SUP vs VEL: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Stats, Pitch Report and more for Women’s T20 Challenge 2020, Match 1

There’s little that the game offers them, but the women cricketers have some action coming there over the next four days. Though very brief, the Women’s T20 Challenge still holds significance for women’s cricket. Given that the Indian women’s team has not played any form of professional cricket ever since the fateful day of March 8, they would be keen to make the most of what is expected to take the shape of a full-fledged IPL for the women in the future.

The third season of the event is all set to begin on November 4, with two-time champions Supernovas taking on the last year’s runners-up Velocity in Sharjah. Like the previous editions, the tournament will be played during the IPL playoffs, and the three teams will get to play three matches before the best two meet in the final scheduled to be played on 9^th November at Sharjah.

Although, unlike the previous editions, the tournament is not unsponsored this time around, and Reliance Jio’s interest in being the title sponsor might well be a preface to the better things in store in the future. Also, if the T20 World Cup earlier this year is any indicator, it seems, indeed, that the future for the fairer sex is bright.

Led by Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj, both the teams – Supernovas and Velocity respectively, are missing the likes of several of the game’s big names from Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand owing to the clash of the WT20C with the WBBL.

Nevertheless, there are many exciting and budding talents alongside some seasoned campaigners to watch out for. Given that there are only three matches that will decide the finalists, the margin of error in the event is the thinnest. No wonder, both the teams would eye to start with nothing lesser than a victory.

Pitch and conditions

The track at Sharjah was a belter in the initial leg of the IPL, however, a lot seems to have changed ever since and the track has gotten way slow and dry over time. Furthermore, the last league fixture of the league stage of the men’s tournament at Sharjah means that the track might be even slower. That said, the record of the chasing team has been unblemished in the last five games. If the women are having a keen eye on their male counterparts, the captains might prefer chasing than defending.

Playing Combinations for SUP vs VEL

Supernovas

Two-time champions Supernovas have a robust line-up of Indian batters, including skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues and, wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia. With arguably two of the finest spinners – Poonam Yadav and Radha Yadav – for India, alongside off-spinner Anuja Patil, their spin contingent looks daunting.

The current Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Atapattu will be seen in action alongside the former captain Sasikala Siriwardene., whereas the experienced West Indies pacer Shakera Selman and the Protea quick Ayabonga Khaka, will lead their pace attack.

Probable XI- Chamari Athapaththu, Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Shashikala Siriwardene, Anuja Patil, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Radha Yadav, Shakera Selman, Poonam Yadav, Ayobanga Khaka

Bench- Muskan Malik, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Ayushi Soni

Velocity

Last year’s runners-up Velocity have some dazzling Indian players in their ranks in the form of skipper Mithali Raj, Shafali Verma, and the likes of Veda Krishnamurthy, wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma, and pace-bowling all-rounder Shikha Pandey, in their middle-order, and Ekta Bisht. In their overseas contingent, the Velocity possesses South Africa’s Sune Luus and Leigh Kasperek, England’s Danielle Wyatt, and Bangladesh’s pacer Jahanara Alam.

Predicted XI- Shafali Verma, Danielle Wyatt, Mithali Raj (C), Sune Luus, Veda Krishnamurthy, Devika Vaidya, Sushma Verma (WK), Shikha Pandey, Jahanara Alam, Leigh Kasperek, Ekta Bisht

Bench– Meghna Singh, Sushree Dibyadarshini, Manali Dakshini, Anagha Murali

SUP vs VEL Head to Head

Played- 2 | SUP won- 2 | VEL won- 0 | NR- 0

SUP vs VEL Broadcast Details

Match timings – 06:00 PM Local time, 07:30 PM IST

TV – Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Select, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Select HD, and Star Sports 1 HD Hindi.

Live Streaming – The match can be streamed online on Disney + Hotstar VIP.