With an eight-run victory over UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants Women (GG-W) maintained their position in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 knockout round. On Monday, March 11, at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, in Match 18,. Gujarat chose to bat first and scored a respectable 152/8 in the 20 overs that were given to them. While replying, UP nearly pulled off a stunning chase, ultimately falling nine runs short of their goal and concluding their innings with 144/5 in the 20 overs given.
Captain Alyssa Healy (4 off 3) and Chamari Athapaththu (0 off 3) were both valued scalps taken by right-arm seamer Shabnam Shakil (3/11), leaving UP reeling at 4/2 in the first over. This was the worst-conceivable start to their chase. After 7 overs, with Kiran Navgire (0 off 2), Grace Harris (1 off 7), and Shweta Sehrawat falling cheaply, the situation worsened and UP was reduced to 35/5.
With their backs against the wall, Deepti Sharma (88* off 60) and Poonam Khemnar (36* off 36) established an incredible 109-run partnership for the sixth wicket off 78 balls to keep UP in the match. They showed no signs of giving up. Nevertheless, they lost the game because they were unable to score 26 in the final over.
Gujarat chose to bat first earlier in the day, and they had an excellent start thanks to openers Laura Wolvaardt (43 off 30) and Beth Mooney (60 runs off 47 balls) for the first wicket. Wolvaardt was stumped in the eighth over after Sophie Ecclestone (3/38) broke the stand. Batting sensation Dayalan Hemalatha entered the game at number three, but he was forced to go back to the pavilion after Chamari Athapaththu took a two-ball duck.
Phoebe Litchfield (4 off 8) and Ashleigh Gardner both went for cheap shots, as UP kept adding wickets to their total, leaving Gujarat at 102/4 after 14 overs. But as she reached her third half-century of the season, Captain Mooney was still holding one end. She scored her team’s first twenty overs at 152/8 thanks to a magnificent knock of 74* (52) that included 10 fours and a six.
Following the match, the two captains and the Player of the Match said the following:
The losing captain, Alyssa Healy, UP Warriorz, said:
Deepti played an outstanding knock to get us close. We did feel if we take it deep we could win, disappointing outing tonight. I probably tried to take it on too early, didn’t pay off tonight. Reflect on that, move on and hopefully be better. Now we are in the hands of couple of other teams, summed up our season, haven’t been consistent enough. So many amazing players in this team that have put their hands up, which in the amazing thing. Just inconsistent (on how she would reflect on the season). Top two sides have been really good. We will learn from it and do well next year.
Winning captain, Beth Mooney, Gujarat Giants, said:
After the last few games, we stuck to the situation and gave the fans something to watch. It’s a little stressful but nice for the fans. We let them back into the game, 150 was not a great score, it was an OK score if we bowled well and Shabnam was outstanding upfront. I don’t know a whole heap about bowling, I love her energy and she has got a bright future and thought why not bowl her 4 upfront. Max is a happy coach and I’m happy as a skipper. Hopefully, Delhi are a strong team and I’m sure it will be another close contest.
Player of the Match, Shabnam Shakil, Gujarat Giants, said:
I’m feeling really happy. To perform on such a platform. I learnt a lot from my U-19 days and that experience I applied here. Last year I spoke a lot to Mushi and Mithali maam and that helped. I love bowling with the new-ball. I was getting boosted up by the new-ball and I was enjoying it. The basic plan was to hit the top of off-stump and that’s what I did. This is top of my list as this is my first award in such a top platform.
India
