In a riveting high-scoring encounter that set the tone for the afternoon leg of the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, the Gujarat Giants (GG) secured a hard-fought 10-run victory over the UP Warriorz (UPW) at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. This Match 2 fixture lived up to the hype, producing a total of 404 runs as both sides showcased explosive batting depth under the intense Navi Mumbai sun.
Giants Set the Stage with Mammoth Total
After losing the toss and being put in to bat, the Gujarat Giants immediate goal was to maximize the friendly batting conditions. The experienced Sophie Devine provided an electric start, racing to 38 runs off just 20 deliveries. Her aggressive approach against world-class bowlers like Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma ensured the Giants maintained a healthy run rate from the outset. Despite losing both openers, Beth Mooney and Devine, within the powerplay to leave the score at 56/2, the momentum never truly shifted away from Gujarat.
The middle-overs belonged to captain Ashleigh Gardner and WPL debutant Anushka Sharma. The pair stitched together a clinical 103-run partnership for the third wicket, characterized by consistent boundary-hitting. Sharma played with remarkable composure for a debutant, contributing a vital 44 off 30 balls. Meanwhile, Gardner anchored the innings before shifting into high gear, smashing three fours and two sixes in a seven-ball blitz. Her sixth WPL half-century came off just 30 balls, eventually finishing with a top score of 65 from 41 deliveries.
As the innings approached its climax, Georgia Wareham and Bharti Fulmali applied the finishing touches with brutal efficiency. The duo plundered 34 runs from the final two overs, including five massive sixes. Wareham’s unbeaten 27 off just 10 balls propelled the Giants to a daunting total of 207/4, setting the Warriorz a monumental chase.
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Litchfield Keeps Warriorz in the Hunt
The UP Warriorz’ pursuit of 208 got off to a rocky start when Renuka Singh Thakur, making her debut for the Giants, clean-bowled Kiran Navgire in the very first over. However, the setback only brought together the Australian pair of captain Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield. The two combined for a classy 70-run stand, taking the score to 73/1 by the ninth over and keeping the required rate within reach.
The match saw another dramatic swing when Georgia Wareham turned the game on its head. In a decisive spell, she combined with Renuka to claim three wickets in just five deliveries. Lanning fell for 30, followed quickly by Harleen Deol for a duck and Deepti Sharma for just one run. At 83/4, the Warriorz seemed to be staring at a heavy defeat.
Unfazed by the collapse at the other end, Phoebe Litchfield produced an innings of pure quality. She and Shweta Sehrawat launched a counter-attack, yielding 19 runs off a single Gardner over. Litchfield reached her half-century in just 24 balls and continued to find the fence with ease, eventually reaching 78 off 40 balls, an innings adorned with eight fours and five sixes. Her partnership of 69 with Sehrawat kept the UP Warriorz alive until the final stages.
Wareham and Renuka Seal the Victory
Despite the heroics from Litchfield and a late cameo of 27 from just 10 balls by Asha Sobhana, the mountain proved too high to climb. The Giants’ bowling unit held their nerve during the slog overs. Renuka Singh Thakur finished with impressive figures of 2/25, while Georgia Wareham was named Player of the Match for her all-round contribution, taking 2/30 to go along with her quickfire runs.
Sophie Devine also chipped in with two crucial wickets, including the prized scalp of Litchfield, which effectively ended the Warriorz’ hopes. UP Warriorz finished their 20 overs at 197/8, falling just 10 runs short of what would have been a record-breaking chase. The victory gave the Gujarat Giants a perfect start to their 2026 campaign, while the Warriorz were left to reflect on a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful pursuit.