WPL 2023: Shafali’s explosive 50, DC sink GG by 10 wickets

DC are second in the points table with three wins from four matches and a total of six points. GG are fourth in the points table with one win and three losses from four matches. He has only two digits to his name.

Chasing the target of 106 runs, Delhi opener Shefali Verma and captain Meg Lanning started strongly.

Shafali was thrashing the hapless Gujarat Giants bowlers all over the park. He hit Kim Garth for three consecutive fours in the third over.

Lanning and Shafali together piled on Ashley Gardner for 23 runs in the very next over. DC crossed the 50-run mark in just 3.5 overs.

With Lanning as an anchor, Shafali played with freedom, bringing up her fifty in just 19 balls. His knock included eight fours and two sixes.

At the end of the Powerplay, DC were at 87/0, with Shafali (62*) and Lanning (16*) unbeaten.

DC crossed the 100-run mark in just seven overs.

Earlier, a flamboyant powerplay spell from all-rounder Marijan Kapp saw Delhi Capitals restrict Gujarat Giants to 105/9 at the end of their women’s team’s 20 overs. Chieftain League (WPL) match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

Electing to bat first, Gujarat Giants got off to a very poor start. Half of their innings were inside the pavilion before the end of the first six overs of the mandatory powerplay.

Marizanne Kapp troubled and troubled the GG bowlers with her accuracy and point line and length. Sabbineni Meghna (0) was the first to go on the second ball of the innings. Laura Wolvaardt, who was signed as a replacement batsman for the injured captain Beth Mooney had a disastrous debut in the WPL as she managed just one run from two balls. GG was 9/2.

Ashleigh Gardner (0), the Player of the Tournament of T20 World Cup 2023 was dismissed for a golden duck by Kapp after being trapped LBW, leaving GG 9/3.

Dayalan Hemlata was dismissed by Shikha Pandey after she was caught by wicketkeeper-batsman Tania Bhatia. GG was 18/4 in 3.3 overs. Harleen tried to keep the other end steady, but Kapp trapped his leg before wicket for 20, reducing GG to 28/5 in 4.4 overs.

At the end of the powerplay in six overs, GG were at 31/5, with Sushma Verma (2*) and Georgia Wareham (5*) unbeaten at the crease.

Gujarat Giants’ collapse continued after the powerplay. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sushma Verma’s middle stump was hit and with that Kapp brought up his fifty. GG was 33/6 in 6.5 overs.

Kim Garth and Georgia Wareham began forming a partnership. Thanks to a boundary from Garth, GG crossed the 50-run mark in 9.3 overs.

At the end of 10 overs, GG were at 54/6, with Wareham (13*) and Garth (11*) not out. The budding stand between Garth and Wareham ended in 33 runs. Radha Yadav dismissed Wareham for 22 off 25 balls to leave GG at 66/7 in 12.2 overs.

Tanuja Kanwar then joined Garth and the two began rebuilding the innings. The duo added 28 more runs to the team’s total before Tanuja was caught by Jemimah Rodrigues for 13 off 19 balls. Shikha Pandey took the second wicket. GG was 94/8 in 18.3 overs.

Shikha took her third wicket after a mistimed aerial shot by GG skipper Sneh Rana, which went straight into the hands of the bowler. GG was 96/9 in 19 overs and Sneh was out for two.

GG managed to cross the 100-run mark in 19.4 overs as Manasi Joshi struck a four to end GG’s innings at 105/9 as she (5*) and Garth (32*) remained unbeaten.

Kapp’s fielder was the highlight of the inning. He took 5/15 from his four overs. Shikha also took 3/26 from her four overs. Radha took a wicket.

short number: Gujarat Giants: 105/9 (Kim Garth 32*, Georgia Wareham 22, Marijan Kapp 5/15) Lose to Delhi Capitals: 107/0 in 7.1 overs (Shafali Verma 76*, Meg Lanning 21*). (ANI)

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