FANTASY
Follow UsAfter suffering a massive 143-run loss against Mumbai Indians (MI) in their first match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023, Gujarat Giants (GG) look to bounce back right away in their second game against the UP Warriorz (UPW) at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
Beth Mooney’s side were bundled out for just 64, in pursuit of 208 in the first game, but with their next game coming around quickly, it allows them to turn things around quickly. It will not be easy as they will be up against Alyssa Healy's side, who will look to get off to the perfect start.
Ground details
There was some swing on offer for the pacers in the first game and it could be similar at the early stages of this game too. The surface at the DY Patil has terrific value for money, with average score batting first being over 180.
India and Australia played a couple of T20Is at this venue last year, with both sides scoring in excess of 170, further underlying how good the surface is for batting. However, dew could play a part and the spinners could find it difficult to grip the ball, especially in the second innings.
In the four Women’s T20Is close to 67% of the wickets have fallen to pacers, doing so at an economy rate of nine, while the spinners who have had the lesser share of the wickets, have conceded at 9.1 an over. It would be advisable to stock your team with enough all-rounders who could bowl pace and also spin, to go with genuine bowlers who are at the top of their games in both departments.
Suggested team
While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captaincy Suggestion
For small league: Deepti Sharma (capt), Ashleigh Gardner (vice-capt)
For grand league: Alyssa Healy (capt), Annabel Sutherland (vice-capt)
Stats that matter
Deepti Sharma is the highest wicket-taker in T20Is since 2022, doing so at an economy rate of 6.2She has also scored 336 runs at an impressive strike-rate of 12.7 in this period which makes her a hot property to lead your fantasy side.
Ashleigh Gardner may have had a day to forget in the opening game of the WPL, but there’s little doubt that her all-round skills are going to be pivotal for Gujarat this season. Gardner hit 110 runs at 36.66 and chipped in with 10 wickets in Australia’s triumphant 2023 T20 World Cup campaign that earned her the player of the series accolade. Expect her to bounce back strongly in this game.
With 11 wickets in five innings at an average of 7.3 and an economy rate of 4.2 runs per over, Sophie Ecclestone will be the key for the Warriorz in the tournament. The left-arm spinner was the leading wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup, and her exploits will be critical for the team, especially in the back end of the innings.
Grand League Punts
Alyssa Healy did not have the best of time in 2022, failing to score a single T20I fifty in 13 innings. With the added responsibility of leading the side, she will hope to start the tournament off with a big score. She managed just 171 runs at a strike rate of 107 last year which are quite ordinary by her high standards.
Like Healy, Annabel Sutherland has not really fired with both bat and ball of late. She went wicketless in the first game and managed just six with the bat. However, it could be a risk worth taking given that she bowls quite a few overs at the death, giving herself a lot of opportunities to scalp a few quick wickets. She also bats in the top five and with a T20I strike-rate of 127, she certainly possess the power to score some swift runs as well.
Probable XI:
GG: Sabbineni Meghana, Beth Mooney (c & wk), Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Ashleigh Gardner, Harleen Deol, Dayalan Hemalatha, Sneh Rana, Mansi Joshi, Monica Patel / Hurley Gala, Tanuja Kanwer
UPW: Shweta Sherawat, Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Tahlia McGrath, Kiran Navgire, Devika Vaidya, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gaikwad, Anjali Sarvani, Parshvi Chopra
