WPL 2023 GG vs DC Match Report
On March 16, 2023, the Gujarat Giants faced off against the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League. After losing their last two games, the Giants found themselves at the bottom of the league table. The Capitals, on the other hand, were in a comfortable position, having won their last game.
The game began with the Gujarat Giants batting first. However, the team found themselves in a precarious position after losing their top scorer, Harleen Deol. Opener Laura Wolvaardt was struggling to find her rhythm, and the team’s scoring rate had dipped to under six an over.
It was at this point that Ashleigh Gardner walked in to bat at number four. Gardner, who has been a world champion several times, is known for her ability to rescue her team from difficult situations. She began her innings with a flurry of boundaries, and quickly got the scoreboard ticking over. She also gave Wolvaardt the confidence to play her shots, and the two went after the Delhi Capitals’ most fiery and wily bowlers, Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen.
Gardner’s confidence and positivity seemed to rub off on her partner, and Wolvaardt soon found her rhythm. The two batters took on the Delhi Capitals’ bowlers with ease, and scored at a rate of nearly seven an over.
With Gardner’s help, Wolvaardt soon reached her fifty off 41 balls. Gardner, too, was on fire, and raced from 31 off 25 to a 33-ball half-century. The two batters carted the Capitals’ bowlers around the park, and nearly touched 150 runs.
The Gujarat Giants knew that they were below par on a pitch that was slightly slow yet batting-friendly. However, Gardner got her teammates together at the halfway mark and gave them a clear message: be brave.
“I just said, ‘147 is an okay score but we’re going to have to bowl well’. And we were probably going to have to bowl them out to win that game. I was just trying to reiterate the message to the girls around being brave and playing with freedom because ultimately, we needed to win these games,” said Gardner.
In response, the Delhi Capitals got off to a decent start, with their openers scoring at a steady rate. However, the introduction of Kim Garth into the attack changed the game. Garth, who had been expensive in her previous games, bowled a tight spell and took two wickets in her first over.
The Delhi Capitals soon found themselves in trouble, with several of their key batters back in the pavilion. However, Arundhati Reddy and Shikha Pandey had other ideas. The two batters put on a partnership of over 50 runs, and brought the Capitals back into the game.
However, with the required run rate climbing, the Delhi Capitals needed some big hits. Reddy and Pandey tried their best, but the Gujarat Giants’ bowlers held their nerve and bowled a tight line. In the end, the Capitals fell short by 11 runs.
It was a remarkable turnaround for the Giants, who had been in a difficult position at the halfway mark. However, Gardner’s positivity and leadership proved to be the difference, and the team was able to secure a much-needed win.
WPL 2023 GG vs DC Match Report and Review | Women’s Premier League
Overall, it was a thrilling game of cricket, and one that showcased the talent and skills of some of the best women cricketers in the world. With several more games to go in the Women’s Premier League, it will be interesting to see which team comes out on top. Moreover, Gujrat Giants qualification and survival in the WPL 2023 is also a hot topic currently. Fans are keenly awaiting the results of the group stages.
