Deepti Sharma, a prominent all-rounder in world cricket, once again showcased her exceptional skills, this time in a thrilling encounter in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. In the high-stakes match against Delhi Capitals on Friday (March 8), she not only picked up four crucial wickets but also played a vital role with the bat, scoring a fifty that included a superb hat-trick. This outstanding all-round performance turned the game into an incredible heist for UP Warriorz.
Hat-trick heroics: Defending a low target
Deepti’s hat-trick heroics became the highlight of the match as UP defended a low target of 139 runs by just one run. Her hat-trick, including the dismissals of Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland and Arundhati Reddy, played a pivotal role in the team’s remarkable one-run victory. Notably, Deepti became the first Indian bowler in the history of the WPL to achieve a hat-trick.
Impactful wicket of Meg Lanning: Opening the floodgates
The first victim, Lanning, fell prey to Deepti’s precision on the last ball of the 14th over. Executing a full delivery on middle and off, Deepti outwitted Lanning, who attempted a connection but found only thin air. The impact on the pad prompted the umpire to raise the finger. Although Lanning opted for a review, fate remained unchanged, and she departed for a well-set 60.
Here’s the video:
First a vital knock with the bat and now a crucial strike of none other than the #DC skipper 🔥🔥
Has the match shifted in @UPWarriorz‘ favour? 🤔#DC still need 39 off 30!
Live 💻📱https://t.co/HW6TQgqctC#TATAWPL | #DCvUPW pic.twitter.com/08ybQCJk6P
— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) March 8, 2024
Also READ: Twitter reactions: Deepti Sharma’s brilliance guides UP Warriorz to a thrilling win over Delhi Capitals in WPL 2024; Meg Lanning’s fifty in vain
Late-game heroics: Changing the game in penultimate over
The second act of Deepti’s brilliance took place in the penultimate over of the Delhi’s innings. Sutherland faced a quick delivery that deviated from the expected trajectory. Instead of playing the length, Sutherland retreated, only to witness her stumps rattled, marking the end of her innings.
The grand finale of Deepti’s hat-trick unfolded with Reddy as the protagonist. Deepti, this time, cleverly slowed up a delivery on a length outside off. Reddy, aiming to finish the contest with a mighty blow, advanced down the track but failed to get the desired bounce. The result was a lob towards Grace Harris at deep mid-wicket, completing Deepti’s historic hat-trick.
Here’s the video:
— Sitaraman (@Sitaraman112971) March 8, 2024
Grace Harris seals the victory for UPW
After the third delivery of the same over in the crucial over yielded a boundary, Deepti, undeterred and resilient, roared back on the fourth ball. In a stunning display of skill, she dismissed Shikha Pandey, further complicating the equation for Delhi. As the last over unfolded with Harris at the helm, the intensity reached its zenith. Three consecutive dismissals, including a decisive run-out, unfolded in a rapid sequence, leaving Delhi stunned and UPW celebrating an extraordinary one-run triumph.
Also WATCH: WPL 2024: Shabnim Ismail makes history with the fastest ball ever bowled in women’s cricket during DEL-W vs MUM-W clash
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
