GG vs UPW, WPL 2025 Highlights: All-round Gujarat Giants beat UP Warriorz by six wickets

Right then, Gujarat managed a brilliant victory dominating all factors of the game against UP and getting their first win of the season. The Women's T20 League now moves its focus to the next big game of the tournament that is to be played between Delhi vs Bengaluru at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) on 17th February 2025 but you can always join us early for all the pre-match excitement. Till then, have a nice day!

Ash Gardner, the Skipper of Gujarat is also the Player of the Match. She is very pleased with the win as they went too far in that first game too but eventually they lost because of bowling. Adds that they have played a brand of cricket here and this was a near-perfect game for them. But there is still a lot of improvement there and someone like Priya Mishra getting three wickets at this age provides a different confidence in the whole group. Mentions that she targets the stumps when she comes in to bowl and hopefully, she bowled so far in the first two games, and the boundaries are too frequent here as you have to bowl on the tighter lines and lengths. Further adds that there have been individual assessments as every different person has their game plans for their batting as Deandra Dottin just whacks every other ball. Concludes that players like Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney in the team do help as they know how to play under pressure.

... TIME FOR THE PRESENTATIONS ...

Deandra Dottin emphasizes the importance of execution with the ball, believing UP fell 20-30 runs short of a par score. She remains focused on finishing the chase quickly, ensuring the game doesn't get tricky in the final overs. Dottin sees herself as a vital addition to the Women's T20 League, aiming for consistent performances with Gujarat. Praising Ash Gardner, she highlights the skipper’s composure and ability to assess conditions well. She insists there was no pressure on their side, shifting the burden onto UP as Gujarat cruised to victory.

Deepti Sharma, the Skipper of UP, says that they could have stepped up more as she has looked at the wicket so far. If there could have been one or two big partnerships then we could have gone above 170. Adds that the spin is their bowling strength as she and Sophie have been brilliant though the dew was already there. Mentions that she wants to improve the batting in the next match and she will try to execute the plans and hopefully, that will go well in the next match.

Despite losing Gardner, Gujarat never lost control. Harleen Deol and Deandra Dottin took over in the latter stages, ensuring there were no late jitters. Their confident strokeplay and composure in the middle helped Gujarat cruise to victory in style. This comprehensive all-round performance comes as a huge boost for Gujarat, who now look to carry this momentum forward in the tournament.

After winning the toss, Gujarat’s bowlers stepped up to restrict UP to a modest total of 143 on a surface that had plenty to offer for the batters. Their disciplined effort ensured the opposition never really broke free, keeping the scoring in check throughout the innings. Chasing 144 for victory, Gujarat’s innings got off to a steady start, but it was Ash Gardner who stole the show early on. She played a match-defining knock, bringing up a brilliant half-century to set the perfect platform for the chase. Gardner’s fearless stroke play kept the scoreboard ticking and put UP on the back foot.

Gujarat have finally opened their account in the tournament, securing a commanding 6-wicket win over UP. A well-rounded performance with both bat and ball saw them chase down a target of 144 with two overs to spare, marking a much-needed breakthrough in their campaign.

Deepti Sharma to Harleen Deol, GUJARAT WIN IT BY 6 WICKETS WITH TWO OVERS TO SPARE! They have been brilliant throughout the match and have come out on top at the end! Sharma drops it short, around middle, Harleen Deol goes back in the crease, swivels and pulls it towards square leg where the fielder makes a fumble and they run for a single.

Deepti Sharma to Harleen Deol, A dot ball! Drags her length, around off, Deol comes down the track and pushes it back to the bowler.

Deepti Sharma to Harleen Deol, FOUR! THE SCORES ARE ON LEVEL! Comes back over the wicket does Deepti Sharma to Deol and tosses up, outside off, Harleen Deol moves across a bit and drills it along the ground to sweeper cover for a boundary. They need just one now.

Deepti Sharma to Deandra Dottin, Comes around the wicket and bowls a quick ball, on the nagging length, around off, Dottin shimmies down the track a bit and drags it to long on for a single. 

Deepti Sharma to Deandra Dottin, SIX! QUITE IMPRESSIVE! Tossed up, slower through the air, around off and middle, Deandra Dottin uses her feet to get to the pitch of the ball and launches it down the ground for a biggie. Gujarat need just 6 now.

Deepti Sharma to Harleen Deol, Nagging length, around middle, Deol goes back in the crease and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Kranti Goud to Harleen Deol, Goes fuller, around middle, Deol flicks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Kranti Goud to Deandra Dottin, A difficult chance but Deepti Sharma drops it. Goud changes her pace and bowls on the good length, outside off, Deandra Dottin just swinging at everything as she goes back in the crease and looks to go down the ground but this time, she doesn't time it well as the ball goes in the air towards mid off. Deepti Sharma backtracks it and stretches her arms to take it but the ball bursts out through her hands. They take a single.

Kranti Goud to Deandra Dottin, FOUR! TOO MUCH POWER! Kranti Goud serves it in the slot, around off, Deandra Dottin clears out her front leg and thumps it over the head of the bowler for a boundary.

Kranti Goud to Deandra Dottin, On a good length, outside off, Dottin dabs at it towards extra cover.

Kranti Goud to Deandra Dottin, Pace off, slower length ball, well outside off, Deandra Dottin clears out her front leg and has a wild swing at it but misses.

Kranti Goud to Harleen Deol, Goes fuller straight, around middle, Deol lunges and clips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Deepti Sharma to Harleen Deol, Floated up, around off, Deol drills it to long on for a single. Gujarat need 20 off the last four overs.

Deepti Sharma to Harleen Deol, A low full toss, around middle, Harleen Deol comes forward and pushes it back to the bowler.

Deepti Sharma to Harleen Deol, Drops it short, around middle, Harleen Deol goes on back foot and pulls it towards short fine leg. The fielder Kiran Navgire makes a fumble there and they run for a couple.

Deepti Sharma to Deandra Dottin, A miscommunication there! On a length, around off, Deandra Dottin dabs it towards short third and runs off for a quick single and both batters come halfway down the pitch but the fielder Shweta Sehrawat is quick enough to collect the ball and throws it to the non striker's end. The batters hesitate a bit but completes the run finally.

Deepti Sharma to Deandra Dottin, Nagging length, just outside off, Deandra Dottin looks to loft it down the ground and there is a noise as the ball passes the bat but the keeper fails to grab it.

Deepti Sharma to Harleen Deol, Tossed up, around off, Deol uses her feet to drill it to long off for a single.

Sophie Ecclestone to Harleen Deol, Shorter length on the stumps. Deol eases it to long on for a single.

Sophie Ecclestone to Harleen Deol, FOUR! SUPERB USE OF THE FEET! Tossed up outside off, Harleen Deol dances down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and drives it straight back past the bowler. McGrath from long off runs to her right and dives but fails to cut it off.

Sophie Ecclestone to Harleen Deol, Nagging length outside off. Deol looks to late cut it but gets a faint edge on this one and Chetry behind the stumps fails to grab it. A chance goes begging here.

Sophie Ecclestone to Deandra Dottin, Full on the stumps, Dottin drills it down to long on for a single.

Sophie Ecclestone to Harleen Deol, BYE! Floats the ball up on the leg stump and Harleen Deol misses the ball completely. The wicketkeeper fumbles the ball and the batters run a single.

Sophie Ecclestone to Harleen Deol, Nagging length outside the off stump. Harleen Deol slaps the ball straight to mid-wicket.

STRATEGIC BREAK! A needy break for UP as they are clearly struggling in this inning. Firstly, they didn't make a good score considering how good this pitch is to bat on and then they bowled some loose deliveries and on top of that, the fielding has been poor. They are lacking in all the fields today but they will need to gear up and play together as a team if they want to defend this total. On the contrary, Gujarat is cruising in this chase as they are well ahead just because of again their skipper's inning as Ash Gardner went back with a fifty to her name. They have two set batters at the crease and they will want to finish it. Will UP fight back or Gujarat will get home? 

Tahlia McGrath to Deandra Dottin, FOUR! MISFIELD! McGrath with a slower delivery outside off, Deandra Dottin picks it up early and hits it to the right of covers. Ecclestone inside the ring misfields it. she lets it go between her legs and into the fence.

Tahlia McGrath to Deandra Dottin, Hits the length hard on the stumps. Deandra Dottin slogs it to the right of long on for a couple.

Tahlia McGrath to Deandra Dottin, Nagging length outside the leg stump. Deandra Dottin looks to flick it but wears it high on the thigh pads.

Tahlia McGrath to Deandra Dottin, FOUR! SLAPPED AWAY! Short and wide from Tahlia McGrath on this ocassion and Deandra Dottin it onto it on a flash. Gets back deep in the crease and slaps the ball infront of point for a superb boundary.

Tahlia McGrath to Harleen Deol, Full outside off. Deol drives it wide of Deepti at mid off for a run.

Tahlia McGrath to Deandra Dottin, Nagging length outside off. Deandra Dottin slaps it to sweeper covers for one.

Alana King to Deandra Dottin, Full on the stumps, Dottin drives it down to long on for a single. 100 comes up for Gujarat. 

Alana King to Harleen Deol, Tossed up full on the stumps. Swept away to deep square leg for a run.

Alana King to Deandra Dottin, Short and turning away outside off, Dottin slaps it wide of long off for a single.

Alana King to Deandra Dottin, SIX! BRILLIANT SHOT! Tossed up delivery around off, Deandra Dottin takes her front leg out of the way, sinks low, and smokes it over the cow corner fence for a massive six. King can only smile at it.

Alana King to Harleen Deol, Tossed up full on the stumps, Deol steps out and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Alana King to Harleen Deol, FOUR! SHOT! Pulled away in the gap! Alana King starts off short on the stumps with pace! Harleen Deol gets back deep in the crease and pulls the ball between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a superb boundary.

Tahlia McGrath to Deandra Dottin, On a length outside off, Dottin looks to defend it off the backfoot but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Deandra Dottin is the next batter for Gujarat.

Tahlia McGrath to Ash Gardner, OUT! CAUGHT! Kiran Navgire grabs an easy catch at short fine leg to send back Ash Gardner. Huge wicket for UP! McGrath bangs it short on the body, Gardner stands tall, swivels and looks to pull it over short fine leg but fails to get the required elevation. Hits it straight to Navgire who takes a simple catch on the edge of the ring.

Tahlia McGrath to Ash Gardner, On a length outside off. Gardner goes for the cut but misses.

The umpires are looking dissatisfied with the ball and they have called the fourth umpire to replace this ball with a new one.