The Women’s Premier League has grown with some lovely bowling performances since its debut in 2023. It provides a chance for young Indian players to play with established national and international players. This allows unearthing hidden talents in the country.
While many youngsters focus on batting, very few people take up bowling as a career. Even among them, many opt for spin bowling as it requires minimum energy and maximum spinning skills.
After a successful first edition in Mumbai last year, the first half of the tournament of this edition was played in Bengaluru and the next half is being played in New Delhi. It provided help for spinners and pacers who helped their teams win the match with game-changing spells.
Here we look at the 5 Best Bowling Figures in WPL history:
1. Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry registered the best figures in Women’s Premier League history. She produced a magical spell with 6 for 15 in 4 overs against Mumbai Indians at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on 12th March 2024.
It was a tremendous bowling effort as she snapped the wickets of Sanjana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the same over. She then produced magic by getting rid of Amelia Kerr via review for LBW which put MI under immense pressure. Perry then Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastkar, and Nat Sciver Brunt to finish with figures of 6 for 15. Her bowling efforts helped Royal Challengers Bangalore bowl out Mumbai Indians for 113.
She came up with an impressive knock remaining not out on 40 helping RCB win the match by 7 wickets. Perry and Ghosh added an unbeaten 76 runs for the 4th wicket. Ghosh was named the player of the match for her all-round efforts.
2. Marizanne Kapp
The South African pace bowler Marizanne Kapp took 5 wickets against the Gujarat Giants at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on 11th March 2023.
Gujarat Giants captain Sneha Rana won the toss and decided to bat first. The decision did not pay off as Kapp broke the back of GG’s batting getting wickets of S Meghana, Laura Woolvardt, Harleen Doel, and Ash Gardner. After little resistance, Kapp then took the wicket of Sushma Varma to finish with figures of 5 for 15 in 4 overs. Delhi Capital restricted GG to a modest total of 105 for 9. Varma and Lanning chased down the target with 10 wickets remaining and 77 balls to spare.
For her figures of 5 for 15 in 4 overs, Marizanne Kapp was named the Player of the Match award.
3. Sobhana Asha
Sobhana Asha became the first bowler from Royal Challengers Bangalore to grab 5 wickets in WPL history. She achieved this feat during RCB’s first game this season against UP Warriorz at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on 24th February 2024.
It was a superb spell of bowling as she dismissed Vrinda Dinesh and Tahila McGrath in the same over that put pressure on UP Warriorz’s batting. Soon after the second timeout break, Sobhana Asha took 3 wickets including Shweta Sehrawat, Grace Harris, and Kiran Navagire which changed the momentum in favour of RCB.
The match ebbed and flowed from one team to another as RCB held onto their nerves to start the season on a winning note. For her figures of 5 for 22 in 4 overs, Sobhana Asha was named player of the match award.
4. Tara Norris
Tara Norris was a member of the Delhi Capitals side in Women’s Premier League season 1. She had a dream spell in her first match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on 5th March 2023.
Defending a massive total of 224 runs, Norris took her first wicket of Ellyse Perry, Disha Kasat, Richa Ghosh, Heather Knight, and then Kanika Ahuja. It was a superb spell of bowling that created doubts on RCB’s batting. She finished with figures of 5 for 29 in her 4 overs and helped Delhi Capitals win the match by 60 runs.
She was not retained by the Delhi Capitals franchise this season. Because of being an associate nation, DC had the option of playing with 5 foreigners in XI.
5. Kim Garth
Kim Garth enjoyed her bowling efforts during Women’s Premier League 2023. She was at her lethal best picking 5 for 36 against UP Warriorz at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on 5th March 2023.
Defending 170 runs, Garth showed her class dismissing the top 5 of UP including captain Alyssa Healy, Shweta Sehrawat, and Tahila McGrath cheaply. She then got rid of half-centurion Kiran Navagire and Simran Sheikh. It was not enough for Gujarat Giants as they lost the match by 3 wickets with 1 ball to spare.
It was a magical bowling effort by Garth that gave Gujarat Giants hopes of winning against UP Warriorz, but it was not to be.
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