MUMBAI: Ashleigh Gardner justified her top billing among the overseas recruits with a superb all-round performance that ensured a hard-fought 11-run victory over Delhi Capitals in a Women’s Premier League match in Mumbai on March 16.
After setting a below-par target of 148 for Delhi Capitals to win, Gujarat fought back well with an inspired show with the ball and in the field to bowl the secondplaced team out for 136 in 18.4 overs here on a breezy night at the Brabourne Stadium. Gardner first scored 51 off 33 balls with the bat and then took 2/19 in 3.4 overs under pressure to ease the road to victory for Giants, who have now leapfrogged RCB once again to stay fourth in five-team table. While DC’s points tally remains 8 from 6 games, GG now have 4 points from six games.
The victory also ensured that Giants remained in contention for a place in the play-offs. Arundhati Reddy (25) and Shikha Pandey (8 not out) kept Delhi’s hopes alive till late in the game with their 35-run ninthwicket stand, but Gujarat managed to pull off a favourable result with Kim Garth (4-0-18-2) and Gardner producing impressive spells. Earlier in the first half of the contest, half-centuries from Beth Mooney’s replacement Laura Wolvaardt (57) and Gardner (51 not out) took Gujarat Giants to a total of 147/4 in their 20 overs, after they had crawled to an ordinary 53/2 halfway through.
BRIEF SCORES: Gujarat Giants 147 for 4 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 57, Ashleigh Gardner 51 not out, Harleen Deol 31; Marizanne Kapp 1/24, Jess Jonassen 2/38). Delhi Capitals 136 in 18.4 overs (Alice Capsey 22, Marizanne Kapp 36; Tanuja Kanwar 2/29; Ashleigh Gardner 2/19, Kim Garth 2/18).
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