Batters often hog the limelight in T20I cricket. They put up a spectacle with their clean striking to leave bowlers frustrated.
But the Women’s Premier League (WPL) seems to be an exception. In its short history, the women’s T20 league has seen stunning bowling spells from bowlers.
A few bowlers went a notch higher to go into record books with five-wicket hauls, which don’t come easily in the shortest format.
So here are the bowlers who have taken five-wicket hauls in the WPL.
1. Tara Norris (DC) | 5/29 vs RCB, 2023
The WPL was just a match old, and we got the first five-wicket in the second game. An unknown Tara Norris scripted history in Mumbai on March 5, 2023.
Hailing from the USA, her timely dismissals turned the match in Delhi Capitals’ (DC) favour. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were cruising at 89 for 2 in pursuit of a 224-run target.
Then Norris drew her first blood as Ellyse Perry edged the ball onto the stumps. Two deliveries later, she added another wicket, with Disha Kasat holing out a catch.
Her next over brought her two wickets on consecutive balls as Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja got caught out. Then, she wrapped up her spell with the dismissal of Heather Knight. Norris had figures of 5 for 29 in four overs to help DC win the match.
2. Kim Garth (GG) | 5/36 vs UPW, 2023
It wasn’t even a few hours to Norris’ fifer, and we already had the second one on the same day. In the evening game, Kim Garth showed her new and old ball skills.
Gujarat Giants had to defend a 170-run target, and they needed early wickets. And that’s what Garth did.
She got UP Warriorz captain, Alyssa Healy, caught and bowled at the start of the third over. Then she ended the over with wickets of Shweta Sehrawat and Tahlia McGrath.
Garth returned in the 13th over to complete her five-wicket haul. The seamer removed Kiran Navgire and Simran Shaikh on back-to-back balls to reduce UPW to 88 for 6.
But a counterattack from UPW’s batters meant Garth’s 5 for 36 ended up on the losing side.
3. Marizanne Kapp (DC) | 5/15 vs GG, 2023
In the ninth match of the first season, another Delhi bowler was at it. South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp put up a show with the new ball against GG.
She bowled four overs on the trot to send half of Gujarat’s batters in the dugout. Kapp opened the bowling and struck the first wicket on the second ball. She clean bowled Shabbineni Meghna on a duck.
Two overs later, Kapp dismissed Laura Wolvaardt in the same fashion before trapping Ashleigh Gardner LBW on the next ball. With movement on offer, Kapp continued her mayhem.
She got Harleen Deol LBW out in the fifth over and completed the five-for with Sushma Verma’s dismissal. The sudden collapse saw Gujarat muster 105, which Delhi chased down with ease. Kapp’s 5 for 15 fetched her the Player of the Match award.
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4. Asha Sobhana (RCB) | 5/22 vs UPW, 2024
After three overseas bowlers, Asha Sobhana became the first Indian to take a fifer in the WPL. She pulled off the feat in the second match of the 2024 edition.
RCB had put up 157 runs in the first innings. The total wasn’t enough, given the helpful conditions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
But Sobhana’s spell turned out to be the point of difference. She struck two wickets in the ninth over. First, she got Vrinda Dinesh stumped out and then clean-bowled Tahlia McGrath.
Fast forward to the 17th over; UPW were in a good position at 126 for 3. Then, Sobhana turned the game on its head.
The leg spinner fetched three wickets in the over. She removed two set batters in Shweta Sehrawat and Grace Harris and finished the spell with Kiran Navgire’s wicket. Sobhana’s 5 for 22 was pivotal in RCB snatching the game by two runs.
5. Ellyse Perry (RCB) | 6/15 vs MI, 2024
If Delhi bowlers shone in the first season, the second iteration saw RCB bowlers make some noise. Ellyse Perry joined Sobhana on this list towards the end of the league stage. And her performance came just at the right time.
RCB met Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 19th match of the season. They needed a win at any cost to make the playoffs. And a fine performance saw RCB cruise into the Eliminator with ease.
The eventual champions asked MI to bat first. The Indians got a decent start and were set for a competitive total.
But then Perry ran through Mumbai’s middle order. She started with consecutive dismissals of Sajeevan Sajana and Harmanpreet Kaur in the ninth over.
Then she removed Amelia Kerr and Amanjot Kaur in the 11th over before wrapping up with two more wickets in the 13th over. Perry’s 6 for 15 are the best bowling figures in the WPL.
Later with the bat, she scored an unbeaten 40 to help RCB qualify for the playoffs. And her all-round performance fetched her the Player of the Match award. No wonder Perry is the Greatest of All Time!
6. Amelia Kerr (MI) | 5/38 vs UPW, 2025
Amelia Kerr is the latest entrant on this list. She bagged her fifer for MI against UPW in 2025.
It was the 16th match of the season, with the home side being asked to bat first. The Warriorz got off to a brilliant start and looked solid at 84 for 1 in the 10th over.
But then Kerr came into action. She got Kiran Navgire caught out for a duck after an expensive start to her spell.
The leggie returned in the 15th over and fetched two wickets. The first was Vrinda Dinesh, who struggled to middle the ball, and the second was a crucial dismissal of Chinelle Henry.
Then Kerr to bowl the final over. Despite having only three fielders outside the circle, she kept things under control and completed her fifer.
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