Women's T20 Challenge: Supernovas edge out Trailblazers in last-ball thriller

Mumbai: Harmanpreet Kaur-led Supernovas (SN)  scraped to three-wicket win from the last ball of the match against Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers (TBZ) to win the Women's T20  Challenge game at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. Danielle Wyatt top-scored for the blues with 24 runs.

With 4 runs needed in the final over, the match looked like going into the super over thanks to some good bowling by Bates, but Ellyse Perry and Pooja Vastrakar held their nerves to take the team past the finish line.

Earlier opting to field first after winning the toss, Supernova bowlers Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry made early breakthrough dismissing Allysa Healy (7 runs), skipper Smriti Mandhana (14 runs)  and Beth Mooney  ( 4 runs) to leave TBZ at 26-3.

Cameo from Deepti Sharma (21 runs),  Suzie Bates (32 runs) and Jemimah Rodriguez (25 runs) ensured that  TBZ reached 129/6 in 20 overs.

Later chasing 130  for victory, SN openers Mithali Raj and Danielle Wyatt put on 47 run partnership for the opening wicket. Poonam Yadav and Ekta Bisht dismissed both the players in a quick session.

Poonam Yadav got her second wicket of the match by dismissing Meg Lanning for just 26 runs.  Sophie Devine (19 runs) and Veda Krishnamurthy (2 runs )  were also sent back to the dugout in quick succession.  Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in with  21 runs before being dismissed by Suzie Bates.

When history was made in silence

 BCCI today made history when they organised the first IPL  Women's T20 challenge, which saw some world class women players taking part in the historic match.

The stage was set on Tuesday afternoon when Supernova led by Harmanpreet Kaur took on Trailblazers led by Smriti Mandhana.
Even though both the teams played out last ball thriller, there was no standing ovation or enough appreciation as empty stands gave
a clear picture of poorly the game was organized.

 The major factors which led to the downfall of such a historic game were the timing and lack of awareness among fans saw a near empty stadium, where some of the best cricketers slogged in such a heat.

With the IPL  qualifiers scheduled to take place in the evening at 7 pm,  the match was scheduled for 2 pm, which is ideally the time, when people are working in their office. With the big game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super, Kings fans decided to give the game a skip decided against preponing their visit to the Wankhede.

The few hundred fans who did turn up for the game appreciated the women cricketers for their effort .