Skipper Meg Lanning's half-century coupled with brilliant performances by bowlers led Delhi Capitals to 25-run win over Gujarat Giants in the 10th match of the WPL 2024 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, March 3.
After posting a total of 163/8 in 20 overs, Delhi Capitals bowlers got the job done by circumscribing Gujarat Giants to 138/8 in 20 overs. Jess Jonnasen and Radha Yadav emerged as the star performers in DC's total defence as they scalped three wickets. While Sikha Pandey picked a wicket.
For Gujarat Giants, Ashleigh Gardener played a valiant knock of 40 off 31 balls. Gardener was waging a lone battle in the middle as he didn't receive enough support from the other end of the crease. However, Gardener's dismissal turned the tables on Gujarat Giants as other batters failed to step up when the team needed them the most.
With the third win from four matches in the ongoing Women's Premier League season (WPL), Delhi Capitals moved to top of the table points. Meg Lanning's side is currently ahead of Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz in the league standings.
After putting to bat first by Gujarat Giants, Delhi Capitals lost an early wicket in opener Shefali Verma for 13 at 20/1. Thereafter, skipper Meg Lanning was joined by Alice Capsey to carry on Delhi Capitals' innings.
Lanning and Capsey took on Gujarat Giants' bowlers and DC went past 50-run mark in the sixth over. The pair formed a 38-run partnership for the second wicket until Alice Capsey was dismissed for 27 at 58/2.
Meg Lanning's fifty help DC put a defendable total on the board
Meg Lanning played a brilliant captain innings of 55 off 41 balls to ensure that Delhi Capitals post a total that can be defended by their bowlers during Gujarat Giants' run-chase.
During her half-century, Lanning completed 9000 runs in Women's T20 cricket, becoming the fastest female cricket to achieve this feat in the shortest format (289 innings).
Apart from Meg Lanning's fifty, Annabel Sutherland chipped in with 20 off 12 balls in the middle to get Delhi Capitals closer to 150-run mark. Not to forget, Shikha Pandey's 14 off 8 balls was crucial as it helped the table toppers to post 163/8 on the board.
For Gujarat Giants, Meghna Singh led the bowling attack with her maiden four-wicket haul while Ashleigh Gardner picked two wickets. Interesingly, both conceded 37 runs with an economy rate of 9.20 in four overs each.
Gujarat Giants winless streak continues
With a defeat against Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants extended their winless streak to four matches in the ongoing WPL 2024. Under the captaincy of Beth Mooney, Giants are yet to win a match.
Gujarat Giants faced first defeat of the season against defending champions Mumbai Indians, losing the match by five wickets. GG failed to defend the total 126 as MI chased 127-run target in 18.1 overs.
In the second match, Gujarat Giants had a poor outing as they posted a mere 107/7 in 20 overs. Only Dayalan Hemalatha (31) and Harleen Deol (22) managed to score above 20 runs. The opponent Royal Challengers Bangalore chased the target of 108 in 12.1 overs.
In the third match, Gujarat Giants posted a total of 142/5 in 20 overs, thanks to crucial 52-run partnership between Phoebe Litchfield (35) and Ashleigh Gardner (30) for the fourth wicket. However, Giants failed to defend the target as UP Warriorz chased the target of 143 in 15.4 overs.
Gujarat Giants need to win remaining four matches in the league in order to stay in contention for playoffs.
