Gujarat Giants finally found some success at the DY Patil Stadium with their first match of the Women’s Premier League’s 2026 season ending in a hard-fought 10-run win over UP Warriorz on Saturday. In a match dominated by big sixes, the Giants held their composure in the decisive moments to defend a total in excess of 200, despite a valiant chase led by Phoebe Litchfield.
Asked to bat first, the Giants laid a solid foundation before accelerating sharply in the latter half of the innings. Sophie Devine provided early impetus at the top, scoring 38 before falling in the sixth over, after which Ashleigh Gardner took control of the innings. The captain paced her knock expertly, ensuring the scoreboard kept moving while also setting the platform for a late
assault.
Big Hits
Gardner produced a captain’s knock of 65 off 41 balls, striking six fours and three sixes to anchor the Gujarat innings. She found strong support from Anushka Sharma, with whom she added a vital 103-run partnership for the third wicket, pushing the Giants beyond 170 and firmly into commanding territory.
The late overs belonged to Georgia Wareham, who unleashed a rapid unbeaten 27 off just 10 balls. Her cameo featured one four and three sixes, ensuring Gujarat crossed the 200-run mark. Bharti Fulmali added to the flourish with 14 not out off seven deliveries, including two sixes, as the Giants finished on an imposing 207 for 4.
In response, UP Warriorz were rocked early when Kiran Navgire was dismissed on the fifth ball by Renuka Singh. Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield then steadied the chase with a fluent 70-run stand, keeping the asking rate within reach as the pair rebuilt after the early setback.
Turning Points
The momentum swung dramatically when UP Warriorz suffered a sudden collapse in the middle overs. From a steady 73 for 1 in the ninth over, they lost Lanning, Harleen Deol and Deepti Sharma for the addition of just one run in five balls, slumping to 74 for 4 and handing Gujarat a crucial opening.
Litchfield refused to let the chase fade, launching a counter-attacking assault that kept Warriorz in the hunt. She struck 78 off just 40 balls, hammering eight fours and five sixes, and added 69 runs with Shweta Sehrawat for the fifth wicket to revive hopes of a dramatic finish.
Her dismissal in the 16th over, however, proved decisive. With Litchfield gone, the chase lost its momentum, and despite a late surge from Asha Sobhana, who smashed an unbeaten 27 off 10 balls, the target remained out of reach.
Gujarat’s bowlers held their nerve at the death, with Wareham capping a fine all-round display by taking 2 for 30 with her leg-spin. Renuka Singh and Sophie Devine claimed two wickets each, while Gardner and Rajeshwari Gayakwad chipped in with one apiece, ensuring the Giants closed out a narrow but significant victory as UP Warriorz finished on 197 for 8.
(With agency inputs)
