🏏Women's T20 Challenge, 22 Finals: Supernovas vs Velocity🏏

The big day is here as the 2022 Women's T20 Challenge (WTC) will be held tonight (May 28) at Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium. The best two teams have made it into the Playoffs after three league matches.

It will be Harmanpreet Kaur's Supernovas up against Deepti Sharma led Velocity this time around in the summit clash of the triangular tournament – a match that has the makings of a blockbuster of an encounter.

While the Trailblazers too finished with a win, much like the finalists, their net run rate was inferior to the other two teams which is the reason they could not take part in the summit clash. However, that result has set the stage perfectly for the finale with both the sides heading into this game with a defeat but with a chance to lift the trophy at stake neither team would want to make any mistakes in the summit clash.

The Velocity will be hoping to win their maiden title whereas the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Supernovas would be eyeing a record third trophy this time aroud, having won the first two editions of the tournament in 2018 and 2019. They were beaten in the last edition's (2020) final in Sharjah by the Trailblazers.

This is the second time Supernovas and Velocity are playing the final having faced each other in the title-decider in 2019 at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The Supernovas had won a thrilling clash by four wickets to win the trophy.

The Supernovas started their campaign with a thumping win over the Trailblazers before they went down to Velocity by seven wickets. Velocity, on the other hand, lost their last encounter to the Trailblazers by 16 runs and despite the loss, set up a final clash with Supernovas courtesy of a far superior NRR as compared to the Smriti Mandhana-led side’s

Supernovas, the inaugural champions, qualified for their fourth final in the Women's T20 Challenge. They benefitted greatly with a 49-run win against the defending champions Trailblazers in the first game of the season and even though they lost their second game against Velocity, their NRR remained positive, enough for them to qualify for the final.

Velocity have probably been the best team in the competition. Even though they lost their last game against the Trailblazers, if any team could chase down a total of 190, it was Velocity and the likes of Shafali Verma, Kiran Navgire and Laura Wolvaardt tried their best, however, they fell short by 16 runs.

The last time these two teams met, Shafali and Wolvaardt's half-centuries helped Velocity chase down the target of 151 runs.

Key Players to Watch

Kiran Navgire: The 27-year-old uncapped Velocity big-hitter announced herself to the world with the first ball she faced. Off went a crackling six, the first of her 10 boundaries during a 34-ball 69 against Trailblazers. Along the way, she broke Shafali's record for the fastest Women's T20 Challenge fifty, waltzing to the milestone in just 25 balls.

"Everybody enjoyed her innings," Harmanpreet said on the eve of the final. "The first ball she faced showed the kind of player she is and how beneficial she can be [for the teams she plays for] in the future. The momentum Velocity got through her innings was outstanding. It was really delightful to see someone from India hit the ball into the stands. I am really hoping for a great future for her."

Harmanpreet Kaur: Averaging 54 with a chart-topping 108 runs from two innings, Harmanpreet is the form batter of the tournament. She followed up her 37 in the opening game with a gritty 71 and she has lived up to her reputation as a gun fielder, taking blinders and haring across the boundary to save runs.

"If you perform in these games, you can carry lots of confidence with you ahead. I am glad that whatever I am trying, I am able to do that and trying to help my team-mates also," Harmanpreet, the India T20I captain, said.

"This tournament definitely plays a big role for us [because] we are not getting many series before the Commonwealth [Games T20 starting July 29]," she added. "Whatever [chances] we have, I want to give them my 100%, so that once the Commonwealth Games start, I should be in a good frame of mind.

Pooja Vastrakar: Another standout India international in this competition, pace-bowling allrounder Vastrakar is placed atop the wickets chart with five strikes, including a T20 best of 4 for 12, from two innings. With the bat, she added a 12-ball 14 at No. 7 in Supernovas' opening win while also being one of the quickest movers in the field all through.

"The way she performed in the World Cup and especially in these two games was outstanding to watch," Harmanpreet said. "She is someone who is now coming up with the ideas; you don't need to spoon-feed her and she's bowling the way she wants to bowl. You need a player like her who can read the game very well … The way she is taking the responsibility - that's how I expect the other players to do their job. She is on the right track."

What to look forward to

🔹Ecclestone and King spinning a web: The two Supernovas spinners have picked up only two wickets apiece so far. Still, their ability to break partnerships and check the run-flow at crucial stages has played a part in Supernovas' run to the final.

How left-arm spinner Ecclestone fares against Velocity's left-hand batters Yastika Bhatia and Deepti is worth keeping an eye on. As for wristspinner King, who tested Shafali in patches on Tuesday, her face-off with the other power-hitter, Navgire, could be just as riveting.

🔹Improved fielding from Velocity: Four dropped catches off straightforward chances against Trailblazers nearly derailed their campaign. Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, and Ayabonga Khaka were the guilty parties in that game and there were slip-ups in ground fielding, too.

By contrast, Supernovas have been a less iffy fielding side, though Deandra Dottin uncharacteristically shelling a catch, of Shafali, at point did contribute to their loss to Velocity. Under lights, and in blustery conditions at the MCA Stadium, the team that holds on to their catches could eventually be the one that gets their hands on the trophy.

TEAM SQUADS

🔸Team Supernovas

🔹Team Velocity

Probable Playing XIs

Supernovas: 1 Priya Punia, 2 Deandra Dottin*, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Taniya Bhatia (vice-capt), 5 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 6 Sune Luus*, 7 Pooja Vastrakar, 8 Sophie Ecclestone*, 9 Alana King*, 10 Rashi Kanojia, 11 Meghna Singh

Velocity: 1 Shafali Verma, 2. Yastika Bhatia, 3. Kiran Navgire, 4. Laura Wolvaardt*, 5. Deepti Sharma (capt), 6. Sneh Rana (vice-capt), 7. Natthakan Chantham*, 8. Radha Yadav, 9. Simran Bahadur, 10. Kate Cross*, 11. Ayabonga Khaka*

Pitch Report

Deep Dasgupta: We're back on the pitch that was used for the first game. It looks fabulous. An even covering of grass and the batters should enjoy batting on it. From the bowling point of view, it is important to get your lines right. You have to bowl a lot straighter when bowling from the North End. While bowling from the South End, you want to be bowling well outside off. Another high-scoring encounter is foreseen.

🪙 Toss🪙

🔸 Velocity won the toss and are bowling first

Deepti Sharma, Velocity captain: We're going to bowl first. There is a bit of freedom for the bowlers early on, and that's why we wanted to chase. Chasing is the preferred option as well. Same team. We want to get better with the bat.

: We are going to bowl first. We want to chase it. One change for us. Feeling very good after that win, enjoying the moment. We need to sticks to the basics.

Harmanpreet Kaur, Supernovas captain : We were looking to bat only. Chasing is difficult here. We are looking to set 160 on the board and then we have a great bowling side. We have two changes. We need to start well. The first six overs are very important. Getting 40 runs on the board in the first six overs without losing wickets would be good. With wickets in hand, we could look at setting a strong total.

•> Changes made today in playing XI

🔸Team Velocity : No change.

🔹Team Supernovas: Mansi Joshi IN, Meghna OUT

Rashi IN, Chandu OUT

Velocity won the toss and are bowling first

Shripad: "While it is better to have something than nothing this short tournament does not do justice to the potential and the quality of women cricketers. There should be a WIPL, with at least 5 or 6 teams." You must be echoing the view of millions of cricket followers in India

Harmanpreet - Chasing is difficult on this ground and we were looking to bat first if we had won the toss. We have a good bowling line-up. We have two changes - Mansi and Rashi come in place of Meghna Singh and Chandu

Deepti Sharma - Chasing happens well as we saw in the previous games. We want our players to play well. No changes in our team.

Pitch Report: The North End has smaller boundaries on the square and behind square on the off side. The lines have to be perfect as you should ensure that the batters are hitting against the wind rather than with the wind. The pitch is a batter's paradise.

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