Home
GG vs UPW, WPL 2026: Gujarat Giants (GG) got the better of UP Warriorz (UP W) by 10 runs in their Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 campaign opener on January 10.
Gujarat Giants pulls off 10-run win over UP Warriorz
Batting first, Sophie Devine (38) and Ashleigh Gardner (65) combined to steer GG to a colossal total of 207/4. In reply, UPW staged a commendable fightback riding on Phoebe Litchfield's 40-ball 78 but ran out of steam in the end and were summed up for 197/8, thanks to Devine's 2/55 and Gardner's 1/37. Renuka Singh and Georgia Wareham also chipped in with impressive two-fers.
Phoebe Litchfield's efforts go in vain
The UP Warriorz' chase began on a disastrous note when Renuka Singh cleaned up Kiran Navgire in the opening over. Faced with an immediate climb in the required run rate, Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield were forced to stabilize the innings before they could begin their counter-attack. Once settled, the pair managed to keep the chase alive with a flurry of boundaries, stitching together a 70-run partnership for the second wicket.
The momentum shifted back to the Giants when Georgia Wareham delivered a game-changing over. She first dismissed Lanning for 30 and followed it up by removing Harleen Deol for a duck just two balls later. When Renuka Singh returned to claim the wicket of Deepti Sharma, the Warriorz found themselves in a precarious position at the halfway mark of their innings.
Despite the collapse around her, Phoebe Litchfield remained undeterred, reaching a brilliant half-century in just 24 deliveries. Her fearless strokeplay anchored a 69-run stand with Shweta Sehrawat, who chipped in with a useful 25. However, the Giants' bowlers struck back decisively; Rajeshwari Gayakwad bowled Sehrawat, and Sophie Devine claimed the prized wicket of Litchfield for 78. Her 40-ball masterclass, which included eight fours and five sixes, ended just as the pressure of the rising run rate became critical.
In the final overs, Deandra Dottin and Asha Sobhana attempted a desperate late charge. Sobhana was particularly effective, blasting 27 runs off only 10 balls, but the mountain was too high to climb. The Warriorz finished their 20 overs at 197 for eight, falling 10 runs short of the target. While it was a losing start for Lanning's captaincy, the Giants walked away with a statement win, largely thanks to the all-round heroics of Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham.
Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Devine burn bright for Giants
Earlier, led by a dominant performance from captain Ashleigh Gardner, the GG posted a formidable total of 207 for 4 in their Women’s Premier League clash against the UP W . After opener Sophie Devine set the tone with a brisk 38, Gardner took command in the sixth over. She anchored the innings through a massive 103-run partnership for the third wicket with Anushka Sharma, who contributed a solid 44 off 30 deliveries. Gardner’s own 41-ball knock was punctuated by six boundaries and three sixes, successfully driving the Giants past the 170-run threshold.
While Gardner eventually fell to Sophie Ecclestone in the 18th over, the momentum shifted into even higher gear thanks to a late-innings explosion from Georgia Wareham. Wareham delivered a stunning unbeaten cameo, smashing 27 runs off just 10 balls—including three sixes and a four—to propel the score past the 200-mark. She was well-supported at the death by Bharti Fulmali, who remained not out on 14 after clearing the boundary twice in her seven-ball stay.
On the bowling front, Sophie Ecclestone was the standout performer for the UP Warriorz, finishing with figures of 2 for 32. Shikha Pandey and Deandra Dottin each claimed a single wicket, though they struggled to contain the Giants' aggressive middle order. Meanwhile, India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma had a difficult outing, going wicket-less while conceding 32 runs across her three overs.
ADVERTISEMENT
