Gujarat Giants’ debutant Shabnam Shakil proved her talent with brilliant figures of 3/11 to overshadow Deepti Sharma’s remarkable performance as Gujarat Giants secured an eight-run victory against UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League.
Despite Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten knock of 88 runs off 60 balls and Poonam Khemnar’s contribution of 36 runs, UP Warriorz fell short in their chase of 153 runs, ending with 144/5. The Warriorz, with a negative net run-rate, needed a win to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive, but their chances were dashed by a spirited performance from the Giants.
Shabnam Shakil, playing only her second game of the season, made a significant impact by dismissing experienced campaigners Alyssa Healy, Chamari Athapaththu, and her former India U-19 teammate Shweta Sehrawat, effectively ending any hopes of a Warriorz comeback.
Shabnam’s bowling prowess, characterized by a high-arm action and pronounced jump, allowed her to extract extra bounce and subtle movement off the seam, troubling the opposition batsmen.
Earlier, UP Warriorz’s spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti Sharma, and Rajeswari Gayakwad put pressure on Gujarat Giants, restricting them to 152/8 despite Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 74. However, lapses in fielding by the Warriorz cost them dearly, conceding extra runs and easing the pressure on the Giants’ batting lineup.
Gujarat Giants’ Indian players struggled to make a significant impact, with Bharati Fulmali, Dayalan Hemlatha, and Tanuja Kanwer failing to deliver with the bat. Additionally, the lackluster fielding from players like Shweta Sehrawat, Poonam Khemnar, and Saima Thakor added to the challenges faced by the Warriorz.