Women’s T20 challenge 2020 – Supernovas v Velocity Preview

Match Details
Supernovas v Velocity
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Tuesday, 3rd November
16:00 SA Time

Women’s T20 challenge 2020 – Supernovas vs Velocity Preview, Prediction, Probable Playing XI and Value bets.

Betting Preview

In the first game of the third edition of Women’s t20 challenge, the Harmanpreet Kaur led-Supernovas take on Miithali Raj’s Velocity. The two teams last faced each other in the finals of 2019 season where Supernovas defeated Velocity by 4-wickets in a last over thriller to secure their second title. Both the sides are missing the services of their top overseas players due to the clashing schedule of Women’s BBL.

Supernovas are the most successful side in the tournament having won both editions of Women’s t20 challenge so far and they will take the field with another title on their mind. Their batting looks formidable with the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Chamari Athapaththu up their rank. Chamari, the current Sri Lanka t20 captain, had been in phenomenal form in the women’s t20 world cup held earlier this year and will look to carry her form forward for the Supernovas and her experience is expected to add depth in the side. Harmanpreet Kaur will be itching to return to her majestic form after a forgetful run in the t20 world cup. Kaur and Rodrigues add much-needed firepower to Supernovas batting line-up. Anuja Patil had emerged as a reliable wicket-taking option in the last edition where she picked up a wicket in each game. They will depend on her yet again for crucial breakthroughs.

Velocity will be disappointed as they lost the last finals against Supernovas even after putting up a decent fight. Bangladesh’ Jahanara Alam was sensational in the finals picking up two crucial wickets but in vain. On paper, Velocity looks a very balanced side with match-winners in both batting and bowling departments. All eyes will be on Shafali Verma who announced herself on the big stage by hitting the most number of sixes in the women’s t20 world up 2020. They also have Danielle Wyatt at their dispense who is renowned for her power-hitting abilities and is also very handy with the ball in her hand. The skipper Mithali Raj, who has been the face of India’s women’s cricket for quite some time now will play an important role in shaping up the team’s campaign with her bat as well as her leadership.

Injury and Availability News

Mansi Joshi (Velocity) has been ruled out of the tournament after testing positive for Covid-19 and is replaced by Meghna Singh.

Probable Playing XI

Supernovas

Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Chamari Athapaththu, Priya Punia, Anuja Patil, Radha Yadav, Tanya Bhatia (wk), Sasikala Sriwardhanne, Poonam Yadav, Shakira Salmon, Arundhati Reddy

Velocity

Mithali Raj (captain), Shafali Verma, Danielle Wyatt, Veda Krishnamurthy, Sushma Verma (wk), Ekta Bisht, Shikha Pandey, Devika Vaidya, Divyadarshini, Manali Dakshin

Key Players to watch out for

Harmanpreet Kaur: Kaur was in a terrific form in the last edition of Women’s t20 challenge and finished as the third highest run-getter with 98 runs in three games. It was her fifty in the finals that took away the game, and hence the title, from Velocity. She will look to replicate her heroics yet again and to help Supernovas register a win.

Jemimah Rodrigues: The young batswoman hasn’t taken too long to climb up the ranks and is currently India’s most reliable batswoman in the shortest format of the game behind Smriti Mandhana. She played a sensational knock of 77*(48) against Velocity last season and finished as the highest run-scorer of the league with 123 runs in her three games. Her fearless batting makes her a key player to watch out for.

Shafali Verma: The prodigious talent of 16-year old Shafali Verma had taken the world by storm and was ranked world no. 1 t20 batswoman in ICC rankings ahead of the T20 world cup. She continued her stellar run in the world cup and was India’s leading run-scorer with 163 runs in 5 games. She was also named in the ICC team of the tournament. Velocity’s batting will depend heavily on Shafali in the tournament

Prediction