In the post-match presentation, Deepti Sharma was asked ‘Where do we start?’ It was that sort of a match in New Delhi as UP Warriorz came back from absolutely nowhere to clinch a thriller against table-toppers Delhi Capitals by one run to stay alive in the tournament.
At the center of it was the Indian allrounder who truly lived up to that billing. Deepti produced a strong performance with the bat, ball and on the field. She scored a fifty to take UP Warriorz to a decent total of 138/8. She dismissed the well-set Meg Lanning, who looked to be taking DC past the finish line.
She came back in the 19th over to pick up three wickets – the first two of which completed a hat-trick after Lanning’s wicket earlier, a fact that she seemed to be unaware of until the presentation ceremony. And in that three-wicket over, she also took a fine return catch.
Deepti Sharma’s 2023 WPL season was one to forget, despite coming into the tournament with the tag of the franchise’s marquee Indian player.
After being recruited by UP Warriorz for Rs 2.6 crore – not surprisingly, given her all-round potential – Deepti struggled especially with her batting.
She finished with 90 runs in 9 innings, with a highest of 22, at an average of 12.85 and strike rate of 83.33. Nine wickets from as many games wasn’t a return worthy of a bowler of her caliber either.
This season, she has overtaken that tally of runs in just her last two innings, scoring back-to-back half-centuries.
She put all that behind her in sensational style on Friday. Her returns of 59 (48 balls) and 4/19 were both her personal bests in the league. Grace Harris closed out the game eventually for UPW as they lost six wickets in the last two overs.
That Delhi lost the match from 124/4 at the start of the 19th over that Deepti came to bowl, is an almighty choke. DC have looked to be the best team in general this season, but they have now twice lost matches due to late wobbles, the opener against Mumbai Indians and this game against UPW – both well within their grasp.
Lanning took the blame when asked what was the turning point but DC needed 46 off 36 balls with seven wickets in hand after her dismissal. It’s a match they should have won.
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