Ash Gardner has demonstrated why she’s being paid the massive rupees in India’s Women’s Premier League as she helped spin the league’s ‘Team Australia’ to their first win of the event.
The Indigenous star allrounder, who was the joint-biggest abroad purchase on the WPL public sale at a cool $558,000, hadn’t precisely set the occasion alive in her first two matches for Gujarat Giants.
But Gardner took two key wickets in her closing two overs and checked Royal Challengers Bangalore’s run-chase on Wednesday to present a Giants facet that includes three Australian stars a badly wanted maiden win by 11 runs at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium.
The victory was achieved with out one other Australian star, Beth Mooney, who has now been dominated out for the event after choosing up a knee damage of their first match final weekend.
World Cup-final participant of the match Mooney has been changed within the Giants line-up by South African Laura Wolvaardt.
“I was really looking forward to the maiden WPL season … but unfortunately injuries are part and parcel of the sport, and I am gutted to be missing the remainder of the season,” Mooney stated in a press release launched by the group.
“I will be keeping a close eye on the team’s performance from afar and will be rooting for them every single day,” she stated about Gujarat, who’re fourth within the five-team league after one win and two losses.
“Though I will be away from the field of play for the rest of the season, I am looking forward to coming back stronger, fitter and I will definitely be hungrier next season.”
India’s Sneh Rana will take over as Gujarat captain with Gardner as her deputy.
In Mooney’s absence, Gardner took 3-31 off her 4 overs with compatriot Annabel Sutherland, whereas getting carted round for 56 off her 4, additionally choosing up two huge scalps as RCB chased the Giants’ 7-201.
It was the fourth time in six WPL matches that the group batting first had amassed greater than 200, with England’s Sophia Dunkley hammering 65 off 28 balls and India’s Harleen Diol 67 off 45.
Though she was unfortunate with a few dismissal near-misses, RCB’s Aussie nice Ellyse Perry acquired tonked for 43 off her 4 overs – together with 19 off her closing over – whereas her worldwide tempo bowling compatriot Megan Schutt lastly took her first wicket of the event, ending with 1-26 off three overs.
With the bat, Perry seemed effectively set to launch an assault within the chase however ultimately succumbed for 32 after giving a easy catch to Dayalan Hemalatha at quick third.
RCB’s captain Smriti Mandhana, the highest-paid participant within the league, additionally once more flattered to deceive, getting out to Gardner for 18 off 14.
RCB’s New Zealand opener Sophie Devine was the final hope as she reached 66 off 45 balls, however she smacked a Sutherland full toss straight into Gardner’s palms at long-on as her facet stay winless within the competitors.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
