MATCH STORIES
Follow UsFranchise cricket is tough.
It is demanding in ways that you don’t expect it. And it leaves no hostages whatsoever.
You can be the biggest name in international cricket, but others on the bench will replace you if you don't perform well.
Tahlia McGrath was well aware of that factor. She was UP Warriorz’ highest run-scorer last year, having scored 302 runs at a high average 50.33 and a strike-rate of 158. She embodied consistency, scoring the most half-centuries for any batter in last year’s competition.
The Warriorz setup meant that they relied heavily on their top-order to give the explosive Grace Harris a lot of room to go out and express herself. That’s where McGrath’s experience was pivotal. When she’s on song, there’s none better, and that essentially was the Warriorz’ hope.
So regardless of her form in the international circuit, the Warriorz were always going to give her a fair crack at overturning her dry returns at the WPL this year. But her form was always concerning.
There were plenty of starts but never a significant contribution, and the strike-rates, too, weren't very convincing. That’s where the Warriorz held on to the adage, “Form is temporary, class is permanent.”
That was their way of saying, go on McGrath, we back you to change your fortunes. But that backing didn’t last too long.
22, 1, 1: the Australian vice-captain started the tournament off in ugly fashion.
And, what made it all worse is that there was an evident pattern, an evident weakness that the opposition exploited, targeting the tall Australian’s stumps from the good length area that cuts across her.
That’s where Marizanne Kapp turned tall in her battle against McGrath.
That’s where even Issy Wong managed to get her out, pinging her on the pads.
When it became so evident, the Warriorz dropped the big axe, forcing one of the most experienced batters on the WPL circuit to spend her time on the bench, just three games into the season.
Australia’s vice-captain. No.2 ranked WT20I batter. Warriorz’ top run-scorer in the last WPL. But none of that could save her. McGrath’s time at this year’s tournament was running away.
But with UP's season running away too, she was included in the playing XI for a do-or-die clash against the table toppers Delhi Capitals on Friday (March 8).
It was almost the franchise's way of saying, 'go on, Tahlia, we trust you to bring this one home.'
At 56/2, Alyssa Healy’s exit gave her the perfect opportunity to do so. It was an opportunity not just to get her gameplay back on board but a chance to become a hero. UP Warriorz have been searching hard for more than one this season, thanks to their over-reliance on Harris, which couldn’t be more pronounced.
And the tournament is constructed in such a way it only takes one day — one day to turn everything around.
You could sense the nervous energy around when McGrath walked in to bat. You could see that when her first contribution in the game was via an inside edge, with the ball missing the leg-stump by a whisker, off Alice Capsey’s bowling.
Meg Lanning wasted no time, introducing Arundhati Reddy from the other end. She packed the field in such a way that McGrath had to go against the booming in-swingers to pierce the gaps through the off-side. Or, in short, it was bait.
It could have gone wrong, but historical evidence suggested very little probability. All Reddy had to do was simple: pepper her with the in-swinging delivery. And she did it with the accuracy of an Olympic archer, moving the ball around like how the arrow would swirl towards the bull's eye.
McGrath’s feet were stuck. She wanted to cut, she had to cut, and her stay was cut short. That sequence of events ended with crushing disappointment on her face. There wasn’t any anger or disgust.
It was as blank as you could ever see McGrath. Her 2023 didn’t end too well, and her 2024 hasn’t started any better. If anything, her batting struggles have only underlined UP Warriorz’ fortunes this year.
