FANTASY
Follow UsAfter an emphatic seven-wicket win over Supernovas, Velocity will look to secure a place in the final with a win over Trailblazers in the final league match of the Women's T20 Challenge at Pune's MCA Stadium on Thursday. Trailblazers, on the other hand, will look to bring the Net Run Rate into play by beating Velocity after losing their first match to Supernovas by 49 runs.
The two teams first faced off in the 2019 edition where Velocity won by 3 wickets while Trailblazers were victorious in the 2020 edition by a nine wickets.
SUGGESTED TEAM
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
GROUND DETAILS
The MCA ground in Pune was one of the venues for the IPL and will host all the Women's T20 Challenge. With plenty of cricket being played at this ground in the last couple of months, the average first innings total is around the 172-run mark, and the average winning total is around 170.
In the last two WT20 Challenge matches, spinners had a slightly better advantage by picking up 13 wickets in the last four innings while pacers scalped 10 wickets. Spinners also have a better economy of 7.1 compared to the 7.5 RPO for pacers.
SUGGESTED CAPTAIN
Trailblazers captain Smriti Mandhana has been the top scorer for her side in the previous match against Supernovas with a 23-ball 34. Her dismissal triggered a batting collapse for her team as they lost by 49 runs. She will once against be key if they are avoid elimination by another defeat.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Mandhana to score 35-53 runs in this match.
X-FACTORS
Yastika Bhatia
With 178 runs in six innings at an average of 29.66 in the World Cup, Yastika was one of the top performers for the Indian side. After making her debut in Australia last year, the southpaw has performed consistently in the middle order to become one of the mainstays in the batting unit of the team. Though she was dismissed for 17 against Supernovas, she will be crucial for Velocity in the decider.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Yastika to score 34-52 runs in this match.
Hayley Matthews
One of the finest allrounders in world cricket right now, Hayley Matthews has been in superb form in recent times. She claimed 10 wickets and scored 268, including West Indies' first hundred in the Women's ODI World Cup as they reached the semifinal. After impressing with 3-29 against Supernovas she will be key in the bowling department on a turning track.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Matthews to score 19-29 runs and pick 1-2 wickets in this match.
Radha Yadav
Radha Yadav was one of the bright spots for India in their tour of Australia last year with five wickets from as many matches at an economy of 7.5. She was one of the best bowlers for Sydney Sixers in WBBL 2021 with 10 wickets from as many matches at an economy of 6.8.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Yadav will pick up 1-2 wickets in this match
PROBABLE XIS
Velocity: Shafali Verma, Natthakan Chantham, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Laura Wolvaardt, Deepti Sharma (C), Sneh Rana, Kiran Navgire, Radha Yadav, Kate Cross, Ayabonga Khaka, Maya Sonawane.
Trailblazers: Smriti Mandhana (C), Hayley Matthews, Jemimah Rodrigues, Sophia Dunkley, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sharmin Akhter, Salma Khatun, Poonam Yadav, Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Arundhati Reddy.
