Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Smriti Mandhana rock at WBBL

Perth, October 31

India’s T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Deepti Sharma delivered player-of-the-match performances for their respective teams in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) on Sunday.

Harmanpreet took a couple of wickets with her off-spin before smashing an unbeaten 73 off 46 balls as Melbourne Renegades defeated Adelaide Strikers by six wickets here. Harmanpreet, who has struggled with fitness and form over the past 12 months, has been impressive in the WBBL. Today she smashed five sixes after coming in at 33/2 with the team needing another 128 off 88 balls. The Moga girl had only 10 runs off the first 15 balls she faced, and at the halfway stage of the innings, her team needed 106 from 60 balls. Harmanpreet then timed her acceleration perfectly in the second half as Melbourne Renegades won with two balls to spare. Harmanpreet smashed 63 off the final 31 balls she faced. Earlier, India batter Jemimah Rodrigues had scored a handy 27 off 16 balls to give Melbourne Renegades a quick start.

In Launceston, Deepti starred in Sydney Thunder’s 77-run win over Hobart Hurricanes. She scored 20 off 15 balls before producing a match-winning spell of three for 13 in four overs. India opener Smriti Mandhana also extended her rich vein of form with run-a-ball 50 in the same game for Thunder. Richa Ghosh scored just three for Hurricanes.

In the game between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers, Shafali Verma, batting at number four, was run out for eight. — Agencies