How Did Beth Mooney's Fifty and Tanuja Kanwar's Late Blitz Propel Gujarat Giants to 174/9 Against DC?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Vadodara, Jan 27 (NationPress) Beth Mooney delivered a remarkable half-century and N. Shree Charani made crucial strikes, leading to an exciting first innings as the Gujarat Giants set a challenging target of 174 runs for 9 against the Delhi Capitals during the 17th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026, held at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Tuesday.
Taking the field first, the Giants capitalized on Mooney's steady presence at the top until the closing stages of the innings, when Tanuja Kanwar entered the fray. The opening combination featured Sophie Devine alongside Mooney, but Devine was dismissed by Marizanne Kapp after scoring just 13 runs, falling early in the third over. Meanwhile, Anushka Sharma, batting third, showcased aggression with a couple of boundaries in her first 20 balls.
Mooney settled in by playing singles, and by the end of the Powerplay, the Giants had built a solid foundation of 53 runs for the loss of one wicket.
Anushka Sharma continued to propel the Giants forward but faced a setback in the eighth over when, on 39 runs, she was dismissed by Shree Charani on the very next delivery, swinging the momentum back to Delhi.
The Giants suffered another blow when captain Ashleigh Gardner managed only 2 runs before falling.
Throughout the turmoil, Mooney maintained her composure, reaching her fifty in just 39 balls, anchoring the innings amidst the loss of wickets.
Charani continued to shine, claiming her second wicket by bowling out Georgia Wareham for 11 in the 15th over. The pressure mounted further on the Giants when Chinelle Henry dismissed Bharti Fulmali for a mere 3 runs, placing the Giants in a tough spot. With Mooney finishing her innings at 58 off 46 balls in the 17th over, the prospect of a robust finish began to fade.
The Giants struggled in the final overs, but just when it seemed they were limping to a close, Tanuja Kanwar stepped up, scoring a vital 21 runs off 11 balls just before the innings concluded.
Kanwar’s late surge lifted the Giants' total to 174 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs, presenting the Delhi Capitals with a competitive target, despite Delhi’s struggles in the later stages of the innings.
Brief scores:
Gujarat Giants 174/9 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 58, Anushka Sharma 39; Sree Charani 4-31, Chinelle Henry 2-38) against Delhi Capitals