Kranti Gaud
4 for 25 vs Delhi Capitals
WPL, Bengaluru
Despite leaking runs in her first two games in the four overs she had bowled in T20 cricket before this game, 21-year-old fast bowler Gaud had her captain Deepti Sharma's backing for UP Warriorz' third game. She repaid that faith in full, getting Capitals' captain Meg Lanning with a nip-backer in her first over. She returned in the ninth to account for Shafali Verma, then picked off Jess Jonassen and Jemimah Rodrigues in her final over, stranding Capitals at 111 for 6 and needing close to 14 an over. Grace Harris mopped up the tail, Capitals were caught 33 runs short, and UP Warriorz had their first win of the season.
4 for 25 vs Delhi Capitals
WPL, Bengaluru
Despite leaking runs in her first two games in the four overs she had bowled in T20 cricket before this game, 21-year-old fast bowler Gaud had her captain Deepti Sharma's backing for UP Warriorz' third game. She repaid that faith in full, getting Capitals' captain Meg Lanning with a nip-backer in her first over. She returned in the ninth to account for Shafali Verma, then picked off Jess Jonassen and Jemimah Rodrigues in her final over, stranding Capitals at 111 for 6 and needing close to 14 an over. Grace Harris mopped up the tail, Capitals were caught 33 runs short, and UP Warriorz had their first win of the season.
Lauren Bell
4 for 6 vs Welsh Fire
Women's Hundred, Southampton
In a low-scoring tussle where Southern Brave were defending a modest 106, Bell's incisive bowling triggered a dramatic collapse of 8 for 27. Fire were well on track at 50 for 1 off 55 balls when Bell first struck, getting Tammy Beaumont to pull a short one to Mady Villiers in the deep. Four balls later she had Jess Jonassen hole out to deep point, and the wobble began in earnest. By the last five balls of the game Fire were seven down and needed 30. Bell came back and cleaned up Alex Griffiths and Shabnim Ismail without conceding a run, giving Brave a solid 29-run victory.
4 for 6 vs Welsh Fire
Women's Hundred, Southampton
In a low-scoring tussle where Southern Brave were defending a modest 106, Bell's incisive bowling triggered a dramatic collapse of 8 for 27. Fire were well on track at 50 for 1 off 55 balls when Bell first struck, getting Tammy Beaumont to pull a short one to Mady Villiers in the deep. Four balls later she had Jess Jonassen hole out to deep point, and the wobble began in earnest. By the last five balls of the game Fire were seven down and needed 30. Bell came back and cleaned up Alex Griffiths and Shabnim Ismail without conceding a run, giving Brave a solid 29-run victory.
Ashleigh Gardner
5 for 15 vs Perth Scorchers
WBBL, Perth
In her first WBBL match as full-time captain, Gardner was instrumental in restricting Perth Scorchers to 109 after they got to 44 for 2 - a target her side overhauled in 13 overs for a ten-wicket win. Coming in in the eighth over, she had Sophie Devine stumped and Paige Scofield caught and bowled off consecutive balls. She prised out Freya Kemp next, then cleaned up Lilly Mills and Alana King (the latter another caught-and-bowled) in three balls to leave Scorchers on the ropes. Gardner's 5 for 15 were the best bowling figures for Sixers in WBBL history, and her first five-for in the tournament. She also finished the season as the joint highest wicket-taker.
5 for 15 vs Perth Scorchers
WBBL, Perth
In her first WBBL match as full-time captain, Gardner was instrumental in restricting Perth Scorchers to 109 after they got to 44 for 2 - a target her side overhauled in 13 overs for a ten-wicket win. Coming in in the eighth over, she had Sophie Devine stumped and Paige Scofield caught and bowled off consecutive balls. She prised out Freya Kemp next, then cleaned up Lilly Mills and Alana King (the latter another caught-and-bowled) in three balls to leave Scorchers on the ropes. Gardner's 5 for 15 were the best bowling figures for Sixers in WBBL history, and her first five-for in the tournament. She also finished the season as the joint highest wicket-taker.
Sophie Devine
3 for 12 vs Adelaide Strikers
WBBL, Melbourne
Devine led Perth Scorchers' bowling attack in this rain-affected win, where her three wickets in three overs helped bundle Adelaide Strikers out for 112. The Scorchers captain struck in her first over, removing Laura Wolvaardt. In her next over she accounted for Madeline Penna first ball, then two wides later shaped one into Tahlia McGrath that straightened and clipped the top of off stump. Strikers never recovered, and by the time the rain set in, Scorchers were comfortably ahead in the chase to take the game on DLS.
3 for 12 vs Adelaide Strikers
WBBL, Melbourne
Devine led Perth Scorchers' bowling attack in this rain-affected win, where her three wickets in three overs helped bundle Adelaide Strikers out for 112. The Scorchers captain struck in her first over, removing Laura Wolvaardt. In her next over she accounted for Madeline Penna first ball, then two wides later shaped one into Tahlia McGrath that straightened and clipped the top of off stump. Strikers never recovered, and by the time the rain set in, Scorchers were comfortably ahead in the chase to take the game on DLS.
Amy Edgar
4 for 25 vs Adelaide Strikers
WBBL, Perth
Edgar proved the difference in Scorchers' thrilling one-run win over Strikers in a tense penultimate-ball finish. She blunted Strikers' chase in the 13th over, when they were on course to chase 160, at 96 for 2, drawing Tahlia McGrath well out of her crease to have her stumped. She struck the decisive blow in the 16th over, her wickets of Bridget Patterson and Amanda Jade-Wellington bookending a team hat-trick; Ellie Johnston was run-out in between. Strikers recovered to get within touching distance of a win, but Lilly Mills had Darcie Brown edge one behind to Beth Mooney with a ball to spare to secure a nail-biter.
4 for 25 vs Adelaide Strikers
WBBL, Perth
Edgar proved the difference in Scorchers' thrilling one-run win over Strikers in a tense penultimate-ball finish. She blunted Strikers' chase in the 13th over, when they were on course to chase 160, at 96 for 2, drawing Tahlia McGrath well out of her crease to have her stumped. She struck the decisive blow in the 16th over, her wickets of Bridget Patterson and Amanda Jade-Wellington bookending a team hat-trick; Ellie Johnston was run-out in between. Strikers recovered to get within touching distance of a win, but Lilly Mills had Darcie Brown edge one behind to Beth Mooney with a ball to spare to secure a nail-biter.