The action returned on Thursday in the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 League as Gujarat faced off against Delhi in the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Delhi won the toss and decided to bowl first. They did a clinical job of restricting Gujarat to 147/4 within their quota of 20 overs.
Gujarat lost their opening batter Sophie Dunkley within the first over. However, her opening partner Laura Wolvaardt and star player Ashleigh Gardener both scored half-centuries to rescue their innings. Harleen Deol, batting at number three, also contributed a handy 31 runs to take their team total to a respectable 147.
In reply, Delhi were off to a shaky start. They lost both their openers – Shafali Verma and skipper Meg Lanning cheaply. The passage of regular wickets continued for the team from the capital, as they could only manage 136 before being bowled out with eight balls remaining. Only four Delhi batters could reach double figures in a forgettable batting display for the high flyers.
Ashleigh Gardener remained the star for Gujarat with two wickets and a half-century
For Gujarat, it was a team effort in bowling as three bowlers – Kim Garth, Tanuja Kanwar and Ashleigh Gardener – returned with two wickets each in the game. Skipper Sneh Rana and Harleen Deol picked up one wicket apiece. This is Delhi’s second defeat of the season following their loss to leaders Mumbai.
Gujarat just lost four wickets, but their strike rate was not at par with T20 standards, as only two batters could maintain a strike rate of 100 or more. Jess Jonassen remained the pick of the bowlers returning with figures of 2 for 38 from her four overs. Marizanne Kapp and Arundhati Reddy returned with one wicket apiece.
Next, in the Women’s T20 League, a doubleheader awaits fans on Saturday. In the first game, unbeaten Mumbai will take on UP, with the latter with work to do for qualification. In the second game, Gujarat will again be in action against Bangalore, who registered the first win of their season on Wednesday against UP.
Here’s how fans reacted to Gujarat’s clinical performance:
Sneh Rana > Smriti mandhana ???
— LostBoy® (@PrashantGhnaksh) March 16, 2023
Very poor from arundhati, after doing all the hard work, threw her wicket when needed run a ball. The same thing they do in INT cricket.
— Sid361 (@shubhsaraf361) March 16, 2023
whts the next qualification scenario for legendary HAARCB ?
— MSD!!that's_it? (@MrinmoyK07MsD) March 16, 2023
Lowest pt of lanning's career is playing for the chokepitals
— Z (@ossyV2) March 16, 2023
Arundhati, the biggest positive for us in this game, we'll comeback stronger ??? @DelhiCapitals #DCvsGG
— ABDul Sohail (@abdul_sohail24) March 16, 2023
Let down in all important match for DC, as usual by shefali verma ,now its time for s patil and saika to entry in national and definitely way out to rajashree & radha ,kanika also in race ,but no competitors for renuka n sikha ,this ?what shefali do in important matches, sorry pic.twitter.com/LqZqVk5E3a
— S Karnik (@SRKarnik2) March 16, 2023
shefali Varma another blind hitter..
— RK (@MahiGOAT07) March 16, 2023
— aadityaa (@Aditya_M9) March 16, 2023
