Women’s T20 Challenge: Atapattu’s fifty helps Supernovas post 146

Sri Lankan all-rounder Chamari Atapattu scored a half-century as defending champions Supernovas posted a decent score against the Trailblazers in the third and final league fixture of the Women’s T20 Challenge in Sharjah on Saturday night.

Atapattu, who had made 44 in the defeat against Velocity in the opening match of the tournament, conjured a powerful 48-ball 67 which was studded with five boundaries and four cleanly struck sixes as the Supernovas made 146 for 6 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Opting to take first strike, Atapattu and her opening partner Priya Punia gave the Supernovas a brilliant start, coming up with an 89-run partnership.

Although they slowed down after the first 10 overs, the Supernovas still managed to put up a competitive total.

Atapattu and Punia were solid upfront, with the Supernovas racing to 50 for no loss in the powerplay.

But the Supernovas floundered a little bit once Punia and Atapattu got out. Supernovas skipper and Indian women’s T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur made a sedate 31 from 29 deliveries with a four and a six before she was run out off the last ball.

The final is scheduled to be played on Monday night.

Brief scores:

Supernovas: 146-6 in 20 overs (Chamari Atapattu 67, Harmanpreet Kaur 31, Priya Punia 30) vs Trailblazers.

Teams:

Supernovas: Priya Punia, Chamari Atapattu, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Taniya Bhatia (wk), Shashikala Siriwardene, Radha Yadav, Anuja Patil, Poonam Yadav, Shakera Selman, Ayabonga Khaka.

Trailblazers: Deandra Dottin, Smriti Mandhana (C), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, D Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Nattakan Chantam, Salma Khatun, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami.

james@khaleejtimes.com

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