Supernovas, which has won both the editions of the Women’s T20 Challenge, has to defeat Trailblazers on Saturday if it wants to complete a hat-trick. Having lost a thriller to Velocity in its first match, the champion needs to get its act together.
Trailblazers is placed well in the race for a place in the final after its crushing win over Velocity with plenty of wickets and overs to spare.
Because of its vastly superior net run-rate, it just has to avoid a massive defeat.
If Supernovas wins, all the three sides will finish with two points each — like they did last year — and the net run-rate will decide the finalists.
Better batting display
Harmanpreet Kaur’s women have to bat better than they did against Velocity in the opening match.
Chamari Atapattu and the captain had batted well, but the team also needs runs from the likes of Jemimah Rodrigues and Priya Punia.
The spinning Yadavs, Poonam and Radha, and overseas seamers Ayabonga Khaka Shakera Selman form a good attack, but it is up against a quality batting line-up headed by Trailblazers captain Smriti Mandhana, who will be keen to regain her form. Her opening partner Deandra Dottin had led the chase of the small target against Velocity and had looked in good touch.
That win was set up by the bowlers, among whom left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone stood out. Seamer Jhulan Goswami and spinners Rajeshwary Gayakwad were also impressive.
Supernovas has a tough job on its hands.
Teams
Supernovas: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues (vc), Chamari Atapattu, Priya Punia, Anuja Patil, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shashikala Siriwardene, Poonam Yadav, Shakera Selman, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Ayushi Soni, Ayabonga Khaka and Muskan Malik.
Trailblazers: Smriti Mandhana (c), Deepti Sharma (vc), Punam Raut, Richa Ghosh, D Hemalatha, Nuzhat Parween (wk), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Harleen Deol, Jhulan Goswami, Simaran Dil Bahadur, Salma Khatun, Sophie Ecclestone, Natthakan Chantham, Deandra Dottin and Kashvee Gautam.
Match starts at 7.30 p.m.
