NAVI MUMBAI: Game 3 of the Women’s Premier League at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday night produced the kind of nerve-wracking thriller that the tournament desperately needed.
Producing a sensational, unbeaten 59-run knock off just 26 balls, which contained seven fours and three sixes, Australia’s batting ace Grace Harris pulled off a stunning come-from-behind win for the UP Warriorz over a shell-shocked Gujarat Giants, who suffered their second defeat on the trot.
Chasing 170, the Warriorz looked done and dusted at 105 for 7 in the 16th over, before Harris and Sophie Ecclestone (22 not out, 12b, 1x4, 1x6), who earlier took 2-25 in 4 overs, scripted an unbelievable fightback. The duo added 70 for the eighth wicket in just 25 balls to pull off a thrilling three-wicket win with just one ball remaining.
The Warriorz needed 19 off the final over, but Harris smote Annabel Sutherland for two sixes over deep mid-wicket and backward square leg, besides hitting a four which came as a result of a misfield at deep cover.
In between, what added to the drama were two wides which were reviewed. Sans their regular captain and superstar bat Beth Mooney, who could even miss the entire WPL due to a knee injury that she sustained in the opener, and hurting badly after they suffered a humiliating 143-run mauling at the hands of the Mumbai Indians in the opening game of the tournament, the Gujarat Giants put in a far better show this time, but still ended up on the losing side due to Harris’ destructive assault.
Till the final four overs of the match, GG were on top due to their Ireland-born Aussie pacer Kim Garth, who took 5 for 16 in 3 overs, and was one of the three changes made to their side, and Harleen Deol, whose calm, matured 46-run knock off 32 balls, which contained 7 welltimed fours, helped them notch up 169 for 6 after choosing to bat first.
In a hostile opening spell that ripped the heart out of Warriorz’ top-order, reducing them to 20 for 3 in 3 overs, Garth sent back skipper Alyssa Healy (caught and bowled for 7), Shweta Sehrawat (5) and Tahlia McGrath (0).
She then dismissed the dangerous-looking Kiran Navgire (53, 43b, 5x4, 2x6) with a bouncer, as ‘keeper Sushma Verma took the fine catch down the legside, and completed her ‘fiver’ with a sizzling yorker that castled Simran Shaikh.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Giants 169-6 in 20 overs (Harleen Deol 46, Sabbiheni Meghana 24, Ashleigh Gardner 25, Dayalan Hemalatha 21*; Deepti Sharma 2-27, Sophie Ecclestone 2-25 lost to UP Warriorz 175-7 (Kiran Navgire 53, Grace Harris not out 59, Sophie Ecclestone not out 22; Kim Garth 5-36) by 3 wickets.
