A brilliant all-round show from Deepti Sharma sparked a spectacular collapse and helped UP Warriorz to a one-run win against Delhi Capitals in the 2024 Women’s Premier League at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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Chasing 139 for a win that would have taken Delhi two points clear of second-placed Mumbai Indians in the table, the hosts were well-placed at 93-2, needing 46 more in the remaining 6.1 overs before an unbelievable spell from Deepti brought the Warriorz back into the game. The all-rounder, who had earlier scored a 50 in the first innings after being promoted to No.3, dismissed Delhi skipper Meg Lanning on the last ball of the 14th over with a fuller ball that hit the batter plumb in front.
Lanning departed for a well-made 60 in 46 balls but the equation was still within Delhi’s reach by then. Delhi made 31 in the next four overs and needed 15 in the last two overs before they committed hara-kiri to give up an easy game. Deepti, bowling the 19th over, got Annabel Sutherland with a ball that kept low and went on to rattle the batter’s stumps. On the very next delivery, she had Arundhati Reddy at cow corner to complete a staggered hat-trick, which was initially missed by those present.
Deepti could have had four in four if not for a boundary on the next ball, but she returned to dismiss Shikha Pandey on the fourth ball of the over, picking up four scalps in five wickets. Deepti conceded five runs in the over, which left Grace Harris with 10 runs to defend.
Deepti Sharma’s highest score in WPL 2023 was only 22.
Since 28.2.2024, she has improved on that three times, with 27*, 33, and now 53*.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) March 7, 2024
Warriorz ended up winning the clash by one run after three wickets fell in the final over as Delhi lost their last six wickets for 13 runs.
Deepti became the second bowler to pick a hat-trick on Friday, moments after Akeal Hosein achieved the feat in the PSL as well. She was also the second bowler and the first Indian to bag a hat-trick in the WPL after Issy Wong achieved the feat last year. She is also the first India women’s player with a fifty and a hat-trick in any T20.
Deepti ended with 4-19 in her four overs, after top-scoring for her team with the bat. Batting at No.3 for the first time since 2022, Deepti fought it out on a sluggish wicket even as no other player from the team crossed 30. It helped Warriorz to 138, and they needed a strong bowling performance to defend the lowest total of the WPL.
