On November 4, Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas started their title defence in the Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 against Mithali Raj’s Velocity with the latter winning that game by five wickets. However, on November 5, the Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers bowled Velocity out for 47 runs and comfortably won that game by nine wickets, which meant that Supernovas had to beat Trailblazers to defend their title in the final. On November 7, the Supernovas beat the Trailblazers by two runs.
Now, the Supernovas will be looking to three-peat, as they take on the Trailblazers in the Women's T20 Challenge 2020 final at Sharjah on Monday. This season, the Supernovas’ batting has been heavily reliant on opener Chamari Athapaththu, who is the tournament's leading run-scorer going into the final, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Priya Punia did make a useful 30 against Trailblazers but struggled to pick the gaps throughout her knock.
In the bowling department, Ayabonga Khaka and Shakera Selman have done well with the new ball and they were complemented well by the spinners. Death bowling has proved to be a problem for the Supernovas. However, in a must-win game Radha Yadav bowled an exceptional last over against the already-qualified Trailblazers where she defended nine to help her side make to their third consecutive final.
For Trailblazers, the spinners have done the heavy lifting. World’s top-ranked T20I bowler and England's Sophie Ecclestone picked a fifer to restrict Velocity for 47 in the first game of the Women’s T20 Challenge. She was well supported by Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
The Trailblazers hasn’t heavily relied entirely on their star openers, Smrithi Mandhana and Caribbean star Deandra Dottin. Both Dottin and Mandhana have been consistent, but it was Deepti and Harleen Deol with their quick-fire fifty partnership in slog overs almost sending the defending champions home. The lower order firing is a welcome relief for the Trailblazers.
With the game being played in Sharjah, a scoring 140-160 should be winnable but also toss will be crucial with the dew expected to play a major factor.
