WPL | Gardner’s all-round effort and Priya’s spell turn the tide in Giants’ favour

Priya Mishra shines with the ball as Gujarat Giants defeat UP Warriorz in a thrilling WPL match.

Priya Mishra didn’t get a game in last year’s WPL. And when she finally made her debut for Gujarat Giants, in the Season 3 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, she went for plenty.

But on Sunday night, in front of a noisy home crowd, the 20-year-old leg-spinner showed her considerable skills. Bowling with impressive variations and admirable control, she broke the back of UP Warriorz batting at the BCA Stadium.

Priya, who was the last of the six Giants bowlers brought into the attack, took three for 25 to reduce the UP total to 143 for nine. The home side chased down that modest total – lowest of the season by some distance – with six wickets and two overs to spare.

The Giants’ reply was led from the front by Ashleigh Gardner, the new captain who has been fantastic in every role she has been assigned. The gifted Aussie smashed her second straight half-century (52, 32b, 5x4, 3x6) to take the game away from UP, which had claimed two wickets in the first two overs.

Gardner and opener Laura Wolvaardt (22, 24b, 2x4, 1x6) put on 55 for the third wicket. After the skipper was removed by fellow-Aussie Tahlia McGrath, Harleen Deol (34 not out, 30b, 4x4) and Deandra Dottin (33 not out, 18b, 3x4, 2x6) added 58 for their unfinished fifth wicket to take their side home.

Earlier, it was a Priya show. In her second over, she removed McGrath and Grace Harris within a space of three balls.

When McGrath was given out lbw, she reviewed the decision, only to find that the ball had hit the bat only after the pad. Priya then invited Harris for a slog-sweep and cleaned her up.