We gave our best because we were unsure when we’ll play next: Trailblazers captain Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana motivated her players by telling them that the 20 overs of the final against Supernovas were the last of the Women's T20 Challenge
The Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers on Mondays defeated Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas in the final of the Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 by 16 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Ground to clinch their maiden title.
Asked to bat first, Mandhana plaed a captain’s innings of 68 runs (49 balls, 5x4s, 3x6s). Deandra Dottin’s 20 were also important as Trailblazers reached the fighting 118/8 wickets in 20 overs.
Defending the total, Radha Yadav was the chief architect of Trailblazers’ victory as she wreaked havoc and returned with the figures of 5/34. Barring Richa Ghosh (10), the other Supernovas batswomen failed to touch the double digit mark.
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Meanwhile, Radha also became the first player to claim a five-wicket haul in the history of the Women’s T20 Challenge.
Chasing the paltry target, Supernovas never looked in control as Trailblazers bowlers clicked in unison, jolting them at regular intervals.
Trailblazers skipper Harmanpreet Kaur tried her best to help her team cross the line with a gritty 30-run knock. However, she lacked support from her other batswomen.
Jemimah Rodrigues, Taniya Bhatia and Shashikala Siriwardene chipped in with 13, 14 and 19 runs respectively, but they all failed to convert the start as Trailblazers fell short by 16 runs in their 20 overs.
Bangladeshi off-spinner Salma Khatun (3/18) was the wrecker-in-chief for Trailblazers while offie Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone settled with two and one wicket respectively.
Smriti was adjudged the Player of the Final and Radha was named Player of the Series.
Brief scores: Trailblazers: 118/8 wkts in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 68, Deandra Dottin 20, Radha Yadav 5/16) beat Supernovas: 102/7 wkts in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 30, Shashikala Siriwardene 19, Salma 3/18, Deepti 2/9) by 16 runs
With IANS inputs
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