Fifties from Shafali Verma (51) and Laura Wolvaardt (51*) helped the Velocity clinch a seven-wicket win over Supernovas in their first Women’s T20 Challenge match here at MCA Stadium in Pune. It was a great day for Velocity on-field. As they chased down a competitive target of 151 with help from half-centuries from Verna and Wolvaardt. With this win, Velocity are at the second position in the points table with two points. On the other hand, Supernovas are still at the first position with two points.
Chasing 151, Velocity were off a shaky start as they lost Natthakan Chantham for just 1 at team’s score of 6 off a Pooja Vastrakar delivery. Shafali Verma and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia resumed the chase. They soon brought up a 50-run stand. At the end of the powerplay in six overs, Velocity stood at 60/1, with Verma (47*) and Bhatia (10*). The 63-run stand was finally broken in the eighth over of the game when Deandra Dottin dismissed Bhatia for 17 off 13. Shortly, Varma brought her half-century in just 30 balls. She was finally dismissed by Dottin for 51 off 33, with assistance from Harmanpreet Kaur at the short third in the 10th over of the game.
At the end of 10 overs, Velocity stood at 82/3, with captain Deepti Sharma (1*) and Laura Wolvaardt (7*). The duo took their side to a win, with Wolvaardt completing her half-century. At the end of 18.2 overs, Velocity stood victorious at 151/3, with Sharma (24*) and Wolvaardt (51*). Dottin was the pick of the bowlers for Supernovas, picking up 2/21.
Earlier, a fighting half-century by captain Harmanpreet Kaur (71) and her 82-run stand with wicketkeeper-batter Taniya Bhatia (36) helped Supernovas reach 150/5 in their 20 overs against Velocity here at MCA Stadium in Pune.
It was a solid outing for Supernovas with the bat with great contributions from Kaur, Bhatiya and Sune Luus (20*). On the other hand, despite a great start with ball, Velocity could not hold their grip on the match for long as the Supernovas skipper took them to the cleaners.
Put to bat first by the Velocity, Supernovas were off an extremely poor start as pacer Kate Cross sent Priya Punia back to the pavilion for 4 after she was caught by Ayabonga Khaka at the covers in the third ball of the first over. In the third over as well, Cross dismissed Harleen Deol for 7 off 9 after she was caught by Laura Wolvaardt at the backward point. In the next over, all-rounder Deepti Sharma got the big wicket of Deandra Dottin for 6 off 9, sinking the Supernovas to 18/3. From then on, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Taniya Bhatia started the rescue act for the Supernovas. Both batters took on Velocity bowlers well.
At the end of powerplay in six overs, Supernovas stood at a sub-par 29/3, with Harmanpreet Kaur (7*) and Taniya Bhatia (5*). After the end of the powerplay, both the batters started attacking the Velocity bowlers, with pacer Ayabonga Khaka’s eighth over giving away 15 runs. At the end of 10 overs, Supernovas stood at 60/3, with Taniya Bhatia (20*) and Harmanpreet Kaur (21*). In the 12th over, the duo brought up the 50-run stand, with Taniya Bhatia (25*) and Harmanpreet Kaur (24*). In the 13th over of the innings, Kaur smashed spinner Maya Sonawane for a four and a six, with the bowler giving away 14 runs. This over turned out to be pretty expensive for Velocity and eased off a lot of pressure for Supernovas batters. The 14th over bowled by Deepti Sharma also gave away 11 runs.
In the 15th over of the game, Velocity finally got a breakthrough as Bhatia was run out for 36 off 32, ending her 82-run stand with Kaur.
This brought all-rounder Sune Luus to the crease, who had the responsibility to put finishing touches to Supernovas innings and post a fighting total on the board. In 15 overs, Supernovas stood at 103/4, with Harmanpreet Kaur (46*) and Sune Luus (1*). In the 17th over of the innings, Kaur brought her half-century. She survived an LBW appeal off a delivery by spinner Sneh Rana and took full advantage of it by smashing Rana for 4,6,4 in the final three balls of the over. The over gave away 15 runs and proved to give a boost to Supernovas innings.
In the final ball of the 19th over, Kaur was finally dismissed by spinner Radha Yadav for a quickfire 71 off 51 after her leg stump was dislodged while attempting to flick. Supernovas finished off their innings at a competitive 150/5 in their 20 overs, with Sune Luus (20*) and Pooja Vastrakar (2*) at the crease. Kate Cross was the pick of the bowlers for Velocity with 2/24. Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav got a wicket each too.