12.00 am: As we sign off on the blog, we will close with his paragraph from our tournament preview:

The BCCI has indicated that the Women’s IPL is on the cards from 2023, pending approval at the Annual General Meeting. If that indeed is the case, then the Women’s T20 Challenge in this current avatar will be played for the last time in 2022. For the sake of Indian cricket, one hopes that certainly is the case.

Player of the match: Deandra Dottin

Supernovas win by 4 runs: Another trophy for coach Nooshin Al Khadeer. And it cannot be stressed enough how massively disappointing it is that there were only four of these matches. Really have to hope this is the last time we see this tournament.

Chance for Indian talent to shine in (hopefully) last edition of Women’s T20 Challenge

SOPHIE ECCLESTONE DOES IT! A sensational comeback after getting hit for a six first ball.

SUPERNOVAS CHAMPIONS!
VELOCITY: Hearbrek but what a fight!

VEL: 161/8 (20)
SNO: 165/7 (20)

VEL: 160/8 (19.5): YORKER! 98.4kph. Brilliant. Just a single. 6 off last ball needed.

VEL: 159/8 (19.4): 1-1-2. Ecclestone coming back nicely after that six. 7 off 2 needed now.

19.1 Ecclestone to bowl the last over. A six off the first ball by Wolvaardt! VEL: 155/8 (19.1)

Velocity 149/8 after 19 overs: Simran showing plenty of dil (heart) and being bahadur (brave). 4-4-4 in that Vastrakar over! 17 off it as LW started with a four. WHAT A SENSATIONAL CAMEO.

Velocity 132/8 after 18 overs: Well, well. A six for LW and then a six to finish the over for Simran! Velocity just about keeping things interesting. 34 off 12 balls.

HALF CENTURY, LAURA WOLVAARDT! 50 off 34 balls. What a lovely innings it has been, albeit in a losing cause as things seem right now. A brilliant six over long on off King.

Velocity 118/8 after 17 overs: Wicket for Dottin in that over but still decent number of runs. Simran can bat too. 48 off 18 needed, all down Laura Wolvaardt though.

WICKET! 16.5: Kate Cross 13(7) ct Taniya Bhatia b Deandra Dottin 2-4-4-2-OUT! Cross goes down swinging. A few good hits in that Dottin over but the WI allrounder has the last laugh. Velocity 117/8

Velocity 105/7 after 16 overs: Kate Cross has a big smile on her face, Alana King has a big smile on her face. A flipper for the hat-trick ball, somehow kept out!

WICKET! 15.4: Radha Yadav 0(1) ct Harmanpreet Kaur b Alana King Big heave first up from Radha, easiest of catches for Harman. Two in two for A King! Velocity 104/7

WICKET! 15.3: Sneh Rana 15(15) b Alana King It’s not been Sneh Rana’s day. Struggled with the ball, and never got going with the bat. Came down the track. got herself into a tangle. Velocity 104/6

Velocity 97/5 after 15 overs: Just a hint of fight from Velocity here. Dottin gets another over and it’s a four each for Wolvaardt and Rana, the latter with a streaky outside edge. Just about staying alive.

Velocity 85/5 after 14 overs: 10 runs from her final over but it’s been a fine outing overall for Rashi.

Velocity need 91 from 42 balls.

Velocity 75/5 after 13 overs: A boundary after what feels like an eternity as Rana sweeps well against King. Timeout, and Velocity desperately need some inspiration from somewhere.

Velocity 64/5 after 11 overs: As if facing the bowling of Ecclestone, Dottin and Vastrakar wasn’t enough, Velocity had Alana King’s leg-spin to tackle. Deepti succumbs to that and the mounting pressure.

WICKET! 10.6: Deepti Sharma 2(5) ct Pooja Vastrakar b Alana King, Velocity 64/5

No damage done by captain Deepti. Supernovas on top!

Velocity 61/4 after 10 overs: 3 runs off the over as the required run rate climbs to nearly 11.

Velocity 58/4 after 9 overs: A relatively better over for the batting team as Wolvaardt brings up two boundaries, 11 runs off it. Captain Deepti Sharma has walked in.

WICKET! 8.6: Natthakan Chantham 6(13) lbw Pooja Vastrakar, Velocity 58/4

Vastrakar joins the wickets column and Velocity are in deep trouble with four wickets down.

Velocity 47/3 after 8 overs: The boundaries have really stopped for Velocity. The last one came in the fifth over. Merely 5 runs off Kanojiya’s over.

Rashi Kanojiya, a left-arm spinner from Uttar Pradesh, into the attack.

Velocity 42/3 after 7 overs: Laura Wolvaardt is the next batter in but that’s a great first over by Pooja Vastrakar, just four runs off it.

Velocity 38/3 after 6 overs: That’s some brilliant execution of plans and captaincy from Harmanpreet and Co. Ecclestone’s experience paying off. Just the run and wicket off it.

WICKET! 5.4: K P Navgire 0(13) b Sophie Ecclestone, Velocity 38/3

It was either a big shot or a wicket on the way, the latter it is. The dangerous Navgire departs for a 13-ball duck. Ecclestone now has two. The pressure is on Velocity.

Velocity 37/2 after 5 overs: Oh yes, that is definite shift! Dot, dot dot... a maiden over by Dottin.

Velocity 37/2 after 4 overs: The over that saw the momentum shifting a little bit thanks to Ecclestone, a wicket and just 5 runs off it. Chantham’s the next batter in and will have more deliveries this time around but it’s in a less than ideal situation with Velocity on the backfoot.

WICKET! 3.3: Yastika Bhatia 13(9) ct & b Sophie Ecclestone, Velocity 36/2

Clearly some plans in place and the execution now seems to be coming on for the Supernovas.

Velocity 32/1 after 3 overs: Shafali’s wicket off it but seems to be some issues with the line Dottin was bowling. Three wides off it. Navgire also needed some intervention by the physio earlier after the ball smashed her helmet. Seems to be alright, though.

Kiran Navgire in, by the way. Can she go up again, this time against the likes of Ecclestone and Dottin?

WICKET! 2.1 Shafali Verma 15(8) ct Taniya Bhatia b Deandra Dottin, Velocity 29/1

Who else, but Dottin... golden arm and all that. Shafali nicks one to the keeper behind.

Velocity 28/0 after 2 overs: The world’s number one bowler Sophie Ecclestone was trying to pull things back after the expensive start but looks like Shafali is having none of that. Two fours off that over from her, 11 runs in total.

Velocity 17/0 after 1 over: Not quite the first over Mansi Joshi and Supernovas must have been hoping for. With 17 runs off the over, it’s now the most expensive first over of the innings in the Women’s T20 Challenge.

Mansi Joshi will start things off. Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia in the middle.

Supernovas 165/7 after 20 overs: Just 34 runs in the last 5 overs. Not quite the finish SNO would have wanted, especially given the batting strength of VEL. But SNO arguably have the best bowling lineup in this event.

WICKET! 19.6: Harleen Deol 7(8) ct Deepti Sharma b Simran Bahadur The finishing kick never quite arrived for SNO. Simran conceded a six to King earlier in the over, but finishes with her second wicket. Supernovas 165/7

That was a lovely catch at long off too by Radha. Simran to bowl the last over, Alana King and Harleen Deol in the middlei

WICKET! 18.6: Sune Luus 3(4) ct Radha Yadav b Deepti Sharma Captain Sharma has been fantastic with the ball. Top 19th over, top spell. Five singles and the wicket off the last ball, 2/20 in her four overs Supernovas 155/6

WICKET! 17.5: Sophie Ecclestone 2(3) ct Yastika Bhatia b Kate Cross What a comeback by Velocity, what an over by Cross! Terrific change of pace, Eccelestone is furious as she walks after edging this to the keeper. Supernovas 149/5

WICKET! 17.3: Harmanpreet Kaur 43(29) ct Shafali Verma b Kate Cross Cross gets Kaur! One sweep too many from the SNO captain, this is full and outside off, and she slices it to mid0off. Supernovas 148/4

Supernovas 146/3 after 17 overs: Khaka finishes with 1/27. Top over. Ecclestone joins Harman in the middle.

WICKET! Over 16.4: Pooja Vastrakar 5(5) b Ayabonga Khaka Lovely change of pace from Khaka, Pooja plays all over a full ball. Supernovas 144/3

Supernovas 138/2 after 16 overs: Deandra Dottin out for an entertaining 62 off 44 balls. Harmanpreet Kaur, however, is still in the middle and looking in fantastic touch as her twin Kate Cross completes a tidy over. A big finish comin up?

WICKET! 14.6: Deandra Dottin 62(44) b Deepti Sharma That is a well deserved wicket for Deepti Sharma, 15/1 after 3 overs. Dottin tries to be cheeky with a paddle but got into an odd position. Supernovas 131/2

Supernovas 126/1 after 14 overs: 6-6-4! Harmanpreet Kaur going after Radha Yadav big time. All three sweep shots but played in an arc from square leg to wide long on.

Supernovas 108/1 after 13 overs: Harman goes for another slog sweep, off Simran this time, but because it is mistimed, it falls short of Natthakan at long on.

Supernovas 103/1 after 12 overs: Uff, the HarmanBatSwing is here! The slog sweep is something she could play in the middle of the night.

Supernovas 91/1 after 11 overs: Half century for WORLD BOSS! She has had a few reprieves tonight and Deandra Dottin has made the most of it. Gets to the landmark with the 4th six of her innings.

Sportzpics / IPL

Supernovas 78/1 after 10 overs: A couple of no balls in Simran’s over but to her credit, she at least made sure the free hits were not costly, as Dottin couldn’t connect.

WICKET! 9.3: Priya Punia 28(29) ct Laura Wolvaardt b Simran Dil Bahadur Six and out! Priya Punia had to accelerate and after hitting a nice six over long leg, she skies one to backward point. Superb take that by LW while backpedalling. A juggle but held on. SNO won’t mind this actually. Supernovas 73/1

Supernovas 66/0 after 9 overs: What a shot! Khaka misses her line a bit, swept powerfully by Dottin over long leg for six.

Supernovas 55/0 after 8 overs: Another life for Dottin but that was a rather tough one. Came back at pacer Simran Bahadur at some serious velocity! Good over though. Priya Punia might be told to get a move on here as we get a timeout. 20 off 25.

Supernovas 51/0 after 7 overs: 50-run opening stand! Deandra Dottin has received a reprieve and she seems keen to make Velocity pay for it. Looking dangerous. Priya Punia would like to pick up the rate from the other end.

Supernovas 46/0 after 6 overs: Sneh Rana, who dropped Dottin earlier, now comes into the attack and concedes two sixes right away to the same batter. Salt, meet wound. Super finish to the powerplay for Supernovas.

Supernovas 31/0 after 5 overs: And yes, a close LBW review in that over. Good call from the umpire again, returns as Umpire’s Call.

Supernovas 31/0 after 5 overs: That is a solid first over from Khaka. Momentum missing for Supernovas so far. But also perhaps they are careful to not lose early wickets here like they did last time against this side.

Supernovas 28/0 after 4 overs: Oh dear, there’s a sight Velocity would have hoped to not see. Sneh Rana drops a rather simple catch at midwicket. Wasn’t a high catch either. Dottin gets a life.

Supernovas 24/0 after 3 overs: With Deandra Dottin opening the batting, you wouldn’t bet on Priya Punia hitting the first six of the innings. And it has now happened twice this event! Did so in the first match, did it again now, a brilliant shot over extra cover for six. Dottin finishes the over with a four.

Supernovas 11/0 after 2 overs: Tidy over from Deepti Sharma as Velocity stick to pace-spin.

Supernovas 5/0 after 1 over: Cross starts by crossing the front crease but the free hit doesn’t cost her side. Some sharp fielding in that over too... Velocity were guilty of dropping a few in the previous match, that start will give them confidence.

Kate Cross will start off. Priya Punia and Deandra Dottin open the batting for SNO.

Here’s a look at what Harmanpreet Kaur had to say before the event about Mansi Joshi:

“Last time, unfortunately, she didn’t get a chance to play but this time she did well in the domestic season and now in the net sessions also she was looking really nice. It is a great opportunity for her. For a long time she was not part of Indian side and now if she gets a chance, it is a great platform where you can perform and gates are open for Indian team. I am actually very positive the way she is bowling in the nets, I hope she will get a chance to play and prove herself.”

Rashi Kanojiya is a left-arm spinner who had 8 wickets in 5 innings at an Economy Rate of 6.72.

Team News

Two changes for SNO. Mansi for Meghna is a straight-swap. Good to see Mansi Joshi back in action. UP’s bowler Rashi Kanojiya replaces V Chandu.

Supernovas: Priya Punia, Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Sune Luus, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Alana King, Sophie Ecclestone, Mansi Joshi, Rashi Kanojiya

Velocity: Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Kiran Navgire, Laura Wolvaardt, Deepti Sharma(c), Sneh Rana, Natthakan Chantham, Radha Yadav, Simran Bahadur, Kate Cross, Ayabonga Khaka

TOSS: Deepti Sharma opts to bowl first. Harmanpreet Kaur, once again, says her side is more than happy to bat first.

Toss is imminent: While Supernovas, the most successful team in the Women’s T20 Challenge, eye their third title, Velocity, the only team without a title victory would be hoping to get their hands on the silverware for the first time.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the fourth and final match of the 2022 Women’s T20 Challenge. Supernovas take on Velocity at the MCA Stadium, Pune for the trophy.

Trailblazers vs Velocity as it happened: Navgire’s knock takes VEL into final

Supernovas vs Velocity as it happened: Shafali, Wolvaardt shine in run-chase

Trailblazers vs Supernovas as it happened: Harmanpreet Kaur & Co win big