Women’s Premier League: Ashleigh Gardner retains Gujarat Giants afloat

It was a bit late, however Ashleigh Gardner lastly arrived on the WPL occasion. Gujarat Giants went all out for the Australian all-rounder within the public sale, and on Thursday, she confirmed why the franchise was proper to wager huge on her. Gardner’s unbeaten 51 off 31 balls and a pair of/19 helped Gujarat Giants beat Delhi Capitals by 11 runs to maintain their playoff hopes afloat.

It was candy revenge for the Sneh Rana-led staff after they have been hammered by the Capitals in an earlier fixture. Put into bat, Giants scored 147 for 4. In reply, Capitals have been bowled out for 136 in 18.4 overs.

Gardener’s half-century proved to be the match-winning knock for the Giants. After 12 overs, they have been 64 for two, however within the subsequent eight overs, placed on 83 runs. Gardner, together with Laura Wolvaardt (57 off 45 balls) placed on 81 runs for the third wicket. The Aussie not solely added the gas in an in any other case conservative begin, but in addition helped Giants to finish with a flourish.

A cracking half-century 👌
An important bowling contribution 👍

For her tremendous all-round efficiency, @akgardner97 luggage the Player of the Match award as @GujaratGiants beat #DC by 11 runs. 👏 👏

Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/fWIECCaAGh #TATAWPL | #DCvGG pic.twitter.com/77ga9Laqdx

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 16, 2023

Wolvaardt modified gears and hammered Jess Jonassen for 15 runs in an over, together with a six and two boundaries. At one stage, the South African was struggling, on 26 off 30 balls, however within the subsequent 15, smoked 31 runs.

The Giants had a conservative strategy after shedding Sophia Dunkley (4) within the first over. The 49-run stand between Harleen Deol (31 off 33b) and Wolvaardt steadied the ship however the duo chewed up approach too many deliveries. The Giants innings seemed like going nowhere till Gardener modified the momentum along with her fearless strokeplay.

For Capitals, Jess Jonassen (2/38), Marizanne Kapp (1/24) and Arundhati Reddy (1/25) shared the spoils.

In reply, Shafali Verma began with a six off Tanuja Kanwar however the bowler had the final chortle when the Capitals opener was bowled off a deflection.

Next in, Alice Capsey seemed in a rush as she muscled her option to an 11-ball 22, hitting a few boundaries off Kim Garth and two big sixes in Gardener’s first over.

A sport of fantastic margins!

The @GujaratGiants are again to profitable methods and the way 🙌

A splendid efficiency by #GG to win by 11 runs & acquire 2️⃣ very important factors ✅

Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/fWIECCaAGh #TATAWPL | #DCvGG pic.twitter.com/EX3flsIcFO

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 16, 2023

It was within the final over of the Powerplay when the sport turned in favour of the Gujarat Giants. Rana pinned her counterpart Meg Lanning (18 off 15b) LBW after which a mix-up ended Capsey’s keep.

Capitals had misplaced momentum, however Kapp (36 off 29 balls) saved them within the chase, earlier than a direct hit from Ashwani Kumari led to her downfall.

Talk about releasing stress – the @akgardner97 approach 👌 👌 #TATAWPL | #DCvGG | @GujaratGiants

WATCH 🎥 🔽https://t.co/kMQdulgiLb pic.twitter.com/8KpE2cAJyz

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 16, 2023

Capitals have been reeling at 100 for 8, however Arundhati Reddy had different concepts. The all-rounder used the lengthy deal with effectively and swung the momentum again in direction of her staff. But Kim Garth (2/18) despatched Arundhati again to finish the Capitals resistance.

Brief Scores: Gujarat Giants 147/ 4 (Ashleigh Gardner 51 not out, Laura Wolvaardt 57; Jess Jonassen 2/38) beat Delhi Capitals 136 all out in 18.4 overs (Marizanne Kapp 36, Arundhati Reddy 25; Ashleigh Gardner 2/19, Kim Garth 2/18, Tanuja Kanwar 2/28) by 11 runs