The 18th match of the Women’s Premier League 2024 turned into a nail-biting thriller as the Gujarat Giants edged past the UP Warriorz by a narrow margin of 8 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Beth Mooney’s 74 And Shakil’s Late Wickets Secure Victory .
Giants Set a Challenging Total
Electing to bat first, the Gujarat Giants got off to a flying start courtesy of a solid opening partnership between Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt. Mooney, known for her elegant strokeplay, anchored the innings with a well-paced 74 (52 balls, 10 fours, 1 six). Wolvaardt, on the other hand, provided early impetus with a brisk 43 (30 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) before being dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone.
The middle order of the Giants, however, faltered slightly, losing wickets at regular intervals. Ashleigh Gardner provided a cameo of 15 runs, but the lack of substantial partnerships restricted the Giants to a total of 152/8 in their 20 overs. Veteran spinner Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the UP Warriorz bowlers, claiming three crucial wickets for just 38 runs.
Deepti Sharma Shines, But Giants Hold Nerve
The UP Warriorz chase started disastrously as they lost their experienced openers, Alyssa Healy and Kiran Navgire, cheaply. However, the ever-reliable Deepti Sharma stepped up for the Warriors, playing a captain’s knock of 88 runs off just 60 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes). She found some support from Grace Harris (1 run off 7 balls) for a brief period, but the dismissal of Harris put the Warriors under immense pressure.
Despite Deepti Sharma’s heroics, the UP Warriorz batting order crumbled under the pressure of the required run rate. Wickets fell consistently, and the run-out of Shabnam Shakil in the final over sealed their fate. The young Gujarat seamer, Shabnam Shakil, emerged as the unlikely hero for the Giants, picking up crucial wickets at the death to finish with impressive figures of 3/11 in her four overs.
Thrilling Finish and Crucial Points for Giants
The final over of the match was a tense affair, with the Warriors needing 12 runs to win. Despite a valiant effort from Poonam Khemnar (36 not out), the Giants’ bowlers held their nerve and restricted the Warriors to 144/5, securing a thrilling victory by just 8 runs.
This win not only keeps the Gujarat Giants’ playoff hopes alive, but also puts them in a strong position to challenge for the top spot in the league standings. For the UP Warriorz, this loss is a setback, but they would be looking to bounce back and continue their fight for a playoff berth.
Player of the Match: Beth Mooney
For her crucial knock that laid the foundation for the Giants’ victory, Beth Mooney was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match award. Her composed 74 runs ensured the Giants had a competitive total to defend.
check here – Delhi Capitals Women Snatch Last-Ball Victory In A Nail-Biting Encounter Against RCB Women , WPL 2024 .
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