Four defeats in four consecutive matches, injury concerns, and batting combinations dilemma. This was the script so far for the Gujarat Giants in WPL 2024. They had been searching for a win in this edition but they couldn’t get one in the first phase in Bengaluru.
They were struggling to get a balanced Playing XI and injury concerns only added to their woes. Struggling both on and off the field, the Giants didn’t really have much option but to control what they have had at disposal.
They did exactly that as Delhi seems to have come as a breath of fresh air for them.
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Giants started the Delhi leg against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Arun Jaitely Stadium on Wednesday. After being winless in the tournament before this fixture, they didn’t have much to lose but a lot to gain.
When they took the field against RCB in their first match in Delhi, it seemed that they had a plan in place as skipper Beth Mooney chose to bat after winning the toss.
“There were a few eyebrows raised when we chose to bat. But Mike and I had a chat and wanted to get ahead of the game,” Mooney said after the game.
A Giant Opening stand
Gujarat had tried three to four opening combinations in the initial games but all of those had failed. It took the duo of Laura Wolvaardt and Mooney to finally click for them. The pair started the proceedings in an aggressive manner with Wolvaardt doing the bulk of scoring. She got 11 out of the 13 that GGT scored in the first over itself.
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Unlike their other fixtures where they had struggled to get a start, Giants struck 59/0 in the powerplay. Wolvaardt being the aggressor, dominated thoroughly with the bat. But RCB suffered the most during the span overs 10 to 12 where the bowlers ended up giving away 45 runs.
Wolvaardt hammered three consecutive fours off Perry at start of the 10th over and GGT followed it with three singles to make 15 of the over. They collected 14 in the next and followed it with 16 in the 12th as the momentum completely shifted towards Giants. While Wolvaardt’s innings was about aggressive scoring, Mooney’s unbeaten 85 was decorated with backfoot punches, drives and cuts.
Wolvaardt was run-out on the final ball of the 13th over as the pair tried to steal a tight single but failed. She was sent back for 76 off 45. The two batters stitched a partnership of 140 runs for the first wicket and were involved in the second highest partnership of WPL. “Leader” Mooney was “pleased” to make the contribution for the side.
“It’s been really pleasing. Honestly, I had been a disappointed with my output before. It’s been a tough tournament for Gujarat. As a leader, my job is to lead from the front and contribute as much as possible. Just pleased to make the contribution,” she said during the presser.
The RCB bowlers later tried to contain the scoring rate as they gave 59 runs in the last 7 overs and also picked up four more wickets which included a couple of more run-outs.
“Love the way Wolvaardt goes about her game”
The skipper Beth Mooney has been in awe of Wolvaardt’s game and lavished praise on her opening partner explaining that having a left-right batting combination works well for any unit.
“She is one of the nicest people on the planet. She is very easy to talk to. I have always been a big fan of hers. I really love the way she goes about it. In terms of our partnership, she runs really well between the wickets. Having a left-right batting combination is pretty good,” Mooney said during the press conference.
Even the opposition knew that the opening partnership took the game away from them.
“The kind of start that Wolvaardt and Mooney gave the side was amazing. It was very important start for them. Credits to them for playing well,” RCB assistant coach Malolan Rangarajan said while appreciating the opening stand between Wolvaardt and Mooney.
RCB lose crucial points
RCB never got the start that they needed. They lost wickets regularly and were 129/5 with both Mandhana and Perry back in the dugout. Georgia Wareham did try to get them close to the target but it was too late for her efforts to realise. Wareham struck 48 off 22 before she too was run-out.
A win to start the Delhi leg would have given RCB two crucial points. “A win in this match would made things simpler but that’s how the game works. We have two more matches, if we win them, we will be through more or less,” added Rangarajan after the match.
RCB were eventually restricted to 180/8 and lost the match by 19 runs.
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