Trailblazers Defeat Velocity By 16 Runs & Yet Crash Out Of Women's T20 Challenge 2022

Velocity will now meet Supernovas in the Women's T20 Challenge 2022 finals on 28th May (Saturday).

Cricket Image for Trailblazers Defeat Velocity By 16 Runs & Yet Crash Out Of Women's T20 Challenge 2 (Image Source: IPLT20.com)

After setting a record target against Velocity, Trailblazers held their nerve as they restricted the opposition to 174/9, winning the match by 16 runs. However, Trailblazers needed to win the match by 31 or more runs to enter the finals. 
Velocity were off to a explosive start as openers Shafali Verma & Yastika Bhatia added 36 runs in the first overs, before Yastika was dismissed by Salma Khatun on the last ball of the 4th over. 
Kiran Navgire, Thailand's powerhouse & playing her first match of the season, smashed 69 runs in 34 deliveries with 5 fours & 5 sixes at a strike rate of 202.94. However, the regular fall of wickets at the other end, and Navgire's dismissal in the 17th over by Sophia Dunkley ended all hopes for Veloctiy.
For Supernovas, Gayakwad & Poonam Yadav picked up 2 wickets each while Renuka Singh, Hayley Matthews, Salma Khatun & Sophia Dunkley picked up 1 wicket each to restrict the team 16 runs short of the target. 
In the first innings, Sabbhineni Meghana &  Jemimah Rodrigues scored excellent fifties as they powered Trailblazers to 190/5 against Velocity in a must-win game in the 3rd match of the Women's T20 League. Overseas players Hayley Matthews & Sophia Dunkley also provided excellent finishing to take Trailblazers to the biggest total in Women's T20 Cricket. 

Trailblazers lost opener & captain Smriti Mandhana early in the 3rd over. However, youngster Sabbhineni Meghana and Indian player Jemimah Rodrigues etched a massive partnership of 113 runs in 73 deliveries for the second wicket to put the team on the path for a massive total. 

Subbhineni Meghana was finally dismissed in the 15th over after scoring 73 runs in just 47 deliveries with 7 fours & 4 sixes, at an impeccable strike rate of 155.32 before getting dismissed by Sneh Rana at a team total of 126. 

Jemimah Rodrigues was also dismissed two overs later by Ayabonga Khaka after scoring 66 runs in 44 deliveries with 7 fours & a six at a total of 157. Hayley Matthews & Sophia Dunkley held the crease and guided with their explosive finishing. Matthews scored 27 runs in 16 deliveries while Dunkley scored 19 runs in 8 deliveries before getting dismissed in the final over. 

For Velocity, Simran Bahadur picked up 2 wickets while Kate Cross, Sneh Rana & Ayabonga Khaka picked up 1 wicket each. 
Earlier, Velocity won the toss & opted to bowl first against Trailblazers in the 3rd match of Women's T20 Challenge 2022. This match is being played at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.