The all-important clash between Velocity and Trailblazer on Thursday night lit up with a scintillating knock played by Kiran Navgire. Chasing a mammoth target of 191 runs at the MCA Stadium in Pune, the 26-year-old hit the fastest fifty of the Women’s T20 Challenge.
Navgire came out to bat after Shafali Verma was dismissed as Velocity was reduced to 50/2 in the fifth over. She went off the mark in style, playing a slog-sweep at long-on for a six against Salma Khatoon. He hit a four and another six in the same over, taking his team to 68 for 2 in the powerplay. The Maharashtra batsman eventually reached a half-century off just 25 balls and broke Shafali Verma’s 30-ball record.
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Navgire fireworks in Pune also set social media on fire. Be it a cricket fan or a former cricketer, people praised the dynamic batsman. Here are the reactions:
Fastest 50 runs in just 25 balls!
Kiran Navgir Boom Boom#VELVTBL #WT20Challenge pic.twitter.com/IDnoFQ8mOb
— Women’s CricZone (@WomensCricZone) 26 May 2022
I am here for the depth of Indian women’s cricket.
Sabbinini Meghna. Kiran Navgire. the list goes on.
I am here for a full women’s IPL.
– Snehal Pradhan 26 May 2022
We have heard that she can hit the ball quite far; Watching it live being broken! This strong striker Kiran Navgire has sent the ball. in his first innings #WT20Challenge is a retort for #velocity @ IPL pic.twitter.com/Z80W8KoUDG
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) 26 May 2022
ICYMI – Cracking start on debut – KP Navgir leaves the mark with a big six!
https://t.co/OEve84bkZL #VELVTBL #My11CircleWT20C
– Indian Premier League (@IPL) 26 May 2022
Kiran Navgire Has Some Serious Power#VELVTBL
– Vikram Sathaye (Kravikramasathaye) 26 May 2022
The tagline of IPL is ‘Talent meets Opportunity’. People like Sabbineni Meghna and Kiran Navgire have shown that talent is beyond India Blues in women’s cricket too. All they need is the opportunity. #IPL #Women’s Cricket
— Wasim Jaffer (@wasim jaffer14) 26 May 2022
– Off the mark with a six.
– Completed his half-century by hitting a six.
– Fastest fifty in this league.
Chasing 191 runs in his first innings, scored 69 runs in 34 balls.Take a bow, Kiran Navgire. pic.twitter.com/anuivmMIgy
– Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) 26 May 2022
Fasttrack Kiran Navgire in the national team. we are looking for something special
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) 26 May 2022
So India really have a power hitter like Kiran Navgir which could be a potential game changer considering the lack of power factor in women’s cricket, but obviously we don’t have the depth as per the BCCI president.
Colors surprised me by the wrong take of the man.
— Gurkeerat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) 26 May 2022
Earlier, Sabbhineni Meghna and Jemima Rodrigues scored brilliant half-centuries to take the Trailblazers to 190 for five against Velocity.
Meghna, who was ruled out of her opening game, played a blistering knock of 73 off 47 balls and shared a partnership of 113 runs off 73 balls to lay the foundation for Jemima Ridriggs (66 off 44 balls).
Hayley Matthews (27 off 15) and Sofia Dunkley (19 off 8) provided the late charge as the defending champions posted the highest score in the history of the tournament.
The only team to open their account, the Trailblazers came into the match, needing a big win to qualify for the finals. They have to limit the velocity to within 158 to make the summit clash.
(with agency input)
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