Gardner’s 3-for goes in vain as Giants fall to Indians in Women’s Premier League

Callan Morse Published March 15, 2023 at 12.00pm (AWST)

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Ash Gardner could only manage 8 (10) in Gujarat's 55-run loss to the Mumbai Indians. Image: Ron Gaunt.

An innings-high three wicket haul from Muruwari allrounder Ash Gardner has gone in vain as the Gujarat Giants fell to the Mumbai Indians in Match 12 of the Women's Premier League.

Gardner took 3-34 from her for overs in an innings which saw Gujarat restrict Mumbai to 8-162 from their 20 overs.

After taking the new ball at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium Gardner almost immediately struck, dismissing Hayley Matthews on the fourth ball of the match after the allrounder mis-timed a drive to Sophia Dunkley at cover

Mumbai were 1-1 after Gardner's first over, who then returned to deliver the fifth over to opener Yastika Bhatia (44 from 37) and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (36 from 31).

However she wasn't brought back into the Giants' attack until 10 overs later by which time Player of the Match Harmanpreet Kaur (51 from 30) was well into her innings and in partnership with Amelia Kerr (19 from 13).

After going wicketless in her third over, Gardner returned in the final over close out the innings.

After being hit for consecutive boundaries, she dismissed Kaur caught at long on on the third last ball of the match.

Her third wicket followed the very next ball as she picked up Amanjot Kaur, who pulled a length Gardner delivery into the hands of Dunkley at deep mid wicket.

Gardner and her Giants teammates celebrate one of her three wickets. Image: BCCI.

Gardner's late-innings momentum failed to carry over to Gujarat's reply with Dunkley adjudged leg-before-wicket from the bowling of Sciver-Brunt on the first ball of the chase.

Gujarat then slumped to 3-34 following the loss of Sabbhineni Meghana (16 from 16) and Annabel Sutherland (0 from 4) in the sixth over, bringing Gardner to the crease.

However the Muruwari couldn't produce another of her trademark counter-attacking innings as she was dismissed in the ninth over by Amelia Kerr (2-18 from four) for just eight runs.

Only Harleen Deal (22 from 23) and Sneh Rana (20 from 19) made notable contributions with the bat for Gujarat, who limped to 9-107 from their 20 overs, falling 55 runs short.

Sciver-Brunt (3-21) and Matthews (3-23) each picked up three wickets for Mumbai.

The loss leaves Gurajat reeling in fifth position on the Women's Premier League ladder, with just one win from five appearances.

The Giants next match is against the second placed Dehli Capitals on Friday.