In the very first match of the season, the record for the fastest half-century was made against Gujarat Giants and within the next 5 matches, the Gujarat batsman broke that record.
Image Credit source: BCCI
Mumbai: There have been only 5 matches in the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2023) and the batting line-up is progressing rapidly. New explosive innings are being seen match by match. Something similar was seen in the sixth match of the tournament, where Gujarat Giants’ explosive opener Sophia Dunkley destroyed the record made in the first match of the season. During his third match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday, this England batsman made a record by scoring a half-century in just 18 balls.
Batting first at the Brabourne Stadium, Gujarat beat the Bangalore bowlers badly in the powerplay itself and looted 64 runs. This was the situation when the first over of the innings was maiden. Gujarat’s opener Sabbineni Meghna could not score any run in this over of Megan shot. Then in the second over, Dunkley, who came on strike, started smoking.
26 runs in 6 consecutive balls
Dunkley started the process of blowing at least two boundaries in every over from here. He looted 14 runs in the fourth over with the help of 2 fours and 1 six on Renuka Thakur. Dunkley’s strongest attack came in the fifth over. Dunkley, who came on strike on the second ball against left-arm spinner Preeti Bose, scored 22 runs in the remaining five balls of the over.
During this he hit 4, 6, 4, 4, 4. Dunkley hit a four on the last ball of the last over as well. In this way, he scored 26 runs in his 6 consecutive balls.
Harmanpreet’s record was broken
Dunkley scored his half-century with a four off the last ball of the fifth over. To reach here, he faced only 18 balls and in this he hit 8 fours and 2 sixes. Dunkley also broke the record of Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who had scored fifty in 22 balls against Gujarat in the very first match. On the basis of this innings, Gujarat scored 64 runs in 6 overs losing only 1 wicket. Dunkley was finally dismissed in the 8th over after scoring 65 runs (28 balls, 11 fours, 3 sixes).