WPL 2023: Laura Wolvaardt Replaces Beth Mooney at Gujarat Giants

Gujarat Giants have roped in South Africa Women’s team opener Laura Wolvaardt as a replacement for the injured Beth Mooney for the remainder of the ongoing season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Giants skipper Beth Mooney will be missing the remainder of the Women’s Premier League due to a calf injury that will require up to six weeks to heal said a team statement on Thursday.

Wolvaardt lit up the recently concluded T20 World Cup by scoring 230 runs in six matches and played an important role in South Africa’s first appearance in the final. However, she didn’t get a deal in the WPL auction. She decided to take part in the PCB’s Women’s League exhibition matches. During the first exhibition match on Wednesday, the South African batter scored an unbeaten match-winning 53 for Super Women against the Amazons.

But she will not be able to take any further part in the competition as she has been released by her team Super Women to travel to India and join her WPL team- Gujarat Giants as Mooney’s replacement. The right-handed inform batter is expected to link up with the Giants squad ahead of their next game against Delhi Capitals on Saturday (March 11).

WPL 2023: Mooney Out of the Tournament Due to Injury

In addition to being the captain, a wicket-keeper and opening batter in Mooney’s absence is a huge setback for the Giants. For the unversed, Mooney will be missing the rest of the WPL due to a knee injury that she suffered while running between the wickets at the same venue in the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians on Saturday. In her absence, Sneh Rana led the Gujarat Titans in the next two matches of the tournament. She will continue with the leadership role for the remainder of the season.

“I want to thank the PCB for this opportunity to play in the Women’s League exhibition matches. It has been an incredible short journey, but I have loved the experience. The team has been amazing and I have felt so welcoming. I wish both sides the best of luck with the rest of the series. I am sure both sides will strive hard and they will do well and learn a lot from the experience they will get from the matches,” Laura Wolvaardt said in a statement released by the PCB on Wednesday as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

Gujarat Giants Squad (Updated):

Sneh Rana (c), Laura Wolvaardt, Sabbhineni Meghana, Sophia Dunkley, Harleen Deol, Annabel Sutherland, Sushma Verma (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Dayalan Hemalatha, Kim Garth, Mansi Joshi, Tanuja Kanwar. Monica Patel, Ashwani Kumari, Hurley Gala, Shabnam Md Shakil, Georgia Wareham, Parunika Sisodia