Gujarat Giants defeated UP Warriors by 10 runs

Captain Ashleigh Gardner (65 runs/one wicket), Anushka Sharma (44 runs), and Sophie Devine (38 runs) played excellent innings, and the bowlers put up a strong performance as Gujarat Giants Women defeated UP Warriorz by 10 runs in the second match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) on the weekend.

Chasing a target of 208 runs, UP Warriorz had a poor start, losing the wicket of Kiran Navgire (1 run) in the very first over, who was bowled by Renuka Singh. Captain Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield then put up a 70-run partnership for the second wicket. In the ninth over, Georgia Wareham dismissed Lanning (30 runs) and Harleen Deol without scoring, sending them back to the pavilion. In the very next over, Renuka Singh caught Deepti Sharma (1 run) off her own bowling, giving Gujarat Giants their fourth success. Shweta Sehrawat was out for 25 runs off 17 balls as the fifth wicket. In the 16th over, Sophie Devine dismissed Phoebe Litchfield, giving Gujarat Giants their sixth success. Phoebe Litchfield played a brilliant innings, scoring 78 runs off 40 balls with eight fours and five sixes.

In the 18th over, Ashleigh Gardner dismissed Deandra Dottin (12 runs), while Sophie Ecclestone (11 runs) was out as the eighth wicket. UP Warriorz could only manage 197 runs in the allotted 20 overs, losing eight wickets, and lost the match by 10 runs. Shobhana Asha scored 27 runs off 10 balls, remaining not out.

For Gujarat Giants, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, and Georgia Wareham took two wickets each, while Ashleigh Gardner and Rajeshwari Gayakwad took one wicket each.

Earlier, UP Warriorz won the toss and decided to bowl first. Gujarat Giants Women's opening pair of Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine put up a 41-run partnership for the first wicket. Sophie Ecclestone dismissed Beth Mooney (13 runs), ending the partnership. Later, Anushka Sharma and captain Ashleigh Gardner put up a crucial 103-run partnership for the third wicket, laying the foundation for a big score. In the 17th over, Deandra Dottin dismissed Anushka Sharma (44 runs off 30 balls), breaking the partnership. Gujarat Giants' fourth wicket fell in the 18th over in the form of Ashleigh Gardner, who was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone.

Ashleigh Gardner scored 65 runs off 41 balls with six fours and three sixes. Gujarat Giants Women scored 207 runs in the allotted 20 overs, losing four wickets. Georgia Wareham scored 27 runs off 10 balls, and Indian player Pooja Vastrakar scored 14 runs off seven balls, remaining not out.

For UP Warriorz, Sophie Ecclestone took two wickets, while Deandra Dottin and Shikha Pandey took one wicket each.