Shafali Verma blazed away at the top before Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten half-century helped Velocity beat Supernovas by seven wickets in the Women’s T20 Challenge.
Velocity set a target of 151 after opting to field and finished with 10 balls to spare.
Laura Wolvaard (51 off 35 balls) and Deepti Sharma (24 not out) saw their side home comfortably after Shafali’s breezy 51 in 33 balls.
Velocity lost Natthakan Chantham (1) early in the chase for a difficult target, but the big-hitting
Women’s T20 Challenge
By the end of the six power play overs, Shafali had decided to go all out, and the team had raced to 60 for the loss of only one wicket.
Shafali reached her half-century in a flash, taking only 28 runs to reach the milestone.
She did so in style, pulling Deandra Dottin over midwicket for a boundary.Despite only scoring 17 points off 13 balls, Yastika Bhatia provided Shafali with company when the team needed it the most after suffering an early setback.
Shafali was bowled out after an aggressive 51 off 33 balls by Dottin, but the Velocity were able to cruise home with ease thanks to the experienced duo of Wolvaardt and Sharma.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain, had earlier top-scored with a 51-ball 71 as Supernovas posted 150 for five.
After winning the toss, the Velocity elected to bowl, and their bowlers appeared to have done a decent job before Harmanpreet’s onslaught.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s T20 captain, smashed seven fours and three sixes in a scintillating knock that battered the Velocity bowers.
Taniya Bhatia contributed with a solid 36 off 32 balls
During her time in the middle, Bhatia, who is now a member of the Indian women’s senior team, set three records.After their team was reduced to 18 for three in the fourth over, Harmanpreet and Bhatia added an invaluable 82 runs for the fourth wicket.
Sune Luss batted down the order and scored an unbeaten 20 in 14 balls, hitting three fours.
Kate Cross was the most successful of the Velocity bowlers, taking 2/24 in her four overs, while Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav each took a wicket, with the latter taking the crucial wicket of Harmanpreet Singh.
Despite this, Supernovas managed to score a respectable total, and Velocity will have to bat exceptionally well to reach the target at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
