Jaipur: Trailblazers withstood the onslaught of hard-hitting Harmanpreet Kaur to pull-off a thrilling two-run win over Supernovas in the opening game of the Women’s T20 Challenge in Jaipur on Monday.
Needing 19 off the final over, Supernovas skipper Harmanpreet (46 not out off 34) almost got her team over the line with some sensational hitting but veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami held her nerve after being smashed for four consecutive boundaries. In response to Trailblazers’ 140 for 5, Supernovas ended agonisingly short at 138 for 6. Harmanpreet and Kiwi Sophie Devine (32) took the game deep with a 48-run stand for the fifth wicket.
The game was an ideal advert for women’s cricket and before Harmanpreet’s cameo, it was explosive opener and Trailblazers skipper Smriti Mandhana who enthralled the Jaipur crowd with a match-winning 90 off 67 balls. Mandhana took the team to a fighting total after Supernovas opted to field on a slow surface at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Stroke making was tough on a rather slow surface and though 141 seemed like a comfortable target, Supernovas had to work hard for every run. Poor fielding let Trailblazers down but they still managed to get the result they wanted.
Brief scores
Trailblazers 140 for 5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 90 — 67b, 10x4, 3x6, Harleen Deol 36, Radha Yadav 2/28) bt Supernovas 138 for 6 in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 26, Jemimah Rodrigues 24, Harmanpreet Kaur 46 not out, Sophie Devine 32, Sophie Ecclestone 2/11, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/17).
