Women’s T20 Challenge 2019, Match 3, Supernovas vs Velocity, Preview: Venomous Velocity look to tame Harmanpreet and Co

The scenario is pretty clear for the Supernovas, who have no other option but to win this game to stay alive.

Published - 08 May 2019, 22:35 IST | Updated - 08 May 2019, 22:35 IST

2 Min Read

With a brilliant bowling display, Velocity managed to defeat Smriti Mandhana’s Trailblazers with ease. This win for Velocity has left the Tri-series wide open for all possible results. Trailblazers have completed their two matches and will have to hope for Velocity to win again on Thursday just to ensure they get into the finals.

The scenario is pretty clear for the Supernovas, who have no other option but to win this game to stay alive. They lost the opening encounter by the skin of their teeth, despite the excellent fight back from Sophie Devine and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. They conceded a bit too many runs with the ball, especially when Smriti Mandhana was in action and would want to correct that aspect.

It will be a very tight contest and both sides would be hoping for some fortunes to go their way. On paper, they both have some match-winners on their sides and would be keen to deliver a knockout punch to each other.

Playing Combinations

Supernovas

No changes are expected in the Supernovas lineup, but Harmanpreet might consider bringing in Mansi Joshi in place of Lea Tahuhu since the track is clearly on the slower side. Their middle order looks pretty solid with Harmanpreet Kaur, Natalie Sciver and Sophie Divine and they need some more runs from the top three than they did last time. Anuja Patel bowled splendidly alongside Radha Yadav in the previous game and the duo once again will be crucial.

Probable XI: Priya Punia, Chamari Athapaththu, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Natalie Sciver, Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu/Mansi Joshi, Taniya Bhatia (WK), Anuja Patil, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav

Velocity

Velocity might go unchanged despite playing their previous game just 24 hours prior to the start of this one. Amelia Kerr and Ekta Bisht bowled brilliantly for the side and completely stemmed the run flow. Danielle Wyatt and Shafali Verma got among the runs with skipper Mithali Raj getting a decent start. If not for Deepti Sharma’s brilliant spell, they would’ve finished the game much earlier. They perhaps would need more runs from Veda Krishnamurthy this time.

Probable XI: Hayley Matthews, Shefali Verma, Danielle Wyatt, Mithali Raj (c), Veda Krishnamurthy, Sushma Verma (wk), Amelia Kerr, Shikha Pandey, Sushree Pradhan, Komal Zanzad, Ekta Bisht

Focus will be on

Anuja Patil (Supernovas)

All eyes will be on the spinners for this crucial game and the Supernovas will be banking on Anuja Patil to deliver another good performance. She gave away just 12 runs in her 4 overs, picking up a wicket. Harmanpreet will continue with her as the new ball bowler and might bring another spinner in the power play if the fast bowlers are being taken apart.

Danielle Wyatt (Velocity)

Clearly one of the superstars in the T20 format, Danielle Wyatt got off to a blazing start on a very difficult track the other day. She has two hundreds to her name in this format and will continue to be their most important batswoman. If she and Mithali Raj can get going together, Jaipur will be witnessing something very special.