Women’s T20 Challenge 2020, Highlights, Trailblazers vs Supernovas Final, Full Cricket Score: Trailblazers clinch maiden title with 16-run win

Harleen Deol and Deepti Sharma after the win:

“We lost by a close margin the last time, so we were determined to beat them this time around,” says Trailblazers’ Harleen Deol after the win. We’ve played against them in the past, so knew what to bowl to their batters," says Deol.

“I put in a lot of work after the lockdown both with the bat as well as with the ball. We had meetings in which he we planned according to the batters. The wicket was a little slow and low today which helped us," says Sharma

After 20 overs, Supernovas 102/7 (Radha 5, Selman 4)

TRAILBLAZERS ARE THE NEW CHAMPIONS! For the first time, we don’t see Harmanpreet Kaur and Co lifting the trophy in the Women’s T20 Challenge as Smriti Mandhana’s side pull off a 16-run win!

Ecclestone bowls out the final over — which is reduced to a mere formality given the events of the previous over — conceding just seven off it as Supernovas finish on a disappointing 102/7 after being set a modest 119 to win.

After 19 overs, Supernovas 95/7 (Radha 2, Selman 0)

Salma Khatun bowls the crucial penultimate over. Harmanpreet turns down a second run after Patil heaves the ball towards deep square leg off the first delivery. The skipper targets the same area next delivery, only this time calling for a second that results in Patil falling short of the non-striker’s end by an inch. Khatun then effectively seals the game in the Trailblazers’ favour by getting rid of Harmanpreet and Vastrakar off the remaining deliveries as the Supernovas are reduced to 95/7, needing another 24 off the final over. Khatun signs off with superb figures of 3/18 at the end of her quota.

OUT! Vastrakar’s gone for a golden duck now, getting a thick top edge while looking to smash Khatun out of the park, resulting in a dolly for Ecclestone at short midwicket! Supernovas 94/7

Vastrakar c Ecclestone b Khatun 0(1)

OUT! Salman Khatun effectively seals the game in the Trailblazers’ favour by getting rid of Harmanpreet Kaur, who steps out of her crease looking for a maximum, but misses completely to hear the death rattle behind her! Supernovas 93/6

Harmanpreet b Khatun 30(36)

OUT! Another wicket falls for the Supernovas with the asking rate climbing rapidly with each passing delivery! Sharp throw by Deepti from deep square-leg and Khatun catches Patil short of the crease after the latter responds to a call for a second from Harman. Supernovas 93/5

Patil run out (Deepti/Khatun) 8(13)

After 18 overs, Supernovas 91/4 (Harmanpreet 29, Patil 7)

Goswami returns in the business end of the chase. Kaur and Patil needed to target this over if they were to start in this contest, but the senior India pacer uses her experience well to keep the two batters in check, giving away six off this one. Patil does well to steal a second run off the penultimate delivery, even if it means putting her partner under a lot of physical stress. Goswami misses out on a run out chance in the last delivery after a fumble with the ball at the non-striker’s end. Supernovas need 28 off 12 balls.

After 17 overs, Supernovas 85/4 (Harmanpreet 27, Patil 3)

Kaur’s clearly struggling at the moment, and that will worry the Blue dugout to no end. She does get a quick look from the physio at the start of the over. Misfield by Ecclestone at extra cover in the fourth delivery, but Patil’s only able to collect a single with her partner clearly not in the best of shape to charge back for a second. Good over from Khatun, with just four coming off it. Pressure starting to build on the Supernovas, who need 34 off 18 with six wickets in hand.

After 16 overs, Supernovas 81/4 (Harmanpreet 25, Patil 1)

Kaur hands the strike to Patil after collecting a single off the first ball. Patil’s beaten in the next two deliveries, before tapping the ball towards mid off for a quick single off the fourth. The ball narrowly beats Harman’s outside edge off the fifth. The skipper gets down on one knee and slog-sweeps towards the deep square-leg boundary to end the over with a four. While the shot does alleviates some of the pressure off her back, she’s seen struggling even more while making her way to the non-striker’s end. Supernovas need 38 off the last 24 balls.

After 15 overs, Supernovas 75/4 (Harmanpreet 20, Patil 0)

Khatun continues. Siriwardene glances the ball towards fine leg for a brace off the first delivery. The Sri Lanka flicks the ball towards deep square leg two balls later, this time having to sprint back to the striker’s end to complete the double. Khatun then gets the much-needed breakthrough for Trailblazers by inducing a top-edge off the fourth ball, which results in a simple catch for Goswami at fine leg to get Siriwardene dismissed. Anuja Patil walks out to bat next, and is yet to get off the mark after facing the last delivery of the over. Second timeout of the innings signalled after this over. Supernovas need 44 off 30.

OUT! Khatun breaks the partnership as Siriwardene gets a thick top edge while looking for a sweep, resulting in the simplest of chances for Goswami at fine leg. Supernovas 74/4

Siriwardene c Goswami b Khatun 19(18)

After 14 overs, Supernovas 70/3 (Harmanpreet 19, Siriwardene 15)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad returns to the attack in the 14th over. The ball slips out of her hand in the third delivery to the extent that it’s not even in the frame of the camera after the release, prompting the umpire to call if a no ball. Looks like dew’s starting to play a role already! Harmanpreet though, is able to collect only a single off the free hit. Seven off the over, including the no-ball. Supernovas need 49 off 36.

After 13 overs, Supernovas 63/3 (Harmanpreet 16, Siriwardene 12)

Senior Bangladeshi spinner Salma Khatun’s brought into the attack for the first time in the second half of the Supernovas innings. Siriwardene and Harman continue to rotate the strike between themselves through singles, with five of them coming in this over, although the skipper still is in a state of discomfort. Supernovas need 56 off 42.

After 12 overs, Supernovas 58/3 (Harmanpreet 13, Siriwardene 10)

Misfield by Mandhana at extra cover results in Siriwardene collecting a boundary off the second delivery of Ecclestone’s third over. The English spinner however, keeps it tight for the remainder of the over, giving away just two singles off the remaining deliveries. Harmanpreet, meanwhile, is seen limping while running between the wickets. Not a very good sign for the Supernovas, who need another 61 off 48.

After 11 overs, Supernovas 52/3 (Harmanpreet 12, Siriwardene 5)

Four singles conceded by Deepti — who has been the pick of the Trailblazers bowlers by a distance this evening — off her third, with the last single the result of a misfield at mid on. Supernovas cross the 50-run mark in this over, needing another 67 off 54 to retain the title.

After 10 overs, Supernovas 48/3 (Harmanpreet 10, Siriwardene 3)

Harleen Deol’s brought into the attack for the first time, with skipper Harmanpreet collecting her first boundary of the innings by guiding the ball towards the long leg fence off the third ball. A good over from Supernovas’ perspective as nine are added to the total. Another 71 needed from 60 at the halfway stage.

After 9 overs, Supernovas 39/3 (Harmanpreet 3, Siriwardene 1)

Just when Rodrigues was starting to get well-set, Deepti snuffs her out off the third delivery of the over, with Chantam putting in another valuable effort to take a fine catch at cover. Timeout’s signalled after the wicket, with Siriwardene walking out to bat on the other side of the break, and gets off the mark with a single off the penultimate delivery. Harmanpreet retains the strike with a single off the last ball.

OUT! You simply cannot keep Chantam out of the game as far as fielding’s concerned! It’s the dangerous Rodrigues who departs this time after steering the ball towards cover, with the Thai cricketer timing her leap correctly to complete a fine catch. Timeout signalled after this wicket. Supernovas 37/3

Rodrigues c Chantam b Deepti 13(16)

After 8 overs, Supernovas 36/2 (Rodrigues 14, Harmanpreet 1)

Rodrigues somewhat ruins what was turning out to be a superb over from Gayakwad as she gets down one knee and slog sweeps the ball towards the wide long on fence to collect a boundary off the last delivery. If Supernovas are to chase this down and retain their title, this is the partnership that will ultimately matter the most, and one of them has to see the innings through.

After 7 overs, Supernovas 30/2 (Rodrigues 8, Harmanpreet 0)

Mandhana turns to Deepti Sharma after the powerplay, with the offie starting off on a tidy note as she gives away a single off each of the first two deliveries followed by a dot off the next two before getting rid of Bhatia — who got off to a decent start — off the penultimate delivery. Skipper Harmanpreet walks out to bat next.

OUT! Deepti delivers the breakthrough for the Trailblazers in her very first over of the evening as Bhatia chips the ball straight to Gayakwad at short midwicket! Supernovas 30/2

Bhatia c Gayakwad b Deepti 14(20)

After 6 overs, Supernovas 28/1 (Rodrigues 7, Bhatia 13)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad brought into the attack in place of Sophie Ecclestone. Gives away a couple of byes off the first delivery after Rodrigues misses completely while going for an expansive sweep. Bhatia’s nearly stumped off the third delivery, with keeper Ghosh losing her balance while collecting the ball. Single off each of the last three deliveries, as Supernovas reach 28/1 at the end of the powerplay. Shaky start so far for them, with with a lot of support down the order as well as from the current pair at the crease.

After 5 overs, Supernovas 24/1 (Rodrigues 5, Bhatia 11)

Jhulan’s cut behind point for a boundary off the first delivery as Bhatia accepts a wide delivery outside off gleefully. The senior pacer responds by collecting a dot off the second, with Bhatia getting a single off the third. Jemimah sets off for a quick single two balls later after tapping the ball towards extra cover. Six off the over, with the last ball going for a dot.

After 4 overs, Supernovas 18/1 (Rodrigues 4, Bhatia 6)

Nattakan Chantam’s kept busy once again as Bhatia collects a brace off each of the first two deliveries, cutting the ball square off the first followed by a thick outside edge towards third man off the next. Wide conceded down the leg side off the fourth. Just one off the last three balls of the over.

After 3 overs, Supernovas 12/1 (Rodrigues 4, Bhatia 1)

Taniya Bhatia walks out to bat after Trailblazers get the crucial wicket of Athapaththu, with the momentum certainly shifting in favour of Smriti Mandhana’s side. Goswami bowls out an excellent over as she gives away just two runs from her second.

After 2 overs, Supernovas 10/1 (Rodrigues 3)

Sophie Ecclestone brought into the attack right away. Brilliant save by Nattakan Chantam at third man after an outside edge off Jemimah’s bat, saving a couple of runs for her side and getting looks of admiration from the Supernovas dugout. Rodrigues works the ball through the leg side for a single two balls later. First boundary of the innings comes off Athapaththu’s bat as she slog-sweeps towards deep square leg, where the ball lands just short of the cushion. Appeal for lbw off the last delivery’s turned down, with Mandhana going upstairs, and manages to reverse it after getting three reds! Loud cheer from the Trailblazers after watching the Hawk-Eye, knowing how big a wicket Athapaththu is when defending the modest 119-run target.

OUT! Big appeal for lbw by Ecclestone against Athapaththu’s initially turned down by the umpire. Mandhana goes upstairs after a bit of consultation, and gets three reds on Hawk-Eye to reverse the on-field decision. Excellent use of technology! Supernovas 10/1

Athapaththu lbw Ecclestone 6(9)

After 1 over, Supernovas 3/0 (Athapaththu 2, Rodrigues 0)

Athapaththu’s on strike at the start of the over, leaving the first delivery alone. Second ball’s a wide down the off side. The Sri Lankan collects the first runs off the bat with a brace off the following delivery. The senior India pacer keeps it tight for the remainder of the over, bowling four consecutive dots.