Supernovas squeak through: Unique women’s T20 challenge produces intense contest

Harmanpreet Kaur’s stunning catch at mid-on that dispatched her counterpart Smriti Mandhana to the dug out in the third over reflected the intensity of the contest between the Trailblazers and Supernovas in the Women’s T20 Challenge here on Tuesday.

Soon Veda Krishnamurthy cut short Beth Mooney’s tenure in the middle of the fourth over, plucking the ball in the air at mid-on. Then Australia’s Elysse Perry took a dipping catch two-handed at long-on as the Trailblazers’ Jemimah Rodrigues tried to hit out in the end.

These three wonderful catches compensated for some dismal batting effort by both teams, but strangely it was a fielding lapse by Trailblazers’ Jhulan Goswami at short mid-wicket that prevented the unique 13-a-side exhibition match from ending in a tie.

Last ball win

As a result of the dropped catch, Pooja Vastrakar and Perry ran a single that enabled the Supernovas to win of the last ball, when the women attired in pink should have done so at canter while chasing a modest 129.

Cruising at 106 for three in the 15th over, the Supernovas saw wickets tumble with medium-pacer Suzie Bates removing Harmanpreet and Sophie Devine and Jhulan getting rid of Veda.

Smriti effected a direct hit to run out Mona Meshram, before Suzie held her nerves and sent down the last six balls of the match for a tight finish.

Earlier, Suzie had anchored the Trailblazers’ innings in the first session that started at 2 p.m. with the stands virtually empty. Apart from Suzie’s 32, the highest score for the match, young Jemimah showed glimpses of her promise with a 22-ball 25 for the Trailblazers.

Then the Supernovas openers Mithali Raj and Danielle Wyatt hit out to make 47 for the first wicket off 34 balls after which their side struggled all the way.