"No depth? My foot!"- Fans demand Women's IPL after Supernovas beat Velocity in last-ball thriller to win Women's T20 Challenge 2022
The Supernovas held their nerves to beat Velocity in an absolute humdinger by four runs to win their third Women's T20 Challenge title in Pune on Saturday (May 28). The final was a fitting end to a remarkable tournament.
Quite a few Indian domestic stars were on show at this tournament and one of them, in the form of young all-rounder Simran Bahadur, almost won the game for Velocity. She and Laura Wolvaardt added a quickfire 44 runs off just 19 balls and took Velocity to the brink of victory.
However, Sophie Ecclestone proved why she is the No.1 ranked T20I bowler as she took her team over the line in the final. Fans on Twitter hailed the efforts of Bahadur and Wolvaardt despite Velocity ending up on the losing side.
Some also urged the BCCI to begin preparations for a full-fledged Women's IPL from next year as they feel there is enough depth in Indian women's cricket. Here's how Twitter reacted to this incredible final:
Who won who lost really doesn't matter in an exhibitional tournament! What matters- quality cricket! And that we got in all 4 games. I hope NOBODY will question about the WIPL now. #WT20Challenge
Laura will go big if there is WIPL auction next year
Cannot stress enough how massively disappointing it is that there were only four of these matches.
#WomensT20Challenge
Imagine playing a tournament with that sort of spectacle, drama and atmosphere for a full season.
#WT20Challenge
#My11CircleWT20C #SNOvVEL
No matter what the result is, @LauraWolvaardt innings has been high class, plus amazing little cameos by Simran & Cross
If we do not get WIPL after such performance in the this T20 challenge then it'll be the biggest loss for Indian cricket, because it has been more about incredible performances by domestic talent and how. Just incredible 🔥
Those connections off Vastrakar, man. So clean from Simran Bahadur
Oh Velocity!!!! Wolvaardt, Simran you fighters 😭😭😭😭❤❤❤❤❤ #WT20Challenge
Well played Velocity. Well played Simran ❤️
Women’s #IPL, bring it ON!!!
High class final between Supernovas and Velocity. Kept all of us on the edge of our seats. Women's IPL will be even more exciting!!! #WT20Challenge
Unbelievable. We want WIPL 😭
Heartbreak! Jailbreak! Give me a break! Or don't - give me more women's cricket cuz this is the real deal. It's worth every bit.
Simran, you were damn Bahadur alright! What a game, what a tournament! #WT20Challenge
Irrespective of the result, could not have asked for a better fight in the final! Incredible this from Simran! #WomensT20Challenge
No depth my foot.... prepare for the wipl next year
I believed. for a second I believed that Velocity could and ALL credit for that goes to Simran Bahadur! She has every reason to feel like a hero. #WomensT20Challenge #WT20Challenge #WT20C
Kiran and Simran in a cricket match.
Bass, darr ke naa jiyein yeh apni zindagi.
#WT20C | #WT20Challenge
Partnership of 44* Runs in just 19 Balls
let's take a moment and appreciate these two ❤️
Laura Wolvaardt 🤝Simran Bahadur
#CricketTwitter #WomensT20Challenge https://t.co/afSs8HOijh
#WomensT20Challenge
Over 19.1: A superb six.
Over 19.5: A 98.4kph yorker for a dot ball.
What a batter Laura Wolvaardt is.
What a bowler Sophie Ecclestone is.
And what an effort by Simran Bahadur.
Good stuff.
scroll.in/field/1024971/… https://t.co/LNGdHhn7DW
Simran Bahadur scored 20 Runs in just 10 Balls
Rashi Kanojiya bowled an economical spell conceding just 22 runs in 4 overs
2 youngsters, 2 very special contribution 👏🙌
Clearly, there is immense depth in the domestic circuit
#WomensT20Challenge
Hopefully, there's much more exciting as well as close contested Women's T20 cricket to come in the years to follow in India in the months of March, April & May!
#WomensIPL #WomensT20Challenge
Congratulations To Harmanpreet Kaur’s Supernovas On Winning The Finals Of #WomensT20Challenge 🎉🌟
Kudos to Velocity Team For Giving Us Such A Thriller And Missing Out By Just 4 Runs 👏
High Time We Must Have A Proper Women’s IPL Soon Now! https://t.co/bGxcw4mLkn
Top knock under pressure from Simran Bahadur.
Harmanpreet good all through.
Deepti made a mark as captain and bowler.
Dottin, Ecclestone, Wolvaardt and King superb.
Great advertisement of home-grown and overseas talent this #WomensT20Challenge final was.
Bring on the #WIPL?
Supernovas bowl well to keep power-packed Velocity batting at bay
The target of 166 was a competitive one, but Velocity arguably had the best batting line-up among the three teams. The Supernovas leaked runs in the first two overs, but fought back brilliantly.
After both openers Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia failed to convert their starts, Kiran Navgire ended her miserable stay at the crease [0(13)] to put Velocity in further trouble.
Natthakan Chantam too couldn't do much and it was down to the world-class Laura Wolvaardt to show why she is arguably one of the best in the business. Although Velocity lost wickets at the other end, Wolvaardt continued her fight and got great support from Kate Cross and Simran Bahadur.
The young all-rounder from Delhi failed to put the last ball into the stands, but she should be proud of the character she showed on such a big stage. Women's IPL is perhaps inevitable with such quality Indian cricket on display.