Gujarat Giants Secure Victory over UP Warriorz in WPL 2024

2024 Women's Premier League (WPL) witnessed an enthralling encounter between Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz, with the bottom-placed Giants emerging victorious. In a match filled with twists and turns, the Giants successfully defended their score of 152, leaving the Warriorz eight runs short of the target. 

Match Summary

Gujarat Giants Women won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening batswomen Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney provided a solid foundation with a 60-run partnership. However, their middle order stumbled, and they found themselves struggling at 105/5. The Warriorz bowlers, including Sophie Ecclestone, Chamari Athapaththu, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Deepti Sharma, played a crucial role in derailing the Giants' batting line-up.

In response, the UP Warriorz Women had a disastrous start, losing early wickets and finding themselves at 35/5. However, Deepti Sharma and Poonam Khemnar staged a remarkable fightback, forming a century partnership. Despite their efforts, the Warriorz fell short by eight runs, ending their innings at 144/7.

Beth Mooney's Impressive Fifty

Beth Mooney, the captain of the Gujarat Giants, exhibited her class and resilience as she slammed her third half-century in the WPL. Partnering with Wolvaardt, Mooney held her end firmly and played a captain's knock. She remained unbeaten on 74 off just 52 balls, smashing 10 boundaries, including a six. This remarkable innings further solidified Mooney's reputation as one of the tournament's top performers.

Deepti Sharma's Counter-Attacking Knock

Despite being on the losing side, Deepti Sharma showcased her batting prowess with a counter-attacking innings. After the early collapse of the Warriorz' batting line-up, Deepti formed a crucial partnership with Poonam Khemnar. She played fearlessly, smashing 88 off 60 balls, including nine boundaries and four sixes. Deepti's valiant effort almost took her team to victory, but they fell short in the end.

Records Set and Broken

Deepti Sharma's impressive innings of 88 not out made her the second-highest scorer by an Indian in the WPL. Surpassing Shafali Verma's record of 84, Deepti now stands behind Harmanpreet Kaur, who holds the highest individual score in the tournament. Harmanpreet's unbeaten 95 against Gujarat Giants earlier in the season remains the highest score in WPL history.

Outstanding Bowling Performance

Shabnam Shakil, a young and promising talent, was awarded the Player of the Match for her exceptional bowling display. The 16-year-old medium-pacer proved to be a game-changer, picking up three wickets while conceding only 11 runs in her four overs. Shakil's tight line and length troubled the Warriorz batsmen, as she consistently hit the right areas and restricted the flow of runs.

Conclusion

The match between Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz in WPL 2024 was a rollercoaster ride packed with thrilling moments. The Giants' ability to defend a modest total of 152 showcased their resilience, while the Warriorz' fightback led by Deepti Sharma and Poonam Khemnar added excitement to the game. Beth Mooney's impressive half-century and Shabnam Shakil's outstanding bowling performance were standout moments of the match. As the tournament progresses, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more nail-biting encounters and exceptional performances from these talented players.