Gujarat Giants gathered momentum under the stellar performance of Beth Mooney, who scored an impressive unbeaten 96 runs to lead her team to 186 for 5 against UP Warriorz during the Women's Premier League match held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday. Mooney's remarkable innings, which included 17 boundaries, left her tantalizingly close to becoming the first player to score centuries in the league's history.
After struggling initially with her form, the left-handed Australian batter took her time on the batting-friendly pitch and transformed her innings after finding her rhythm. She formed a solid partnership of 101 runs for the second wicket with India’s Harleen Deol, who contributed 45 runs off 32 balls before being dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone. Their recovery was key following the early dismissal of Dayalan Hemalatha, who scored just two runs.
The Giants suffered a shaky start after Hemalatha's departure. Mooney, having settled down, started scoring freely with her aggressive shot-making, effectively piercing the UP field. She quickly became the backbone of the innings, leveraging strategic aggression to score runs. Despite the aggressive nature of Mooney's batting, Deol played her part efficiently, showcasing solid strokes and ensuring pressure was maintained on the opposition.
Mooney’s breathtaking performance also highlighted the ineffectiveness of UP Warriorz’s bowling attack, especially against her straight drives. Ecclestone, who took two wickets for 34 runs, emerged as the standout bowler for UP, claiming the wickets of both Deol and the explosive Deandra Dottin, who added only 17 runs. Although Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield fell cheaply—the captain scoring just 11 and Litchfield only adding 8—the Giants' innings energized the team, building confidence as they progressed past the 180-run milestone.
Gujarat Giants showcased excellent running between the wickets, with Mooney’s ability to rotate the strike complementing Deol’s aggressive play. Mooney brought up her fifty with powerful boundaries and continued to pile on the pressure with outstanding boundaries against Deepti Sharma and Kranti Goud. Yet, as her innings progressed, she faced added pressure to score quickly to achieve her personal milestone of 100 runs, but could only manage five runs off the final over.
Leaving her teammates to contribute marginal runs, Mooney played all around the wicket, skillfully compiling runs through exquisite shots, demonstrating her exceptional batting prowess. Despite being left stranded on 96, her performance positioned the Giants firmly at 186, offering them the confidence needed heading to the latter stages of the tournament.
With UP Warriorz now tasked with chasing down Gujarat's target, the team faces a considerable challenge against such momentum and attacking confidence demonstrated, particularly from Mooney. The batting conditions favorable for scoring and the skill displayed by Gujarat Giants leave the Warriors needing to regain composure and quality to secure the game.
Gujarat Giants concluded their innings with 186 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets, setting the tone for the upcoming match as they look for victory at the Ekana Stadium.
Brief Scores:
Gujarat Giants: 186 for 5 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 96 not out, Harleen Deol 45; Sophie Ecclestone 2/34).