The three editions of the Womens Premier League (WPL) have seen it all – some real barnburners and a fair few nail-biters. Most of the time, you had the batting-friendly pitches just begging to be set alight by the batsmen. But not always, and while some of the tracks were tailor-made for the bowlers to take over.
Lets look at those amazing bowling figures in the WPL.
Ellyse Perry
4-0-15-6 Vs Mumbai Indians*
The rivalry between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is one of the best in both of India’s T20 leagues, hands down. And in their first head-to-head of the WPL 2024, RCB’s star all-rounder Ellyse Perry made it a very one-sided affair. She just tore into the MI batting order and picked up the tournament’s first (and so far only) six-wicket haul.
Perry’s astonishing figures of 4-0-15-6 saw the defending champs MI get bundled out for a paltry 113 runs. And in the chase, not only did Perry pick up three early wickets, but she also went on to anchor the innings herself – scoring 40 off 38 in the process. That crucial 76*-run stand with wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh helped her side get two points in just 15 overs. (Just a side note though – Perry won’t be around for the WPL 2026, she’s got some personal things to take care of).
Marizanne Kapp
4-0-15-5 Vs Gujarat Giants*
Delhi Capitals all-rounder Marizanne Kapp’s pace bowler racked up the Gujarat Giants for a mere 105 runs in the WPL 2024. That’s still the second-lowest total of the season so far, and a long way behind their 64 all-out against MI to kick off the competition.
Kapp took out all four of their top-order batswomen – Sabbhineni Meghana, Laura Wolvaardt, Harleen Deol and Ashleigh Gardner, and even the keeper-batter Sushma Verma – to finish up with an impressive 4-0-15-5. No worries for DC though, their openers Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning (who’ll now be taking the UP Warriorz into the fray) knocked off the target in just 43 deliveries.
Asha Sobhana
4-0-22-5 vs UP Warriorz
Asha Sobhana , former of RCB’s RCB leg-spinner, had an impact performance in her own team UPW’s opponent stats with 4-0-22-5 against UPW. At the moment it places third on the list for best bowling figures in the WPL. She was also a key part in the WPL 2024 in winning the title with the team.
A developing partnership was emerging between Vrinda Dinesh and Tahlia McGrath as they built a sound base for the Warriorz in their run chase. This was after Meghana and Richa had smashed out very creditable half centuries of 53 and 62. They did this after a batting disaster earlier in the match. But then Asha Sobhana started getting wickets consistently which threw a spanner in the works for the Warriors – they weren’t able to get their run chase back on track. Sophie Molineux ended up defending 11 runs off the final over & RCB managed to hold off UPW in a thrilling match that finished by a mere two runs.
Tara Norris
(4-0-29-5 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Tara Norris the DC pacer had claimed the first 5-wicket haul of the WPL back in the 2nd match in the league in 2023. Before this, Delhi had put on a solid batting show to reach a healthy 223. They were then off to a good start with their reply as well – they were sitting pretty at 54-1 at the end of the powerplay.
However, once the 11th over knocked out Ellyse Perry Tara really got going & went on a roll & this triggered a collapse in the RCB batting & included 2 double-wicket overs – it was a rout. They in the end managed to claim a 60-run victory. It was a great start to their campaign in the tournament.
However Tara was signed up by UPW for her base price of 10 lakh rupees in the mega auction. But she ‘s out – Charli Knott is in from Australia to replace her because she’s set to miss the WPL 2026 due to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier
Kim Garth
4-0-36-5 vs UP Warriorz
After Norris’ outstanding five-wicket haul in the afternoon match, Australian all-rounder Kim Garth’s 36/5 also became part of the top five best bowling figures in WPL. Nevertheless, the five-wicket haul of the 29-year-old is the only case that has made it to the list in association with a defeat so far. In the WPL 2023, while defending 169 against the Warriorz, no other bowler from the Giants’ camp could really shine.
Gardner, captain Sneh Rana, and Tanuja Kanwar slowed down the scoring but could not break through. Garth’s remarkable wickets stretched the game to the last over but Grace Harris’ scintillating sixty not out off just twenty-six balls, assisted by Kiran Navgire and Sophie Ecclestone’s contributions, enabled UPW to register the fourth-highest successful chase in the league’s history.
