WPL 2024 | Twitter erupts as Ismail dismantles Shafali Verma to claim tourney’s maiden scalp
There is always a new beginning and Proteas pacer Shabnim Ismail seemed to be trailing a similar path with the Mumbai Indians in the second edition of WPL. She kicked off the season opener with a bang after flattening Shafali Verma’s middle stump to mark the first scalp of the tournament.
The curtain raiser of WPL 2024 bore plenty of excitement as Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, the finalists of the last edition squared off in the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The hype of the first game was further epitomized by the first wicket when Ismail knocked off Verma inside the powerplay on her first appearance for the Mumbai-based franchise.
Following six dot deliveries to kick off her tournament, Verma went off the strike in the final ball of the second over. Managing just a single run in seven deliveries, the young gun was under pressure and the experienced Ismail capitalized on her eventual aggressive approach.
The right-arm pacer dished a good length delivery that shaped into the right-hander to beat the inside edge and uproot the middle stump. Verma seemed reckless in her intent as she swung the bat across the line widely to hear the death’s knell. Ismail was fired up on drawing the first blood for her new franchise and here is how the Twitterverse reacted.
Shafali departs!
CASTLED! 🎯
— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 23, 2024
Shabnim Ismail with a spectacular delivery to claim the first wicket of Season 2 🔥🔥#TATAWPL | #MIvDC | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/H7TBL0Klre
Taking away smiles
Shabnim Ismail takes away Shafali’s smile!
— Asli BCCI Women (@AsliBCCIWomen) February 23, 2024
Middle stump uprooted!#WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/BdhlENEigt
Unreal
Unreal clownery this from Shafali ngl😭
— Harsh Deshwal (@IamHarshDeshwal) February 23, 2024
What's wrong
Shafali has started failing in the league too? What is wrong with this player
— Archer (@poserarcher) February 23, 2024
Looks like that
Shafali should go back to club cricket. Too much of a rope fiven
— Varun (@wizardrincewind) February 23, 2024
Good question
When was the last time Shafali played a good white ball knock?
— archith (@InswinginMenace) February 23, 2024
Need some work
Shafali needs to work on her game a lot, she isn't cut out to play even wpl now
— Starlord Vol.2 (@NotTheStarlord) February 23, 2024
And it happened!
6 dot balls. Shafali definitely going to do something stupid and get out now.
— Karan (@karanrajan) February 23, 2024
1st one!
Shabnim Ismail gets the first wicket of WPL 2024 as she cleans up Shafali Verma 1(8)☝️#MIvDC #WPL #WPL2024 #TATAWPL #TATAWPL2024 pic.twitter.com/EVFjtnywzs
— Rishabh Singh Parmar (@irishabhparmar) February 23, 2024
Ugly
An ugly agricultural swing from Shafali Varma to give us our 1st breakthrough of the season!
— Nish Navalkar (@YUVI_NISH) February 23, 2024
Unreal pressure from the fielding unit to start off#MIvDC