(Cricket news) The Women's T20 Challenge opener sees the two teams to have combined to win all the editions so far, and it promises to be a spectacle. Defending champions Trailblazers, led by Smriti Mandhana, take on Harmanpreet Kaur's Supernovas as the two-time champions in what is a three-season tournament looking to avenge their loss in the last edition. Since facing each other in the inaugural edition in Mumbai in 2018, the two sides have faced each other a further four times, including in two finals. While Supernovas rode Harmanpreet's 37-ball 51 to win the title clash in 2019, Mandana's 49-ball 68 gave Trailblazers the trophy in Sharjah in 2020 which was subsequently the last edition of the Women's T20 challenge.
The players to watch out for are:
- Smriti Mandhana: The opening batsman struck one half-century as she scored 236 runs in eight innings at the recent Senior Women's T20 Trophy, where she led Maharashtra to the final. In the 2021-22 WBBL, Mandhana, playing her first season for Sydney Thunder, smashed a 64-ball 114, which was the joint-highest score in the competition's history as she looks in good touch She will hope that she leaves behind the World Cup disappointment and look for a fresh start
- Sophie Ecclestone: The No. 1 bowler in the women's game came off a blockbuster ODI World Cup, as she finished at the top of the wicket charts in the tournaments. Having played for Mandhana's Trailblazers since her Women's T20 Challenge debut in 2019, she will be the key against Harmanpreet and Dendra Dottin in today’s match.
- Harmanpreet Kaur: The India T20I captain scored 121 runs, with two half-centuries included in three innings for Punjab in the domestic Senior Women's T20 tournament. Before that she had a prolific WBBL last season and was subsequently named the Player of the Tournament after scoring the most runs and taking the most wickets for the Melbourne Renegades. She scored 406 runs at a strike rate of 130.96, including three fifty-plus scores and 18 sixes. She became a crucial powerplay bowler there, taking 15 wickets at 7.45 with her finger spin.
Squad of Supernovas: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Taniya Bhatia (vice-capt), Alana King*, Ayushi Soni, Chandu V, Deandra Dottin*, Harleen Deol, Meghna Singh, Monica Patel, Muskan Malik, Pooja Vastrakar, Priya Punia, Rashi Kanojia, Sophie Ecclestone*, Sune Luus*, Mansi Joshi.
Squad of Trailblazers: Smriti Mandhana (capt), Poonam Yadav (vice-capt), Arundhati Reddy, Hayley Matthews*, Jemimah Rodrigues, Priyanka Priyadarshini, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, S Meghana, Saiqa Ishaque, Salma Khatun*, Sharmin Akhter*, Sophia Dunkley*, Sujata Mallik, Shradda Pokharkar.
Pitch and weather report: The Pune pitch during the IPL assisted the bowlers up front and batting became easier as the ball was older. The temperature is going to hover around 30 degrees as no rain is expected today, while dew should not play a part in the second innings.
Probable XI for the Trailblazers:
Smriti Mandhana (c), Hayley Matthews, Jemimah Rodrigues, Sharmin Akhter, Sabbhineni Meghana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Poonam Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Salma Khatun
Probable XI for the Supernovas:
Deandra Dottin, Priya Punia, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Sune Luus, Harleen Deol, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Sophie Ecclestone, Alana King, Mansi Joshi, Meghna Singh
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