WPL 2024, Match 18: Gujarat Giants Women vs UP Warriorz Women, Eighteenth Match - Who Said What?

Gujarat Giants Women (GG-W) kept themselves alive in the knockouts race of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 with an eight-run win over UP Warriorz In Match 18 on Monday, March 11 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. After opting to bat first, Gujarat posted a decent score of 152/8 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, UP came close to pulling off a miraculous chase but eventually fell nine runs short of their target finishing their innings on 144/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Their chase got off to the worst possible start as right-arm seamer Shabnam Shakil (3/11) got the prized scalps of captain Alyssa Healy (4 off 3) and Chamari Athapaththu (0 off 3) to leave UP reeling at 4/2 after the first over. The matters got worse as Kiran Navgire (0 off 2), Grace Harris (1 off 7) and Shweta Sehrawat also fell cheaply leaving UP in all sorts of trouble at 35/5 after 7 overs.

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With their back against the wall, Deepti Sharma (88* off 60) and Poonam Khemnar (36* off 36) were in no mood to surrender as they forged a massive 109-run stand for the sixth wicket off 78 balls to keep UP in the game. However, they failed to score 26 off the last over and ended up losing the game.

Earlier in the day, after opting to bat first, Gujarat got off to a good start with openers Laura Wolvaardt (43 off 30) and Beth Mooney adding 60 runs for the first wicket off 47 balls. Sophie Ecclestone (3/38) broke the stand getting Wolvaardt stumped in the eighth over. In-form batter Dayalan Hemalatha walked in at number three but had to return back to the pavilion for a two-ball duck falling prey to Chamari Athapaththu.

UP continued to chip in with the wickets as Phoebe Litchfield (4 off 8) and Ashleigh Gardner also departed cheaply leaving Gujarat on 102/4 after 14 overs. However, Captain Mooney continued to hold one end as she brought up her third half-century of the season. She played a brilliant knock of 74* (52) with the help of ten fours and a six and took her team’s score to 152/8 in their allotted 20 overs.

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Here’s what the two captains and the Player of the Match said after the game:

Losing Captain, Alyssa Healy, UP Warriorz, said:

Deepti played an outstanding knock to get us close. We did feel if we take it deep we could win, disappointing outing tonight. I probably tried to take it on too early, didn't pay off tonight. Reflect on that, move on and hopefully be better. Now we are in the hands of couple of other teams, summed up our season, haven't been consistent enough. So many amazing players in this team that have put their hands up, which in the amazing thing. Just inconsistent (on how she would reflect on the season). Top two sides have been really good. We will learn from it and do well next year.

Winning Captain, Beth Mooney, Gujarat Giants, said:

After the last few games, we stuck to the situation and gave the fans something to watch. It's a little stressful but nice for the fans. We let them back into the game, 150 was not a great score, it was an OK score if we bowled well and Shabnam was outstanding upfront. I don't know a whole heap about bowling, I love her energy and she has got a bright future and thought why not bowl her 4 upfront. Max is a happy coach and I'm happy as a skipper. Hopefully, Delhi are a strong team and I'm sure it will be another close contest.

Player of the Match, Shabnam Shakil, Gujarat Giants, said:

I'm feeling really happy. To perform on such a platform. I learnt a lot from my U-19 days and that experience I applied here. Last year I spoke a lot to Mushi and Mithali maam and that helped. I love bowling with the new-ball. I was getting boosted up by the new-ball and I was enjoying it. The basic plan was to hit the top of off-stump and that's what I did. This is top of my list as this is my first award in such a top platform.