Harleen Deol hasn’t been in India’s scheme of issues in the T20 format since July 2023. On the proof of Friday’s fixture in the Women’s Premier League, the 26-year-old from Chandigarh deserves a return in the shortest model. After all, she has made an impression since making an ODI comeback in December.
Against Delhi Capitals on the Ekana Cricket Stadium, the No. 3 smashed an unbeaten 70 off 49 balls to take Gujarat Giants previous the end line in a cliffhanger. In pursuit of 178 for victory, GG reached home in 19.3 overs with 5 wickets in hand.
Harleen’s innings overshadowed Meg Lanning’s swashbuckling 92 for Delhi Capitals earlier in the night. The basis for the stiff chase was set by Beth Mooney and Harleen forging an 85-run partnership for the second wicket. Even when Mooney skied off-spinner Minnu Mani to Annabel Sutherland at long-off on 44, GG didn’t panic. Ashleigh Gardner got here in and spanked a few sixes earlier than pulling Shikha Pandey to Mani at deep sq. leg.
The boundaries continued to move with Harleen and Dottin on the crease. Having introduced up her half-century off 38 balls with a rasping reduce previous level for 4, Harleen ensured that she was there on the finish.
For DC, Lanning was the star with the bat. Her solely lapse got here on 47, however Harleen couldn’t grasp on and pull off a surprising catch. When the opener lofted Tanuja Kanwer in direction of mid-off in the twelfth over, the ball appeared set to sail over Harleen. But her agility allowed her to leap excessive and get her outstretched proper hand on the ball. It popped out, although, onto her left palm earlier than rebounding once more into her cupped arms whereas she was on her approach down. Once her arms made contact with the bottom, it slipped out and hit the turf.
The scores: Delhi Capitals 177/5 in 20 overs (Lanning 92, Shafali Verma 40, Meghna Singh 3/35, Dottin 2/37) misplaced to Gujarat Giants 178/5 in 19.3 overs (Harleen Deol 70 n.o., Mooney 44, Shikha Pandey 2/31, Jess Jonassen 2/38). Toss: GG; PoM: Harleen.
Saturday’s match: UP Warriorz vs RCB, 7.30 p.m.
Published – March 07, 2025 11:21 pm IST
