaka strikes as she removes Wyatt for a duck and what a superb start this has been from the Supernovas. A wicket in the very first over and they are up and running in defence of 126.
We are back for the chase and it will be dashing Shafali Verma along with Danielle Wyatt. Ayabonga Khaha with the new ball.
End of Innings: Supernovas post 126/8 after 20 overs
A below-par total by Supernovas as sans Chamari Athapaththu, none of the batswomen got going and a fighting 31 from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, has been the second stand-out show with the bat. For Velocity, spinner Ekta Bisht picked three wickets, with Leigh Kasperek and Jahanara Alam sharing four among themselves. Back for the chase in a while.
SPN 121/6 after 19 overs: Shikha Pandey strikes and she removes Siriwardene and this has been an excellent bowling show by the Velocity bowlers.
SPN 118/5 after 18 overs: Leigh Kasperek strikes to remove Pooja Vastrakar for a duck but drops a dolly off her own bowling to give Shashikala Siriwardene.
SPN 116/4 after 17 overs: Jahanara Alam takes the prized scalp of Harmanpreet Kaur and she finishes with 4-0-27-2. What a fine spell this has been and Supernovas continue to find momentum.
SPN 106/3 after 16 overs: Ekta Bisht rolls over a quiet over as just four runs come from her third over. Supernovas, in desperate need of some momentum.
SPN 93/3 after 14 overs: Jahanara Alam comes back to remove the well-set Chamari Athapaththu as the SRi Lankan misses a well-deserved half-century. Crucial for Supernovas to not lose wickets in a heap. Harmanpreet holds key.
SPN 89/2 after 13 overs: Harmanpreet takes the aerial route and this time goes big over the cow corner for a maximum. Momentum with Supernovas.
SPN 78/2 after 12 overs: Another six from Chamari and this time Wyatt tried to catch it but parries it over the ropes. Another 12-run over for Supernovas.
SPN 65/2 after 11 overs: Chamari breaks away from the shakles as she smokes Manali Dakshini for a maximum as 12 runs come from the over. Much needed six for the Supernovas.
SPN 53/2 after 10 overs: Harmanpreet gets going with a solid pull through the square as the fifty comes up for Supernovas.
SPN 46/2 after 9 overs: Supernivas are going at a fair clip at about five runs per over but they need to build a partnership and up the ante. Harmanpreet holds key.
SPN 43/2 after 8 overs: Ekta Bisht strikes as she castles the dangerous Jemimah who went for a big slog, only to miss the ball. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur walks in with Supernovas in a spot of bother.
SPN 40/1 after 7 overs: Jemimah Rodrigues is up and running as he dispatches Shikha Pandey to the deep point fence and then picks a single by placing the ball to the deep extra cover to retain strike.
SPN 32/1 after 6 overs: Leigh Kasperek breaks the stand as she removes Priya Punia as Supernovas ended the Powerplay on a decent note. Jemimah Rodrigues joins Chamari.
SPN 29/0 after 5 overs: Spin from both ends as Ekta Bisht comes into the attack and Chamari fetches a boundary by dancing down the track and macking over mid-off for a mid-off. 10 runs from the over.
SPN 19/0 after 4 overs: Spin into the attack and Chamari welcomes the off-spinner with a sweep to the fine-leg boundary and this has been a fine start by the Supernovas.
SPN 14/0 after 3 overs: Priya showing no signs of rustiness as exhibits a glorious cover drive off Shikha Pandey and that was all about timing there .
SPN 8/0 after 2 overs: Priya hits the first boundary of the Women's T20 League as she shuffles to send Jahanara Alam to the fine leg boundary.
SPN 2/0 after 1 over: Both Priya and Chamari are off the mark and Shikha starts with a very good over. Just two runs from it.
The umpires are out there in the middle and the Velocity team sprints off to the middle. Chamari Athapaththu will be opening the batting along with Priya Punia. Shikha Pandey with the new ball will start the proceedings.
Toss: Velocity wins toss and opts to bowl first against Supernovas.
Playing XI
Supernovas: Priya Punia, Chamari Athapaththu, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Shashikala Siriwardene, Taniya Bhatia(w), Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Shakera Selman, Ayabonga Khaka
Velocity: Shafali Verma, Danielle Wyatt, Mithali Raj(c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Sushma Verma(w), Sune Luus, Manali Dakshini, Shikha Pandey, Ekta Bisht, Leigh Kasperek, Jahanara Alam
As we gear up for the first #WomensT20Challenge fixture of the season, here's what the captains had to say about conditions in Sharjah and returning to the game post the COVID hiatus.
Playoffs
| DATE & DAY | MATCH | TIME (IST) | VENUE |
| November 5, Thursday | Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
| November 6, Friday | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 7:30 PM | Abu Dhabi |
| November 8, Sunday | Qualifier 2 - Winner of Eliminator vs Loser of Qualifier 1 | 7:30 PM | Abu Dhabi |
| November 10, Tuesday | Final | 7:30 PM | Dubai |
WATCH | Harmanpreet unsure of the Sharjah wicket's advantages
All you need to know:
What: Supernovas vs Velocity, 1st Match
Date – 04/11/2020 | Wednesday
Match Start Time – 7:30 PM IST
TV Channel – Star Sports
Online platform – Disney+Hotstar
It has been a trying eight months for India's women cricketers. They haven't had a game all this while following the coronavirus outbreak.
Women’s T20 Challenge: Back in business!
As expected, they all would be raring to go as the Women's T20 Challenge begins at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. In the opening match, Harmanpreet Kaur's Supernovas takes on Mithali Raj's Velocity.
Both the sides competed in last year's final at Jaipur in front of a crowd of 15,000. It had an exciting finish, with Supernovas winning by five wickets, off the last ball.
The squads:
Supernovas: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Priya Punia, Anuja Patil, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shashikala Siriwardene (SL), Poonam Yadav, Shakera Selman (WI), Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Ayushi Soni, Ayabonga Khaka (SA) and Muskan Malik.
Velocity: Mithali Raj (capt), Veda Krishnamurthy, Shafali Verma, Sushma Verma (wk), Ekta Bisht, Mansi Joshi, Shikha Pandey, Devika Vaidya, Sushree Dibyadarshini, Manali Dakshini, Leigh Kasperek (NZ), Danielle Wyatt (Eng), Sune Luus (SA), Jahanara Alam (Ban) and M. Anagha.