A standout performance from Priya Mishra with the ball and skipper Ashleigh Gardner with the bat guided Gujarat Giants to a six-wicket victory over UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League 2025 on Sunday. The win marked Gujarat Giants’ first triumph of the season.
Winning the toss and opting to bowl first proved to be a smart decision for the Giants, as the heavy dew in the latter half of the match played a key role. The Warriorz posted a modest total of 143, with Gujarat’s bowlers putting up a strong performance to restrict them throughout the innings.
UP Warriorz’s batting order faltered in the middle overs, resulting in their lowest total of WPL Season 3. Kiran Navgire (15) got off to a good start but was dismissed by Deandra Dottin. Vrinda Dinesh (6) failed to make an impact, falling to Ashleigh Gardner. After a brief 51-run partnership between Deepti Sharma and Uma Chetry, the Warriorz’s innings fell apart. Priya Mishra played a pivotal role, taking 3 wickets for just 25 runs, including a sensational over that saw the back of Tahlia McGrath (0) and Grace Harris (4), leaving UP Warriorz reeling at 78/5. A late cameo by Alana King and Saima Thakor helped the Warriorz reach 143.
In response, Gujarat Giants faced an early setback with top-order batswomen Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha both falling for ducks. However, the steadying hands of Laura Wolvaardt (22) and captain Ashleigh Gardner (52) brought the chase back on track with a 55-run partnership. Gardner led the charge with a quickfire half-century, putting the pressure back on UP Warriorz. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Deandra Dottin (33*) and Harleen Deol (34*) ensured Gujarat reached the target with two overs to spare, securing a six-wicket win.
The dew factor, along with dropped catches and some sloppy fielding by the Warriorz, contributed to Gujarat’s victory in this high-stakes encounter.