WPL 2025: Harleen Deol's Stellar 70 Guides Giants Past DC, Eliminates UP Warriorz
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Synopsis
In a thrilling match of WPL 2025, Harleen Deol's unbeaten 70 guided Gujarat Giants to a five-wicket victory against Delhi Capitals, leading to UP Warriorz's exit from playoff contention. Meg Lanning's stellar 92 for Delhi was overshadowed as Gujarat sealed the win with three balls remaining.
Key Takeaways
- Harleen Deol scored an unbeaten 70 runs.
- Gujarat Giants chased down 178 runs with three balls to spare.
- Delhi Capitals scored 177 runs with Meg Lanning's 92.
- UP Warriorz eliminated from playoff contention.
- Gujarat Giants must win their last match for qualification.
Lucknow, March 7 (NationPress) Harleen Deol’s remarkable performance of 70 not out off 49 balls propelled the Gujarat Giants to a total of 178/5 in 19.3 overs, securing a five-wicket victory over the Delhi Capitals during Match 17 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday.
This outcome resulted in the elimination of the UP Warriorz from playoff possibilities. Conversely, the Gujarat Giants must triumph in their final match to guarantee their qualification.
After conceding 177 runs in the first innings, highlighted by a brilliant 92-run knock from Meg Lanning, the Giants encountered an early setback in their chase, losing Dayalan Hemalatha on the very first ball of the second over. With one wicket down, Deol and Beth Mooney had to navigate the power-play overs with resilience.
Starting slowly at 15/1 after four overs, Mooney and Harleen struck five boundaries in the subsequent two overs. Titas Sadhu narrowly missed an opportunity to run out Harleen during a quick single attempt.
Minnu Mani secured the crucial wicket of Mooney when the Australian attempted a big hit but found a fielder at long-on. Skipper Ashleigh Gardner seemed to continue her great form, scoring one boundary and two sixes before being dismissed by Shikha Pandey.
Deandra Dottin joined the attack, contributing a brisk 24 runs off 10 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes, helping the Giants take control. Jess Jonassen then brought the Capitals back into the game by dismissing Dottin and Phoebe Litchfield in consecutive deliveries in the 18th over. Nonetheless, Harleen guided her team over the line with three balls to spare.
In the initial innings, Lanning recorded her highest WPL score of 92, leading Delhi to 177/5 in 20 overs. This innings included Lanning's ninth fifty in the tournament, making her the player with the most half-centuries in WPL history. She also reclaimed the top position for the most runs in WPL history, surpassing her fellow Australian, Ellyse Perry.
The Delhi openers began strongly before Shafali Verma was dismissed for 40, just ten runs shy of her seventh WPL half-century, misjudging a slower delivery from Meghna Singh.
Jess Jonassen, in good form, fell to Deandra Dottin, who earned her third career wicket against the Australian, as Jonassen missed a fuller delivery that struck her stumps. Jemimah Rodrigues continued her poor run, getting out for just four runs, caught by Ashleigh Gardner off Meghna Singh's bowling.
Annabel Sutherland also struggled to make an impact, dismissed by Dottin after a spectacular catch at the boundary. Lanning and Marizanne Kapp propelled the score past 170, but Lanning was dismissed with one ball remaining in the innings.
Brief scores:
Delhi Capitals 177/5 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 92, Shafali Verma 40; Meghna Singh 3-35, Deandra Dottin 2-37) lost to Gujarat Giants 178/5 in 19.3 overs (Harleen Deol 70, Beth Mooney 44, Deandra Dottin 24; Shikha Pandey 2-31, Jess Jonassen 2-38) by five wickets.
