Slow start for Gardner’s Giants in Women’s Premier League

Callan Morse Published March 7, 2023 at 10.45am (AWST)

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Gardner leaves the field after being dismissed in the Gujarat Giants match against the UP Warriorz. Image: Pankaj Nangia.

Ash Gardner and the Gujarat Giants have begun the Women's Premier League in lacklustre fashion, losing their first two tournament fixtures in consecutive days.

In the tournament's opening match the Giants were convincingly beaten by the Mumbai Indians, losing by a hefty 143 runs.

The Giants could only muster 64 from 15.1 overs in response to Mumbai's 5-207, highlighted by Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur's 65 (30).

Gardner, who is the competitions equal-most expensive overseas player opened the bowling for Gujarat, returning figures of 1-38 from four overs including the wicket of Mumbai's West Indian overseas allrounder Hayley Matthews (47 from 31).

Gardner scored 25 (19) in the Gujarat Giants' loss to the Warriorz. Image: Pankaj Nangia.

In reply the Giants capitulated with the bat, with Beth Mooney's injury compounding a top order collapse that at one point saw the Giants 4-12.

Medium pacer Issy Wong (1-7 from three) picked up Gardner for a golden duck, after the Muruwari allrounder edged her first ball faced to first slip.

Only Dayalan Hemalatha (29* from 23) showed any resistance with the bat, with Saika Ishaque (4-11 from 3.1) the pick of Mumbai's bowlers.

In a tighter contest the following day, Gujarat were unable to defend their 6-169 with the UP Warriorz completing a successful chase from the second last ball of the match.

Batting at number six in the Giants order, Gardner struck two boundaries and a six on her way to 25 (19).

Gardner in action with the ball against the Warriorz. Image: Pankaj Nangia.

She put on an innings-high 44 for the fifth wicket with high scorer Harleen Deol (46 from 32) before being stumped by Alyssa Healy after advancing Warriorz off-spinner Deepti Sharma (2-27 from four) partway through the 16th over.

Gardner went wicketless (0-34) from her four overs in the second innings of the match, with a five wicket haul to opener Kim Garth (5-36) not enough to prevent the Giants' score from being chased down.

Half-centuries from Grace Harris (59* from 26) and K.P. Navgire (53 from 43) lead the Warriorz to victory, with Harris striking a six to bring up the win a ball to spare.

Gardner and the Gurajat Giants will look to bounce back from their 0-2 tournament start on Thursday when they meet the Royal Challengers Bangalore at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.