In their fourth attempt, the Gujarat Giants finally recorded their first win at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai after securing a 10-run victory over the UP Warriorz in the second fixture of the 2026 Women’s Premier League.
The Surge of the Giants
Meg Lanning won the toss and put the Giants to bat first. Veterans Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney gave a blitz start to their side, striking at nearly 10-runs an over after the first four overs of the innings. However, both batters fell in consecutive overs, bringing Anushka Sharma and Ashleigh Gardner to the crease.
Sharma and Gardner engaged in a century stand, which was the third-highest in the history of the WPL for the third wicket or lower. In her WPL debut, Sharma struck 44 off 30 balls, striking seven boundaries.
A slow ball from Deandra Dottin ended the partnership, but Gardner’s carnage continued as she tied Shafali Verma for the third spot in the most half-centuries in the WBL. In the next over, Ecclestone lit up the stumps yet again, claiming her second scalp with the departure of the Giants’ skipper.
The match turner in hindsight was the last two overs of Gujarat’s innings, wherein Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin conceded 34 runs against Georgia Wareham and Bharati Fulmali. For the second consecutive year, the Giants recorded and innings featuring 10 sizes, and this time around it came with an added feather of being their highest total in the WPL.
Chase of the Warriorz
The highest successful chase recorded at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai was 175. Coincidentally, this was recorded by UP against Gujarat back in 2023.
It seemed as if they would repeat this feat, as Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield’s carnage from both sides of the wicket energized the Warriorz. Despite the early loss of Kiran Navgire in the first over, Lanning continued leading the partnership and in the process became the second-highest run-getter in the WPL.
Wareham’s all-round abilities came into the picture as she got Lanning out LBW in the ninth over. The Australia got another wicket in the same over as she claimed the wicket of Harleen Deol for the second time in three innings.
Gardner brought in Renuka Singh Thakur to reinforce the pressure and was handsomely rewarded as the medium pacer got her compatriot Deepti Sharma. Thakur, characteristic to herself, was yet again economical, having delivered 14 dot balls in her four overs.
While wickets tumbled at the other end, Litchfield’s onslaught continued as she brought up her 50 in only 24 deliveries. It was the third fastest half century by a UP Warriorz player and was now supported by Shweta Sehrawat’s quickfire scoring from the other end.
Five balls after the final strategic timeout of the match, Sehrawat fell to Gayakwad after striking three sixes in her knock of 25 which came at a strike rate of 147.
Dottin started her knock with a first ball boundary keeping the Warriorz’s hope intact. But Sophie Devine’s change of tactic to round-arm bowling against Litchfield led to the Australian find Fulmali at deep cover.
Out of the 78 runs that Litchfield scored in 40 balls, 62 runs came in boundaries. Devine did get her second wicket by dismissing Ecclestone but not before ending her expensive spell that saw her give away 55 runs.
A late surge from Asha Sobhana might not be too significant from the match’s perspective. But the Warriorz might be pleased to know the depth of power hitters they possess which can be useful later in the tournament. The match saw a total of 404 runs being scored across innings (second-most in terms of aggregate) and a record 21 sixes hit across both innings in WPL.
When it keeps happening, it’s the standard. 🔝
Our opponents know it well. 😬#GujaratGiants #BringItOn #Adani #GameOnGujaratStrong #TATAWPL #UPWvGGW pic.twitter.com/nFZhEk2SPE
— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) January 10, 2026
Georgia Wareham was adjourned the player of the match award for her all-round performance. The Gujarat Giants now pip ahead of the UP Warriorz in the head to head record, 4-3.
“Anushka is such a talented player. I saw her in the nets. Then to spend time with her in the middle was good. She is such a young player and to do such kind of batting, it was brave of her. It was really pleasing to be at the other end while she was batting.” – Ashleigh Gardner, on her partnership with Anushka Sharma
