Twitter Reactions: All-round Ashleigh Gardner seals narrow victory for Gujarat Giants against Delhi Capitals
Gujarat Giants keep themselves alive in the hunt for a playoff spot after a thrilling victory over the Delhi Capitals.
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Gujarat Giants prevailed in a nail-biting thriller against the high-flying Delhi Capitals to register their second win of the Women's Premier League. Ashleigh Gardner and Laura Wolvaardt set up the win for the Giants with brilliant half-centuries and the bowlers, led by Kim Garth, were disciplined enough to seal a narrow victory by 11 runs.
The Delhi Capitals chase was off to a worrisome start after explosive opener Shafali Verma was dismissed cheaply in the second over. Despite losing Shafali cheaply, Meg Lanning's side got off to a rollicking start, thanks to a sizzling cameo by English all-rounder Alice Capsey.
However, the match took an interesting turn when Gujarat's skipper Sneh Rana introduced herself into the attack. She got rid of her opposite number on the second delivery of the final over of the powerplay. It took a turn for the worse for the Capitals as the dangerous Capsey was run out in the same over.
Jemimah Rodrigues followed suit in the next over, leaving her side in all sorts of trouble. Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen, who were the heroes for the Capitals in their last outing, threatened to take the game away from Sneh Rana's side, but both fell in quick succession to hand Gujarat Giants the upper hand in the contest.
But the match turned again, this time in the favor of the Women in Red and Blue, as Arundhati Reddy played a nonchalant cameo to bring her side back into the match from nowhere. However, Arundhati's dismissal led to her side's demise as the Giants held their nerves to register their second win of the tournament.
Ashleigh Gardner and Laura Wolvaardt propel Gujarat to a competitive total
Earlier in the match, Delhi's Meg Lanning called it right at the toss and opted to field first on a two-paced surface at the Brabourne Stadium. Gujarat Giants got off to a stuttering start as Sophia Dunkley was sent packing on the last delivery of the very first over of the match.
The Gujarat-based franchise got off to a steady start despite losing that early wicket as Laura Wolvaardt and Harleen Deol stitched together a 49-run stand for the second wicket. However, Harleen's dismissal proved to be the turning point of the first innings as it brought Aussie all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner to the middle.
Wolvaardt, playing just her second game of the tournament, compiled her maiden half-century in a combative partnership with Gardner. The South African's dismissal initiated a counterpunch from her partner, who smashed 51* off just 33 deliveries to take her side to a respectable total of 147 runs.
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