Twitter Reactions: Sophie Ecclestone, Deandra Dottin star as Trailblazers ease past Velocity

Velocity were brimming with confidence after turning over the defending champions Supernovas on Wednesday. Sushma Verma and Sune Luus’ heroics took them over the line. However, Mithali Raj and Co were given a reality check as the Smriti Mandhana-led Trailblazers handed them a nine-wicket defeat at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The game ended with as many as 73 balls remaining.

Trailblazers’ bowlers come to the party

After electing to bat first, Velocity didn’t make the worst of starts. Shafali Verma and Danielle Wyatt scored 17 runs off 14 balls to get things going. But from there on, the Velocity batters capitulated one after the another. From 17 for no loss, they were reduced to 27 for seven in a space of six overs. Jhulan Goswami castled Verma, who was looking ominous with a 9-ball 13, to start the carnage.

Sophie Ecclestone, thereafter, wreaked havoc. The left-arm spinner nipped out Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy and Sushma Verma in quick succession. Sune Luus, the Player of the Match against the Supernovas, fell prey to Rajeshwari Gayakwad. Shikha Pandey and Leigh Kasperek got 10 and 11 runs respectively, but their efforts could only help the Velocity to a paltry 47 in 15.1 overs.

Dottin finishes off gracefully

In the first three overs of their run-chase, the Trailblazers strained a tad. Deandra Dottin threw her bat around without much success. She took the aerial route but somehow couldn’t find the fence. Smriti Mandhana took the attacking route as well but perished to Kasperek. The batter tried to clear the leg-side boundary but holed out to Bangladesh’s Jahanara Alam after scoring six off nine balls.

Dottin, somehow, managed to find her rhythm. She was severe on Ekta Bisht, who went at a rate of 10.36 in the 1.5 overs she bowled. Dottin stayed unbeaten on 29 runs off 28 balls with the help of three fours. Richa Ghosh also looked impressive as she scored 13 runs off 10 deliveries and also smashed Bisht for a six downtown. The win also took the Trailblazers to the top of the points table.

Here’s how the netizens reacted on the Trailblazers’ victory:

17-year old Richa Ghosh can bat. Exciting days to come.#WomensT20Challenge

— T#€ 🅱💙🆖 Gu¥ (@SarkarSpeaking) November 5, 2020

They can play a T10 here with the time left. #WomensT20Challenge

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) November 5, 2020

A stunning start to the #WomensT20Challenge for @Sophecc19!

She returned figures of 3.1-1-9-4 today 🔥 pic.twitter.com/K6KHktnI2A

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 5, 2020

Trailblazers could have won by 10 wickets. Unnecessary shot by smriti 😪
Btw well played girls 🤝👏#WomensT20Challenge

— 𐌀𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑎💫 (@tweet_anisha) November 5, 2020

An amazing all round performance by #Trailblazers
Brilliant stuff!! 🔥🔥🔥#WomensT20Challenge #SM18 #Smriti

— Hriday Arora (@hridaywithanh) November 5, 2020

At least one day gap is needed. #WomensT20Challenge

— ᐯ ﾒ ᗪ (@VIDTweetshere) November 5, 2020

#Trailblazers defeat #Velocity by 9 wickets, finish the match within 8 overs. Clinical. #WomensT20Challenge

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) November 5, 2020

Velocity breaks RCB's record.
Best gift on birthday to @imVkohli
and co.#Velocity #WomensT20Challenge

— N¡¥A MI 💙 (@Im_NiyaRoy) November 5, 2020

Harmanpreet kaur 31 runs
Mithali raj 8 runs ( 2 matches)
Smriti mandhana 6 runs 🙄🙄🙄#WomensT20Challenge

— Sugu (@vasugi29) November 5, 2020

Richa Gosh ❤️❤️
And of course Sophie Ecclestone too ❤️❤️#WomensT20Challenge

— Gongali Appaji (@goldbelt_appaji) November 5, 2020

Proud moment for Odisha cricket as @SDibyadarshini bags a place in the playing 11 of #Velocity under the legendary @M_Raj03 in the #WomensT20Challenge. All the best!@cricket_odisha@sports_odisha@btushar02

— Dr. Amar Patnaik (@Amar4Odisha) November 5, 2020

Can't believe this has to be said in 2020 but please DO NOT call female players "my dear" or tell them to "keep smiling" when you are interviewing them in the post-match. FFS 😡 #WomensT20Challenge

— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) November 5, 2020

Don't call international sportswomen "my dear" in interviews.

You wouldn't say it to a man. It shouldn't need to be said. #womenst20challenge

— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) November 5, 2020