WPL 2023: Best Overseas XI from first week

The first week of the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) kick-started with Gujarat Giants squaring off against Mumbai Indians and ended with UP Warriorz taking the stage alongside Royal Challengers Bangalore. After the end of seven days, Mumbai are the only side yet to be conquered.

The first week witnessed many gun players take the ongoing T20 extravaganza by storm with their breathtaking performances. Among these cricketers, there were certain overseas stars who brought their A-game into play and stamped their authority on the cricket field.

Here is the best overseas XI from the first week

1. Hayley Matthews 

West Indies cricket has produced many match-winners but there have not been many of the caliber of Hayley Matthews. She has scored 1915 runs in 75 ODIs at an average of 26.97 and bagged 89 wickets at an economy of 4.06. In the shortest format, she has scored 1581 runs in 82 T20Is at a strike rate of 104.15 and picked up 78 wickets at an economy of 5.80.

Matthews has displayed her all-round might in the ongoing edition of WPL. She has featured in three games for Mumbai Indians and smashed 156 runs at a strike rate of 156.00. On the bowling front, the 24-year-old has picked up six wickets at an excellent average of 9.16.

When Mumbai clashed against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the fourth game of the marquee tournament, Matthews was at her best with both bat and ball. She bagged three wickets while giving away just 28 runs to help bundle out RCB for 155 runs. Then during the chase, she played a sensational knock of 77* runs off 38 deliveries to take her side to a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Smriti Mandhana & Co.