Gujarat Giants’ Beth Mooney selected the event of Lucknow staging a Women’s Premier League (WPL) match for the primary time to placed on a spectacular exhibition of strokeplay. Having contributed simply 28 runs within the final 4 video games, the Australian left-handed opener scripted a well timed return to type with an unbeaten 96 off 59 deliveries on the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday. It consigned host UP Warriorz to an 81-run defeat.
Mooney’s exploits set the stage for GG’s complete of 186 for 5. Warriorz’s response was wholly insufficient, folding for 105 in 17.1 overs. Tanuja Kanwar and Kashvee Gautam took three wickets apiece. The outcome was a foregone conclusion as soon as Deepti Sharma’s group slumped to 25 for 4.
Mooney had an in a position ally in No. 3 Harleen Deol for most of her innings. In a partnership of 101 runs off 68 balls for the second wicket, they performed their roles to perfection. The latter’s 45 off 32 deliveries comprised six fours, three of which got here with crisp drives towards the seamers by way of mid-off.
The 31-year-old introduced up her half-century, off 37 balls, with a boundary to the proper of long-off towards Deepti’s off-spin. That she was in full command was obvious when she walloped seamer Kranti Goud for three fours in a row within the 14th over. Three extra hits to the boundary rope within the subsequent two overs, peppering the comparatively secure area down the bottom, meant she had motored alongside to 85 on the finish of the sixteenth over. At this stage, she was properly heading in the right direction to grow to be WPL’s first-ever centurion.
Strangely, although, she managed to face all of 5 deliveries within the final 4 overs. It left her wanting a landmark, however she gained’t thoughts given the rousing win for her group on Monday.
The scores: Gujarat Giants 186/5 in 20 overs (Mooney 96 n.o., Harleen Deol 45, Ecclestone 2/34) bt UP Warriorz 105 in 17.1 overs (Kashvee Gautam 3/11, Tanuja Kanwar 3/17, Dottin 2/14).
Toss: UP Warriorz. PoM: Mooney.
Thursday’s match: Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz, 7.30 p.m.
Published – March 03, 2025 11:07 pm IST
