Cricket News: Supernovas beat Velocity to win women’s T20 challenge

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's blistering half-century helped Supernovas win the inaugural season of the Womens T20 Challenge 2019 as they defeated Velocity in a thriller by four wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Chasing the 122-run target, Supernovas were hobbling midway as they were reduced to 64/5. But Harmanpreet not only anchored the innings but also clobbered most Velocity bowlers. Chasing 122 for victory, Supernovas were off to a poor start as they lost opener Chamari Athapaththu early. Priya Punia (29 off 21) and Jemimah Rodrigues (22 off 25) then repaired the early damage, adding 44 runs for the second wicket as Supernovas crossed the 50-run mark in 9.3 overs. With everything going Supernovas' way, Amelia Kerr came with a much-needed breakthrough for Velocity and cut short Rodrigues's stay in the middle in the 10th over. Supernovas then witnessed a middle-order collapse. They lost Punia, Natalie Sciver (2 off 6) and Sophie Devine within the next 11 runs. But Harmanpreet rose to the occasion, took the command and denied her opponents making any further inroads.