Sune Luus hit an unbeaten 37 under pressure as Velocity overcame a jittery start to beat defending champions Supernovas by five wickets in the Women's T20 Challenge opener at the Sharjah Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing a modest target of 127, Velocity were 38 for three inside nine overs, but South African Luus took them over the line with her calm-headed 37-run knock that came off 21 balls. She smashed four fours and a six.

Luus also shared a crucial 51-run stand with Sushma Verma (34). Velocity bowlers, led by left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht (3/22), had restricted Supernovas to 126 for eight after winning the toss and electing to bowl.

Luus’ compatriot, medium pacer Ayabonga Khaka (2/27), gave Supernovas the perfect start by dismissing both Velocity openers Dani Wyatt (0) and the supremely-talented Shafali Verma (17).

Shafali lit up the chase, smashing Khaka for three boundaries in a row. But Khaka bounced back to dismiss Shafali after the latter flicked one straight to deep mid-wicket.

Skipper Mithali Raj then fell victim to Shashikala Siriwardene after a sluggish seven from 19 balls as it was left for Veda Krishnamurthy (29) and Sushma to keep them in the hunt. Sushma turned it around for Velocity in the 16th over, hammering Poonam Yadav for two sixes with some clean-hitting display to bring the required rate down.

She, however, failed to take them over the line, falling to Poonam in the penultimate over. Needing nine runs from the last over, Luus sealed the chase in the penultimate ball with a boundary after having hit one off the second.

“It is challenging after such a long break. Most of the players played the T20 World Cup (earlier in the year), but for Jhulan (Goswami) and me, it’s been long,” captain Mithali said after the match.

“I was expecting around 120-130. Wish we had a decent opening start, because in low scoring games, that’s important. But Veda played well, with Sushma and Sune too,” she added.

Luus was adjudged Player of the Match for her unbeaten knock. “It was quite difficult when we needed 62 off 42 (balls) when I walked in. They were bowling well. But Sushma rotated the strike well with me,” she said.

Talking about the Sharjah pitch that has been slow of late, Luus said: “I didn’t find the surface to be too difficult at all.”

Brief scores: Supernovas 126/8 in 20 ovs (C. Atapattu 44; E. Bisht 3/22). Velocity 129/5 in 19.5 ovs (S. Luus 37 n.o.). Velocity won by 5 wickets.

Today’s match

• Velocity vs Trailblazers, Sharjah (3.30pm IST)