Gardner, Bowlers Shine As Gujarat Giants Upset Delhi Capitals By 11 Runs In WPL; Ends RCB's Hopes For Playoff
DEL-w vs GUJ-w: After a decent performance with the bat, Ashleigh Gardner led with the ball as Gujarat Giants defeated Delhi Capitals by 11 runs in a WPL 2023 upset. Arundhati Reddy and Marizanne Kapp played fighting knocks but GG-w bowlers held their nerve to clinch their 2nd win of the season, that too against a strong side.
Chasing 148 runs to win, Delhi lost opener Shafali Verma (8) in the 2nd over as Tanuja Kanwar cleaned her up. Captain Meg Lanning (18) also departed inside the powerplay as her counterpart Sneh Rana got better off the in-form batter. Alice Capsey yet again batted aggressively but failed to convert it into a big score, registering 22 runs off just 11 deliveries and was dismissed in the same over as her captain.
Marizanne Kapp however, held the crease for a while, scoring 36 runs off 29 balls. DC were at 97/6 in 13.3 overs, with a win still looking likely with Kapp at the crease, when a direct hit by Ashwani Kuamri got the better of the all-rounder. Batting at #8, Arundhati Reddy gave a mini scare as she smashed 25 runs off 17 balls, but Kim Garth got the better of her in the 18th over.
Kim Garth, Tanuja Kanwar and Ashleigh Gardner picked up 2 wickets each while Sneh Rana and Harleen Deol managed 1 wicket each. With this result, RCB have been virtually knocked out of the semi-final race, while Giants are still in the hunt. Delhi Capitals on the other hand would look to bounce back since they've looked formidable in the competition till now.
In the first innings, overseas players Laura Wolvaardt and Ashleigh Gardner struck fifties as Gujarat Giants posted 147/4 in 20 overs against Delhi Capitals. While opener Sophia Dunkley was dismissed for just 4 runs in the very first over, her partner Laura Wolvaardt took charge with in-form Harleen Deol as the duo added 49 runs for the 2nd wicket.
Harleen Deol was dismissed after a stable 31 off 33 after which Australian opener Ashleigh Gardner arrived at the crease to up the run rate. Wolvaardt, along with Gardner, added a massive 81 runs off 53 balls for the 3rd wicket to take the team to a fighting total. Wolvaardt scored 57 runs off 45 balls with 6 fours & a six.
Ashleigh Gardner on the other hand remained unbeaten on 51 runs in 33 balls with 9 fours to provide decent finishing. For Delhi Capitals, Jes Jonassen picked up 2 wickets while Marizanne Kapp and Arundhati Reddy managed 1 wicket each.
Earlier, Delhi Capitals captain Meg Lanning won the toss & opted to bowl first against Gujarat Giants in the 14th match of Women's Premier League 2023. This match was being played at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.
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