The WBBL in Australia. The Senior Women’s T20 Trophy in India. The WPL retention news. It almost feels like there’s a month’s content for us to consume this week. Let’s jump right in.

From Maroon to Red, Hayley’s magic continues

The colours may have changed, the teammates may have changed, but Hayley Matthews’ form just refuses to! Three wickets for just 20 runs in her four overs and a solid 20 off 16 balls at the top for the Melbourne Renegades against Brisbane Heat, signals her arrival at the WBBL. Beware!

******

Harman’s all-round show

In a high-scoring game against Brisbane, our Kaptaan Kaur rolled her golden arm over, and did golden arm things – picking up the dangerous wicket of their skipper, Jess Jonassen, in the one over she bowled. With the bat, she tried her best as the chase got stiff, but couldn’t quite get her team over the line, falling for a 26-ball 31.

******

Chloe’s Sixers fall just short

In an absolute thriller of an opening game to kickstart the WBBL, our star all-rounder turned out for the Sydney Sixers, chipped in with three tight overs for 21 runs and the wicket of Alice Capsey. With the bat, she managed an eight-ball 8 before falling to Annabel Sutherland.

******

Hamari Humairaa blitz gets Mumbai up and running

Eight fours, one six, and a 35-ball 54. Talk about rollicking starts! Humairaa Kaazi walked in at number three for Mumbai against Vidarbha in their opening game of the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, and built on the platform laid by the openers to smash the ball around and lift her side to a winning total. In the second game against Gujarat though, she didn’t have much to do, walking out to bat for a ball and stay at the non-striker’s end while the winning runs were hit.

******

Yastika battles out in tough conditions

Opening the innings for the Baroda Women, Yastika Bhatia, played out the difficult early morning conditions with a 20-ball 12 before falling to Anuja Patil. On the field behind the stumps with the gloves, she was he usual top self, effecting a stumping and taking a crucial catch as her side strangled Maharashtra Women out to win by five runs.

******

Amanjot does it all, and does it superbly!

She opened the attack, got an early breakthrough, then walked in at number four with her side in a spot of bother, mixed aggression and caution in style for a 32-ball 40 to see her side – Punjab Women – home and make it look really easy against Railways Women. 

******

Koi Shaq, Saika Ishaque?

You cannot have her playing and not have her name in the wickets’ column. Saika Ishaque and her clever bundle of variations was just too hot for Chandigarh Women to handle in the first game, where she picked up 2/21. Life for Puducherry Women was even worse, with our star breaking the back of their middle-order with her spell of 3/10, thereby ensuring a 110-run victory!

******

Priyanka Bala gives the finishing touches

With Bengal Women bossing things on the field, Priyanka Bala hasn’t had much to do yet. In the game against Chandigarh Women, she got just two balls to face, where she smashed a boundary to end the innings on a high. It’s just a matter of time before she unleashes her fireworks!