WPL: Wolvaardt, Mooney star in Gujarat’s first win of the season
The 13th match of the 2024 Women’s Premier League took place at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore Women. Gujarat Giants showcased a dominating performance for the first time in the tournament, opening their account with a 19-run win.
Opting to bat first, Gujarat openers Laura Wolvaardt and captain Beth Mooney displayed an impressive batting show, amassing a record 140 runs in just 13 overs against the helpless RCB An unfortunate run-out brought an end to Wolvaardt’s outstanding knock of 76 off 45 balls, featuring 13 fours.
Meanwhile, Captain Mooney remained solid, consistently scoring boundaries despite receiving minimal support from other batters. She finished not out with 85 off 51 balls, including 13 fours and one six. The third-highest score in Gujarat’s inning was 18 off 17 balls, underscoring the impact of Mooney and Wolvaardt as Gujarat reached a formidable total of 199 in their 20 overs. For RCB, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham each took one wicket.
Chasing a challenging target of 200, RCB appeared under pressure from the outset, losing wickets at regular intervals. Although several batters got a start, none could convert it into a substantial knock like the Gujarat openers.
Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry each contributed 24 runs, while Sophie Devine appeared threatening for a brief moment but was dismissed for just 23. Richa Ghosh made an effort with her 30, but couldn’t convert the innings into a substantial one.
Georgia Wareham emerged as the top scorer for RCB with 48 runs off 22 balls. However, this effort only served to narrow the margin of the loss. In the end, RCB scored 180 runs in their 20 overs, falling short by 19 runs to Gujarat, who secured their first win of the season.
Top Performers of the Match
Beth Mooney (85* of 51)
Captain Beth Mooney led the team from the front in the crucial match, playing a brilliant unbeaten knock of 85 runs. She formed a remarkable partnership with Laura Wolvaardt,
guiding her team to a substantial total in the first innings. Mooney’s 85 off 51 had 13 fours and one six. She emerged as the standout batter of the match, playing a pivotal role in securing her team’s first victory of the event.
Ashleigh Gardner (2/23, 4 overs)
Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner demonstrated her skills with a brilliant four-over spell. She claimed two crucial wickets while conceding just 23 runs, effectively halting RCB’s chase. Her dismissal of RCB’s captain Smriti Mandhana undoubtedly marked the turning point of the game.
What next?
Next up, the Delhi Capitals Women are scheduled to face RCB Women at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on March 10th. Meanwhile, on March 9th, the Gujarat Giants Women will lock horns with Mumbai Indians Women at the same venue.
