The first match of the 2020 Women’s T20 Challenge saw Mithali Raj’s Velocity taking on Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas in Sharjah. Velocity fielded first after Mithali Raj won the toss.

Chamari Athapaththu made 44 with 2 fours and 2 sixes, while captain Harmanpreet made 31 with 2 sixes and 1 four as Supernovas managed 126/8 in 20 overs. Shashikala Siriwardene made 18 and Priya Punia contributed 11 runs.

From Velocity, Ekta Bisht took 3/22, while Leigh Kasperek (2/23) and Jahanara Alam (2/27) were the other wicket-takers.

In reply, Ayabonga Khaka removed Dannie Wyatt for a duck, and Siriwardene got rid of Mithali, who made 7 runs in 19 balls. Shafali Verma looked good in her 11-ball 17 with 4 fours, but Khaka picked her wicket as well.

Veda Krishnamurthy (29) and Sushma Verma (34 with 2 sixes) had a small partnership but it all came down to 9 runs in the last over. Velocity was lucky to have Sune Luus at the crease and she guided her team over the finishing line with 37* in 21 balls with 4 fours and 1 six.

Velocity won by five wickets.

BRIEF SCORES:

SN 126/8 (C ATHAPATHTHU 44; E BISHT 3/22) lost to VEL 129/5 (S LUUS 37*; A KHAKA 2/27) by 5 wickets.