Women’s T20 Challenge, Supernovas vs Velocity as it happened: Sune Luus plays a blinder in run-chase

11.10 pm: That will be all from us. The match tomorrow is between Mithali Raj’s Velocity and Smriti Mandhana’s Trailblazers. It’s a 1530 IST game as the IPL playoffs began later in the evening.

Player of the match: Sune Luus. What a way to announcer her arrival at this exhibition tournament.

End of match: Harmanpreet Kaur said the bowling plans were not executed in the last couple of overs and the batting effort was disappointing in the last four of their innings. Gives credit to the Luus-Verma partnership for taking the game away from them.

End of match: Velocity seemed down and out when 50 runs were needed from the last 5 overs. But Sushma Verma (34 off 33) and Sune Luus (37 off 21) had other ideas. They were brilliant in the run-chase.

Velocity win by 5 wickets: Sune Luus has done it! What an innings from the South African. 37 off 21 balls. She finishes with a streaky boundary. 129/5 after 19.5 overs.

19.3, 19.4: Back-to-back singles. Two off two now.

19.2: Siriwardene to bowl. A boundary off the 2nd ball for Luus! Superb sweep, finely placed.

After 19 overs, 118/5: what a comeback by Poonam. Velocity need 9 off 6. Shikha Pandey on strike.

WICKET! Is there another twist here? A nice innings by Sushma Verma comes to an end (34). Poonam Yadav strikes in the 19th over. That actually seemed like a good hit but Harman took a good catch at long on. Velocity need 11 off 7.

47 runs have come in the last 5 overs. 15 needed off 12 and in comes Poonam.

After 18 overs, Velocity 112/4: Wide-1-Wide-1-4-0-1-1. That’s another great over for Velocity but indiscipline cost Khaka and Supernovas. The four was a knee-high full toss that Luus had no trouble putting away. What a partnership.

After 17 overs, Velocity 102/4: Another brilliant strike down the ground by Sushma Verma for six off Siriwardene’s bowling. She is on 31 off 28 at the moment and the 100 comes up in that 11-run over. Suddenly, Velocity seem favourites. Match has swung, 34 off the last 3 overs.

The commentators spoke about the rope being out there during the timeout but can’t quite see ball-wiping from bowlers.

After 16 overs, Velocity 91/4: The timeout seems to have worked. Six for Sushma Verma down the ground and a slog sweep by Luus. Brilliant over for Velocity as Poonam Yadav goes for 14.

50 needed off 30 balls.

After 15 overs, Velocity 77/4: A boundary for Sune Luus in that Radha Yadav over, but Velocity need a fair few of those.

After 14 overs, Velocity 68/4: Sune Luus is a good batter, Shikha Pandey can wield a long handle but one feels this match has slipped out of Velocity’s reach.

After 13 overs, Velocity 65/4: WICKET! Radha Yadav strikes and it’s the set player Veda Krishnamurthy. Could be the wicket that seals the game for Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. Veda out for 29 off 28 balls, as she finds Athapaththu at cover.

After 12 overs, Velocity 59/3 (Veda 27, Sushma 7): That was almost the ideal over for Velocity. A boundary off the first ball for Veda off Selman, followed by four singles. Well, five singles, as Kaur makes a poor misfield off the last ball. Veda is playing a little gem.

After 11 overs, Velocity 50/3 (Veda 20, Sushma 5): This is a nice little innings by Veda so far, helps herself to another four off Siriwardene’s bowling. She needs some support from the other end. Sushma is batting on 5 off 10. Absolutely no momentum from one end.

After 10 overs, Velocity 44/3 (Veda 14, Sushma 5): Velocity coach Suman Sharma says she has told the batters to focus on rotating strike now before going for the big hits. But boy, they need some decent overs here and quickly. 83 needed in the last 10, and the match is slipping away fast.

Velocity: 38/3 (8.3): WICKET! Mithali, playing for the first time since last November, clearly struggled in the middle. She is out for 7 off 19, trying to up the ante. Harmanpreet is all smiles. Siriwardene with the breakthrough.

After 8 overs, Velocity 38/2 (Raj 7, Veda 14): Veda comes down the track and hits a four through midwicket as Radha gifts a full toss. Otherwise a good over.

After 7 overs, Velocity 30/2 (Raj 5, Veda 8): Poonam Yadav into the attack. And as ever, slows things down nicely. Just four runs from that over. Raj on 5 off 14 at the moment.

After 6 overs, Velocity 26/2 (Raj 2, Veda 7) Harmanpreet Kaur’s team have started their defence brilliantly. Apart from Shafali’s cameo, it’s all been very quiet in the powerplay. Raj has not started too well, but worth remembering she is coming back after a longer break than most players.

That was Khaka’s third over, by the way. Radha Yadav on to finish the powerplay.

After 5 overs, Velocity 24/2 (Raj 1, Veda 6): Veda gets going with a lofted cover drive for four but gave a couple of half chances to Supernovas in that over with mistimed shots.

After 4 overs, Velocity 19/2: This is a crucial partnership for Velocity. Two experienced batters in the middle. Harman needs to keep attacking here.

After 3 overs, Velocity 17/2: 4-4-4-0-OUT! Full toss from Khaka but Shafali Verma is not able to clear the fielder in the deep on the leg side. Couldn’t get the placement right. She is out after hitting three fours on the trot off Khaka’s bowling. Just her usual fearless approach, but that was a disappointing dismissal. One hopes she never changes her approach, only fine tunes her shot selection.

After 2 overs, Velocity 5/1 (Verma 5, Raj 0): As she does, Shafali Verma hits a boundary off the second ball she faces. Lofted over mid-on with a cross-bat. In her own unique style.

A MAIDEN-WICKET OVER! What a catch by Taniya Bhatia. She’s brilliant standing up to the stumps and takes a sharp catch to dismiss Wyatt off Khaka’s bowling. The SA pacer starts with wicket-maiden. Velocity 0/1.

Oh boy. It has been a slow and low wicket like predicted but a couple kept really in the very first over with the hard new ball.

Danni Wyatt and Shafali Verma is a very exciting opening pair. Khaka with the new ball.

Innings break: Target for Velocity is 127. Will be interesting to see how Shafali Verma approaches this. She was the breakout star at the T20 World Cup but with great performances come added pressure. She will be a player opponents will be ready for now.

Innings break: Just 24 runs scored and 5 wickets lost in the last 5 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur in all too familiar territory, in that the innings derailed after her wicket.

Innings break: 3/22 for Ekta Bisht, two wickets each for Alam and Kasperek. Great bowling display.

End of over 20, 126/8: Ekta Bisht with back-to-back wickets. Shakera is out bowled off the last ball. It’s been a mini-collapse.

Over 19.5, 126/7: Radha finds Shafali Verma in the deep as Bisht loops one up.

Ekta Bisht with the final over...

After 19 overs, Supernovas 121/6: What a 19th over by Pandey. Just three runs.

Over 18.5, Supernovas 120/6: WICKET! Siriwardene was living a charmed life but after missing out on a couple of simple chances, she is finally dismissed. Verma with a runout from behind the stumps one ball after missing a simpler chance to hit the stumps direct.

After 18 overs, Supernovas 118/5: Oh Kasperek! She puts down the easiest of return catches. Siriwardene gets a life on 16. Can she make Velocity pay?

17.3, Supernovas 117/5: WICKET! Kaspererk removes Vastrakar, who cannot get distance on the lofted shot down the ground. Veda with another good catch, what a fielder she is.

After 17 overs, Supernovas 116/4: That Kaur wicket might be the difference between chasing 140/150 or 130 here.

16.4, Supernovas 111/4: WICKET! Oh dear. Soft, soft dismissal.Kaur (31) was timing the ball so well but she tries to get innovative with a scoop but can’t clear Pandey at short-fine. Alam with the big wicket.

Back after a timeout... last four overs coming up.

After 16 overs Supernovas 106/3 (Kaur 31, Siriwardene 5) SIX! Second of the night for Kaur. It’s a sweep shot off a medium pacer. Dakshini can only watch in awe. Wasn’t even middled but cleared the fence comfortably. Made it look easy, the captain. 100 comes up with that. Bisht then bowls a tidy over for just four singles.

After 14 overs Supernovas 93/3 (Kaur 22, Siriwardene 3): One Sri Lankan player replaces another, but the onus is now on Kaur to take her team to a big score.

After 13.1 overs Supernovas 89/3 (Kaur 20): WICKET! Chamari gets the height but not the distance. Finds the fielder in the deep, caught by Veda off Jahanara. Her 44 came off 39 balls (2 x 4s, 2 x 6s) and has given the Supernovas the perfect platform.

After 13 overs Supernovas 89/2 (Chamari 44, Kaur 20): This time, Harmanpreet gets into the act and hits Luus for a six. 36 runs have come in the last three overs – this is a good phase for the Supernovas.

After 12 overs Supernovas 78/2 (Chamari 42, Kaur 12): Another good over for the Supernovas. 13 runs off it, including a six that was palmed over the boundary line by Wyatt. Chamari is clearly in the mood to play all the big shots.

After 11 overs Supernovas 65/2 (Chamari 32, Kaur 10): 12 runs from the Dakshini over, including a six over wide long-off. Lovely shot that was by Chamari. About time for Supernovas to raise the run-rate a little.

Supernovas coach Mamatha Maben says she has been surprised by how fit some of the cricketers have looked since returning. She reckons par score is around 140 here, the batters need to play out of the skin in the second half to achieve that.

After 10 overs Supernovas 53/2 (Chamari 23, Kaur 8): Alam gifts Kaur a dolly on the pads, and the Indian captain does not miss out on those. Turned around the corner for four. 50 comes up. A few tight runs in that over though, but urgency shown.

Timeout...

After 9 overs Supernovas 46/2 (Chamari 22, Kaur 2): 23-year-old Manali Dakshini is earmarked as one of the players to watch out for. Starts off with a steady over. Athapaththu is still not quite getting her timing right. On 22 off 27 balls.

Captain Kaur in the middle...

Over 7.4, Supernovas 42/2: WICKET! Big one for Velocity. Jemimah Rodrigues is gone, bowled trying to play the sweep. Ekta Bisht gave no pace to work with and Rodrigues played all around that.

After 7 overs Supernovas 40/1 (Chamari 19, Rodrigues 6) A lovely square drive for four by Rodrigues as Pandey tests her will a fullish ball. The youngster plays a couple of more cover drives but finds the fielder. Looks in good touch though.

(Correction) After 6 overs Supernovas 32/1 (Chamari 19, Rodrigues 1): Oh, Veda Krishnamurthy just about caught that, on replays. End of poweplay, Velocity will be very happy with this start.

After 6 overs Supernovas 32/1 (Chamari 19, Rodrigues 1): Oh, Veda Krishnamurthy just about caught that, on replays. End of poweplay, Velocity will be very happy with this start.

Over 5.2, WICKET! Supernovas 30/1. Priya Punia tends to struggle playing the lofted shots. Power is not strong suit and she is unable to clear the fielder at mid-on. Kasperek strikes in the final over of powerplay. Punia out for 11.

After 5 overs Supernovas 29/0 (Punia 11, Chamari 17): The Sri Lankan is still searching for her timing but shows her class in that Ekta Bisht over, by lofting one down the ground for a four. Punia has remained off-strike for a bit now.

After 4 overs Supernovas 19/0 (Punia 11, Chamari 8): NZ’s Kasperek on in the powerplay with her offspin. Strays in line to Chamari, who sweeps one fine for her first boundary. But the spinner comes back well to concede just a single. Already signs of the ball keeping slow and low for spinners.

(Correction) After 3 overs Supernovas 14/0 (Punia 11, Chamari 3): Punia doing the early pace-setting here. She is brilliant through the offside, and she shows that when Pandey goes too full searching for swing. Brilliant square drive for four.

After 3 overs Supernovas 14/0 (Punia 11, Chamari 3): Punia doing the early pace-setting here. She is brilliant through the offside, and she shows that when Pandey goes too full searching for swing. Brilliant square drive for four.

After 2 overs Supernovas 8/0 (Punia 6, Chamari 2): The *medium pace of Bangladesh’s Alam from the other end. First boundary of the the match comes from the bat of Punia, as she glances one behind for a four.

After 1 over Supernovas 2/0 (Punia 1, Chamari 1): Tidy first over from Pandey, getting some early swing that she almost always gets.

Chamari Athapaththu is opening the batting for Supernovas alongside Priya Punia. Shikha Pandey will start off for Velocity.

Watch out for Manali Dakshini in the Velocity team:

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Velocity playing XI:

Shafali Verma
Mithali Raj (C)
Danni Wyatt
Veda Krishnamurthy
Sushma Verma (W)
Sune Luus
Manali Dakshini
Shikha Pandey
Ekta Bisht
Leigh Kasperek
Jahanara Alam

Supernovas playing XI:
Priya Punia 
Chamari Athapaththu 
Jemimah Rodrigues 
Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 
Taniya Bhatia (W) 
Shashikala Siriwardene 
Pooja Vastrakar 
Radha Yadav 
Poonam Yadav 
Shakera Selman 
Ayabonga Khaka  

TOSS NEWS: Mithali Raj wins the toss and opts to bowl first. Says it could get easier to chase at the venue.

06.57 pm: Interesting quotes (if you read through the PR angle) from BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal:

Arun Dhumal, Treasurer, BCCI added “The Jio Women’s T20 Challenge is now financially independent and this is a very positive sign for women’s cricket in India. Building self-sustainable properties which allow us to develop talent and grow our player pool is essential for us to continue our success in World cricket. The Jio Women’s T20 Challenge will increase the exposure of the women’s game to fans and in the future with a dedicated Women’s IPL, will create a new economic opportunity for women in sport. I thank all our sponsors for their support on this journey. We are certain we will deliver great value to them.”

06.55 pm: Before we head to discussions about the match and what not, some interesting news coming from BCCI.

06.50 pm: Hello all and welcome to the live coverage of match No 1 in the Women’s T20 Challenge, an exhibition event featuring three teams. The teams face each other once and then the top two will meet in the final. In the first match, Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas take on Mithali Raj’s Velocity.

Here are the two squads: