Harleen Deol powered Gujarat Giants to a victory against Delhi Capitals in a WPL match in Lucknow on Friday.
| Photo Credit: SANDEEP SAXENA
Harleen Deol hasn’t been in India’s scheme of things in the T20 format since July 2023. On the evidence of Friday’s fixture in the Women’s Premier League, the 26-year-old from Chandigarh merits a return in the shortest version. After all, she has made an impression since making an ODI comeback in December.
Against Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, the No. 3 smashed an unbeaten 70 off 49 balls to take Gujarat Giants past the finish line in a cliffhanger. In pursuit of 178 for victory, GG reached home in 19.3 overs with five wickets in hand.
Harleen’s innings overshadowed Meg Lanning’s swashbuckling 92 for Delhi Capitals earlier in the evening. The foundation for the stiff chase was set by Beth Mooney and Harleen forging an 85-run partnership for the second wicket. Even when Mooney skied off-spinner Minnu Mani to Annabel Sutherland at long-off on 44, GG didn’t panic. Ashleigh Gardner came in and spanked a couple of sixes before pulling Shikha Pandey to Mani at deep square leg.
The boundaries continued to flow with Harleen and Dottin at the crease. Having brought up her half-century off 38 balls with a rasping cut past point for four, Harleen ensured that she was there at the end.
For DC, Lanning was the star with the bat. Her only lapse came on 47, but Harleen couldn’t hang on and pull off a stunning catch. When the opener lofted Tanuja Kanwer towards mid-off in the 12th over, the ball seemed set to sail over Harleen. But her agility allowed her to leap high and get her outstretched right hand on the ball. It popped out, though, onto her left palm before rebounding again into her cupped hands while she was on her way down. Once her hands made contact with the ground, it slipped out and hit the turf.
The scores: Delhi Capitals 177/5 in 20 overs (Lanning 92, Shafali Verma 40, Meghna Singh 3/35, Dottin 2/37) lost to Gujarat Giants 178/5 in 19.3 overs (Harleen Deol 70 n.o., Mooney 44, Shikha Pandey 2/31, Jess Jonassen 2/38). Toss: GG; PoM: Harleen.
Saturday’s match: UP Warriorz vs RCB, 7.30 p.m.
Published – March 07, 2025 11:21 pm IST