In the final of the Women’s T20 Challenge 2020, Trailblazers defeated Supernovas by 16 runs to win the tournament at Sharjah Cricket Stadiu🏅m on Monday.
Chasing a paltry target of 119, Supernovas had a dreadful start as they lost opener Chamari Athapaththu in the second over of the innings bowled by Sophie Ecclestone.
Soon, Deepti Sharma provided the double breakthrough by dismissing Taniya Bhatia (14) and Jemimah Rodrigues (13) in her back-to-back overs.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (20) and Shashikala Siriwardene (19) stitched together a run-stand of 37 runs for the fourth wicket before Salma Khatun removed Siriwardene in the 15th over.
Khatun picked up two more wickets in the innings to restrict Supernovas at 102/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Radha Yadav’s five-for restricted Trailblazers at 118/8
Earlier, Trailblazers captain Smriti Mandhana (68 off 49 balls) and Deandra Dottin (20 off 32 balls) provided a solid start of 71 runs in 11 overs. Both batters were looking set to drive the team to a commendable position before Poonam Yadav dismissed Dottin in the 12th over.
Meanwhile, Mandhana smashed her first half-century in the tournament. The left-handed batter also formed a crucial partnership of 30 runs with Richa Ghosh (10) before Siriwardene sent Smr꧑iti back into the dugout in the 15th over.
Trailblazers failed to carry the momentum after Mandhana’s dismissal as Supernovas spinner Radha Yadav dismantled their batting unit. She picked up a five-wicket haul to trigger a middle-order collapse and restricted the opposition team at 118/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
WIN the
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL)
Congrats to on winning the …is this a sign ahead for tomorrow’s final?!!!
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93)
🏆 CHAMPIONS! 🏆
Congratulations to Tra🌳ilblazers who have won their maiden title!
They defeated previous winners Supernovas by 16 runs in Sharjah 🎊🧸
— ICC (@ICC)
Smriti Mandhana's Trailblazers in PINK are the Champions.
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall)
Smriti Mandhana and Co. beat Harmanpreet Kaur's brigade to win the Women's T20 Challenge 2020.
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
A fantastic bowling performance sees the win th๊e
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia)
🏆 𝘾 𝙃 𝘼 𝙈 𝙋 𝙄 𝙊 𝙉 𝙎 🏆 have won 🔯the by beating the defending champs .
— 100MB (@100MasterBlastr)
And some good captaincy throughout the three games. Used her resources well, got Richa to 'keep, used four spinners well. And in a low scoring game, had fielders in all the right positions and bowlers at the right times.
— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan)
Congratulations wi𝓀nner of ,whole team perf✅orm very good and nice knock of the captain In the Big game.
— Vivek Goswami (@VivekpuriGoswa5)
//twitter.com/msshibi/status/1325854552218718208
What a defend by They did it befre and did it today as well,Both captains played captain's knock Respect for has increased played in pain couldn't win title but won the 💙 And as well Beautiful Shots she played
— Sheetal Maurya (@SheetalMaurya09)
Smriti Mandhana's Trailblazers in PINK are the Champions.
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall)
