WPL 2023: In a must-win match against Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants struggled to get runs in front of the opposition. Despite losing wickets, Gujarat batsmen failed to score runs.
First Published Mar 16, 2023, 8:59 PM IST
Defeated in four out of five matches played. Play off chances are getting slimmer. In this background, the match against Delhi Capitals is very important for Gujarat Giants, but the batsmen of that team failed to score runs. In the middle overs, Gujarat’s innings progressed like a snail was taught to walk. Laura Volwardt (57 off 45 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) along with a half-century and Ashley Gardner (51 not out off 33 balls, 9 fours) shone at the end, Gujarat scored 147 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. If Delhi can break the target in this match, then the playoff berth is assured.
After losing the toss and batting first, the opening pair of Gujarat Giants changed but their luck did not change. Marijane Cope dismissed Sophia Dunkley (4) in the first over. But Harleen Deol (31 off 33 balls, 4 fours) along with Laura Vollwardt looked out of sorts. Both added 49 runs for the second wicket.
It was difficult for Gujarat’s batsmen to get runs as the Delhi bowlers bowled hard. Jonasen broke the Harleen-Laura partnership which was like a run for the ball. On the fifth ball of her fifteenth over, Harleen gave a catch to wicketkeeper Bhatia and turned back. At the end of ten overs, Gujarat lost two wickets and scored 60 runs.
Gardner – Laura Joru..
Even after that, Gujarat scored no runs. Ashley Gardner hit two boundaries in the 13th over bowled by Shikha Pandey. In the 15th over bowled by Kopp, Gardner and Volwardt also scored a boundary each. In the 16th over bowled by Jonasen, Volwardt hit a six off the first ball. This is the first six in Gujarat’s innings. After that, two fours were also hit. Wollwardt’s half century was completed by taking a single off the fifth ball of the 17th over by Arundhati Reddy.
At the end..
With the score too low, Gardner was forced to bat. Arundhati hit two boundaries in the 19th over. But Volwardt was clean bowled in the fourth ball of the same over. Together these two added 81 runs in 53 balls. Gardner completed her half century with two fours in the last over bowled by Jonassen. But as Hemalatha got out in the last ball, the team did not even reach the 150 mark.
