(Cricket news) Both the teams will have a chance to advance to the Women’s T20 Challenge finals. Velocity are in first place in the points table after a convincing victory over the Supernovas in their previous match, and a win against the Trailblazers will certainly secure them a spot in the finals. The Trailblazers on the other hand, are in last position in the points table and will need a huge win to overtake the Supernovas in the standings and keep their title hopes of a final alive.
Players to watch out for:
Kiran Navgire: The Nagaland batter was recently making headlines in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy where she stole the limelight away from all the big international players with her stunning knock of 162 off 76 deliveries against Arunachal Pradesh in the tournament. She struck 16 sixes and 10 boundaries in that innings. She was the scorer in the tournament with 525 runs in 7 innings, at an average of 131.25. Navgire scored runs at an unavailable strike rate of 172.69, including a century and four half-centuries
Aarti Kedar: She was the highest wicket-taker in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy and recently earned her place in the Women’s T20 Challenge. Kedar played for Maharashtra in the tournament and picked up 13 wickets in 8 innings at an economy of 4.78 and with an excellent average of 10.30.
Sujata Malik: The right-arm medium bowler led the pace attack for Odisha in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy this season. She took 11 wickets in 7 innings which included a four-wicket haul at an economy of 5.65 and an average of 11.81. For the 28 yearold, this is a major break in her career and it also give Smrti Mandhana lot of blowing options
Pitch and weather report: The pitch of MCA Stadium allows the batters to amass good runs in the initial overs but as the ball gets older batting becomes difficult. As the match goes on the spinners will find the surface helpful. Quick bowlers can flourish throughout if they deliver in the right lengths. There is no chance of rain as the temperature is hovering around 30 degrees in Pune.
Trailblazers Likely Playing 11:
Smriti Mandhana (c), Hayley Matthews, Jemimah Rodrigues, Sophia Dunkley, Sharmin Akhter, Richa Ghosh (w), Arundhati Reddy, Salma Khatun, Poonam Yadav, Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Velocity Likely Playing 11:
Shafali Verma, Natthakan Chantham, Yastika Bhatia (w), Laura Woolvaardt, Deepti Sharma (c), Kiran Navgire, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Kate Cross, Ayabonga Khaka, Maya Sonawane
Also read: RCB look to win their first IPL as they face LSG in the Eliminator
