WPL: Gujarat Giants register 8-run win against UP Warriorz

Despite Deepti Sharma’s fighting 88*(60), it was the Gujarat Giants who clinched a final-over victory on the back of Captain Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 74* and Shabnam Shakil’s impressive 3/11.

Chasing a target of 153 to boost their playoff chances, UP Warriorz lost skipper Alyssa Healy and Chamari Athapaththu in the opening over.

The powerplay woes continued for the UP Warriorz as they lost two additional wickets in the form of Kiran Navgire and Grace Harris off the bowling of Kathryn Bryce and Ashleigh Gardner respectively.

Shweta Sehrawat was bowled on the final delivery of the powerplay as the impressive Shakil completed her spell with bowling figures of 3/11.

With Deepti Sharma and Poonam Khemnar in the middle, the UP Warriorz were 52/5 at the halfway mark.

The required run rate climbed up, but the UPW duo repaired the damage with a steady fifty partnership for the 6th wicket. Deepti Sharma reached her half-century in style with a four straight down the ground.

UPW switched gears and brought the equation down to 43 off 18. After a quiet 18th over, the UP Warriorz managed to score 14 off the penultimate over of the innings.

With 26 required off the final over, Deepti Sharma backed her abilities and smacked two sixes but in the end, UPW fell short by 9 runs.

Earlier, Gujarat Giants won the toss and elected to bat against UP Warriorz. GG opener Laura Wolvaardt owned the powerplay by smartly finding the gaps and made optimum use of the field restrictions.

Captain Beth Mooney at the other end, ensured the majority of the strike belonged to Wolvaardt, who brought the fifty partnership up for the opening wicket with a stylish lofted six.

UP Warriorz skipper Alyssa Healy helped the side bounce back with two quick dismissals behind the stumps.

First, the dangerous Wolvaardt was deceived off Sophie Ecclestone’s bowling and was out stumped. Soon later, Healy plucked a sharp catch to dismiss Dayalan Hemalatha, who was out to Chamari Athapaththu.

Ashleigh Gardner, who joined the GG skipper in the middle, got going immediately and brought the hundred up for Gujarat Giants in the 14th over with a maximum. However, in an attempt to up the scoring rate, the right-handed batter was caught in the deep by Deepti Sharma, who scalped a clean catch.

Mooney was running out of partners at the other end, with UPW spinners striking at regular intervals. Sophie Ecclestone conceded only 2 runs in the 18th over including the wickets of Kathryn Bryce & Tanuja Kanwer.

UPW fielders dropped Mooney twice in quick succession and the GG skipper capitalized on the reprieves in style. GG reached 152 at the end, thanks to a final over flourish by Beth Mooney that included five fours against Sophie Ecclestone.