Trailblazers skipper Smriti Mandhana said she always believed in the team’s potent spin attack to defend a low total in the Women’s T20 Challenge final, which her side won by 16 runs against Supernovas here on Monday.

In spite of a solid start, Trailblazers could post only a modest 118 for eight, but Mandhana said she knew the slow nature of the surface would help her side.

“It was an amazing performance. We tried to get to 130-140, but somewhere we lost track. The wicket was tough to bat on, so I knew any total around 120 would be a fighting one.

“We have a good spin attack and I was really positive from the first ball,” said a beaming Mandhana at the post-match media conference.

Off-spinner Salma Khatun took three wickets in the penultimate over, dismissing rival skipper Harmanpreet Kaur in the process and Mandhana acknowledged her effort. “She was brilliant. Those spells win you matches.

“She is an experienced campaigner. I just told her to believe in herself and she delivered. Her spell was the winning spell,” she said.

Thai cricketer Natthakan Chantham impressed one and all with her agility on the field. “There were two-three brilliant fielding efforts, especially that of Chantham. I have not seen a girl field like that.”

Mandhana added: “Last six months were tough for the whole world. So it was worth to come and play. I thank BCCI for organising this.”