Women’s T20 Challenge 2020, Final: Trailblazers vs Supernovas – Highlights, Twitter Reactions

Trailblazers won the Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 after beating two-time champions Supernovas by 16 runs in the final of this tournament at Sharjah Cricket Stadium (Sharjah). It is the first time when Trailblazers won the Women’s T20 Challenge trophy.

Supernovas captain Harmanpreet Kaur decided to field first after winning the toss. Trailblazers scored just 118/8 (20 overs) at the end of the first innings. Later, Supernovas only managed to score 102/7 (20 overs).

Women’s T20 Challenge 2020, Final: Trailblazers vs Supernovas – Highlights

Supernovas innings

In the second over of that innings, opener Sophie Ecclestone dismissed the in-form opener Chamari Atapattu for just 6 runs.

After the powerplay, Supernovas lost two quick wickets as Deepti Sharma dismissed Taniya Bhatia (14) and another opener Jemimah Rodrigues (13) in her first two overs.

Then captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Shashikala Siriwardene put the crucial 37 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. Though Siriwardene was dismissed in 15th over after scoring 19 runs, skipper Harmanpreet continued her batting and fought hard to guide the team to the target.

But in the 19th over, Trailblazers got three wickets, including a run-out and the dismissal of skipper Harmanpreet. After scoring fighting 30 runs off 36 balls, the captain was bowled by Salma Khatun. That over was enough for Trailblazers to confirm their victory and they didn’t wait too long to secure that dream.

Scorecard:

Trailblazers innings

Openers Deandra Dottin and captain Smriti Mandhana set up a good start as they managed to build up the score 45/0 at the end of the powerplay. They further stretched that opening partnership to 71 runs where skipper Mandhana mostly dominated.

In the 12th over, Poonam Yadav finally brought the breakthrough as she dismissed the opener Dottin for 20 runs. Mandhana completed his half-century in that same over as she took 38 balls to complete his 50 runs.

In the 15th over, skipper Mandhana was stumped out after scoring 68 runs off 49 balls with the help of 5 fours and 3 sixes. While Shashikala Siriwardene got that wicket, Trailblazers then struggled to grow up that innings in that late period. After that big dismissal, they only managed to add 17 runs in last 5.1 overs as they went down from 101/1 to 118/8.

Radha Yadav dominated that late period as she created history by becoming the first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in the Women’s T20 Challenge history. She finished that innings with the bowling figures of 4-0-16-5.

In the meantime, apart from the openers, only Richa Ghosh reached the double-digit figures in that innings as she only scored 10 runs.

Scorecard:

Women’s T20 Challenge 2020, Final: Trailblazers vs Supernovas – Twitter Reactions

Trailblazers deserving winners. @mandhana_smriti led the way and despite the superb effort from Radha managed to hold on. Chamari was the key and then Harman’s injury. Serious talent on show and hope a WIPL happens in 2022 for sure. @BCCIWomen #WomensT20Challenge

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) November 9, 2020

Well tried, @ImHarmanpreet 👏👏 one-woman army…was almost on one leg. But fought till the end.
2020 ain’t anything like 2019…. #WomensT20Challenge has a new champion. It’s @mandhana_smriti #Trailblazers 👍✌️🙌

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 9, 2020

Congratulations @Dottin_5 on winning the #WomensT20Challenge with the #Trailblazers.

Well done Dee👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/XMGpB3pHIJ

— Naasira Mohammed (@NaasiraMohammed) November 9, 2020

Unreal. #WomensT20Challengepic.twitter.com/kidQsgi6Y9

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 9, 2020

Smriti Mandhana set up the win followed by a good bowling performance. Congrats to thr Trailblazers for winning the #WomensT20Challenge

— Naeemah Benjamin (@NaeemahBenjamin) November 9, 2020

This fielding effort is a befitting reply to anyone who says Women's cricket is less competitive. Take a bow, @NatthakanJeans for this "Wonder Woman" kind of effort. 🙌🏽 ❤️😍 #WomensT20Challenge https://t.co/XHFBJcPhIu

— Hate Slayer (@HateSlayer123) November 9, 2020