IPL Supernovas won the thriller against the Trailblazers by three wickets in the maiden Women”s T20 challenge game at Wankhede stadium. The match went down the wire till the last delivery as Pooja Vastrakar and Ellyse Perry made the finishing honours for the Supernovas.
A complete team effort from both the teams made this a successful one and BCCI will be really looking to organize a tournament for women in the coming years.
Opting to bowl first, Supernovas started making an impact on the batting order of Smriti “s trailblazer”s right from the start. Australian combo of Schutt and Ellyse Perry picked a couple of wickets each and this restricted the opposition for 129/6. White ferns skipper Bates played a vital role as she scored a steady 32.
Chasing 130, the top order batted cautiously until Poonam Yadav”s spell. She picked two quick wickets to put the team on driver”s seat. But Ellyse Perry scored a handy 13 runs down the order that sealed the match for the Supernovas.
It is to be noted that BCCI organized this match as a trail to introduce women”s IPL in the future depending upon its success. Suzie Bates was awarded the WOM award for her all-around abilities.
Twitter appreciated the women for the thriller at Wankhede. While several experts praised Ellyse Perry and Bates for their brilliance, finally cricket was adjudged the winner for such an initiative from BCCI.
The very first one-off Women's T20 challenge went down to the last over. What an experience this has been at Wankhede. Supernovas beat Trailblazers by 3 wickets. Smiles all around #IPLWomen pic.twitter.com/7WwnxEhAtu
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 22, 2018
#IPLWomen good initiative by #BCCI . Well played girls, it was great watch. Everyone played well.
more crowd at #Wankhede would have been better. People should be encouraged to attend such events.#IPL #IPL2018 #IPLPlayoffs #CSK #SRH #CSKvSRH #Mandhana #Harmanpreet #MithaliRaj
— Ajay (@Dilliwala001) May 22, 2018
Congratulations to team #Supernovas led by Kaur who have won the Women’s T20 Challenger by 3 wickets against Mandhana’s team #Trailblazers 👏🎉
End of the day it’s Women’s Cricket in India that has won 🙌❤️#IPLWomen #WomenCricket@IPL @ICC @ImHarmanpreet @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/VdGco0BjLk
— Bhadavi Bandekar (@bhadavibandekar) May 22, 2018
I hope @BCCI 'll take abrupt look on making Women's IPL! @BCCIWomen #GoGirls #IPLWomen #SupernovasVsTrailblazers
— kelyn! (@kuthalingam_) May 22, 2018
A match winner always for @WHITE_FERNS Suzie Bates wins the Player of the Match #IPLWomen. Well done @SuzieWBates #Trailblazers
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) May 22, 2018
Very fitting that this @IPL Women’s T20 Challenge went down to the very last ball. Hopefully next time there will be plenty more people in the crowd #IPLWomen
— Jessica Jonassen (@JJonassen21) May 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/ImSfizzaa/status/998905445342330881?s=19
Pooja Vastrakar manages to keep her cool!!
Takes the single to finish it off, off the last ball!
What a cracker of a game!#Supernovas beat #Trailblazers by 3 wickets!!#HallaBol #IPLWomen— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/AlexHartley93/status/998855269353484288
That was one brilliant experience. The ten of us internationals certainly feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to play at Wankhede stadium today alongside the best players in India. Fingers crossed it’s the first of many women’s IPL matches! Thanks @BCCI @BCCIWomen pic.twitter.com/eiJFyuHgGP
— Ellyse Perry (@EllysePerry) May 22, 2018
How cool!! What an awesome experience that was 😇🙌🏼 very honoured to have played, especially amongst these legends. Hopefully the start of something huge 😈🏆 thank you @BCCI #IPLWomen #Supernovas #winnersssss pic.twitter.com/5HZ0gECpau
— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) May 22, 2018
Last ball finish in the first #WomensT20Challenge. Fair to say that this exhibition match was a tremendous success. Onwards & upwards for next year! Will we see more matches, more international players in a Women's IPL in 2019? @sthalekar93 @meljones_33
— Shaun Star (@ShaunJStar) May 22, 2018
The slowness of the pitch might make this match close. However the #Trailblazers need wickets…now to make it close. #TrailblazersvSupernovas #IPL
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 22, 2018
I love seeing the woman’s game evolve so well. Some serious skill out there that continues to improve. #IPLWomen
— Jono Dean (@JonoDean33) May 22, 2018
So true. What a big day for @BCCIWomen and our women cricketers. Couldn’t help fan girling! 🤗 https://t.co/WwVFxOKoJU
— Mayanti Langer Binny (@MayantiLanger_B) May 22, 2018
Wonderful to be a part of the first ever #IPLWomen match. Congratulations to Team #Supernovas for there spectacular win @ImHarmanpreet. Good fight by #Trailblazers @mandhana_smriti @IPL
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) May 22, 2018
Fantastic initiative comes alive this afternoon. The Women's T20 Challenge Match between IPL Trailblazers and IPL Supernovas. More superpowers to all you Lionesses! @ImHarmanpreet @mandhana_smriti #whistlepodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/FNlM6OQstG
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 22, 2018
Two top catches in the first 20 mins. First Harmanpreet and then Veda. Trailblazers will have to arrest the slide though…. #WomensT20Challenge #SNvTB
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 22, 2018
I am so so so disappointed to see the empty stadium out there in Mumbai. Why? Why? Why can't you do the same what you do to the men's cricket? And then everyone talks about equality…. #WomensT20Challenge
— Jaanvi🏏 (@that_shutterbug) May 22, 2018
Great start I feel. Next year, a 3 match series perhaps. Could play them on the Monday, Thursday & Saturday of finals week. In non IPL stadiums. Am sure people will pack stadiums & watch on TV #WomensT20Challenge
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) May 22, 2018
Been over 30 minutes since the gates have been opened, and I am struggling to spot a spectator in the stands.#Supernovas, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, meanwhile, have won the toss and have elected to field.#WomensT20Challenge #IPL #BlazersVsNovas
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) May 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/ViratsFangirl18/status/998854918449520640
1st Six of the match hit by Mithali Raj. #WomensT20Challenge
— mon (@4sacinom) May 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/Sajjanlaunda/status/998863437986869248
.@JhulanG10 bowling to @M_Raj03. What a moment! #WomensT20Challenge #Legends
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) May 22, 2018