Trailblazers withstood the onslaught of hard-hitting Harmanpreet Kaur to pull-off a last ball thriller against Supernovas in the opening game of the Women’s T20 Challenge played at Sawai Mansingh 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 nerves after being smashed for four consecutive boundaries.
In response to Trailblazers’ 140 for five, Supernovas ended agonizingly 2 runs short at 138 for six. Harmanpreet and all-rounder Sophie Devine (32 off 22) took the game deep with a 48-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Earlier, Trailblazers skipper and explosive opener Smriti Mandhana enthralled the Jaipur crowd with a match-winning 90 off 67 balls. Mandhana took her side to a fighting total after Supernovas opted to bowl first on a tricky surface.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the match:
Good to see Smriti Mandhana continue her good form. She is going to be one of the major draws at the #WomensIPL
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 6, 2019
🙌👏#WIPL pic.twitter.com/SRXwfc8qp0
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 6, 2019
The Trailblazers Skipper @mandhana_smriti is the Player of the Match for her match-winning knock of 90 👌👌 pic.twitter.com/4rpes6skiI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 6, 2019
The two Sophies need to be given credit. Ecclestone and Devine were both superb and helped @mandhana_smriti and @ImHarmanpreet Rajeshwari also bowled beautifully. The straight one to Harman was a beauty.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) May 6, 2019
Supernovas vs Trailblazers match script is inspired from #RCBvCSK game.
19 runs were needed in last over and then
Jhulan Goswami did Umesh Yadav
Harmanpreet Kaur did MS Dhoni
Kalpana did Parthiv PatelBRILLIANT START FOR #WomensT20Challenge #WIPL #SPNvTRL
— Alexander Supertramp😕 (@IntoTheWildGuy) May 6, 2019
Great last ball run out by the wicket-keeper Kalpana – Dhoni style sprint to the stumps like in the WorldT20 vs Bangladesh – fantastic. #WIPL #IPL #WomensIPL
— Manish Pandey (@_ManishPandey) May 6, 2019
Crazy. Stupendous. @ImHarmanpreet
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 6, 2019
Women’s T20 challenge, Match 1: Smriti Mandhana (90 off 67 balls) was the star in the first match for Trailblazers v Supernovas.
Harmanpreet Kaur (46* off 34 balls) got Supernovas within the touching distance. Excellent start to the tournament #WIPL
PC: IPL/BCCI pic.twitter.com/BrhcgJXXVJ— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) May 7, 2019
19 Needed of 6 balls.
4,4,.,4,4,w Jersey Number 7 trying to finish it off for the #SuperNovas. But great knock @ImHarmanpreet just that couldn't cross the line #WIPL. A great start for WIPL.— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) May 6, 2019
Excellent first match at Jaipur. @mandhana_smriti scoring big and then bowlers surviving @ImHarmanpreet scare😮Well done #Supernovas
— Sunandan Lele (@sunandanlele) May 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/vaibhavbarange/status/1125449261510823936
https://twitter.com/OfficeOfTanisha/status/1125449148264620032
Smriti was brilliant in 1st innings
Harmanpreet Kaur is superb, she just did a Dhoni there
Overall great start to the tournament#WIPL
— Dharmesh (@Mumbaiikar) May 6, 2019
