Gujarat Giants secured a comfortable six-wicket win over UP Warriorz in their second home game of WPL 2025, thanks to Priya Mishra’s three-wicket haul and Ashleigh Gardner’s fiery 52. After a solid bowling performance, the Giants chased down 144 with 12 balls to spare in Vadodara.
Without the injured Alyssa Healy and with Chamari Athapaththu replaced by Alana King, Warriorz struggled in the absence of early power. Captain Deepti Sharma’s 39 and Sophie Ecclestone’s brilliant bowling weren’t enough to halt the Giants’ momentum.
Gardner came in at 2 for 2 after the early loss of Beth Mooney and D Hemalatha. She attacked right away, hitting back-to-back fours and hammering Saima Thakor for two sixes in the fifth over. She brought up her fifty off 28 balls with a towering six, finishing with five fours and three sixes. Gardner has scored 131 runs across two matches, making her the leading run-scorer of the tournament.
Deandra Dottin’s explosive 33, including three fours and two sixes, helped keep the chase on track. Harleen Deol anchored the innings with an unbeaten 34, ensuring the Giants reached the target comfortably.
Earlier, Mishra provided the turning point, removing Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris in consecutive deliveries. With the Warriors at 73 for 3 after 10 overs, Mishra’s brilliant spell shifted the game in the Giants’ favor. Despite some late hits from Thakor and King, Warriorz finished with a modest total.
Ecclestone’s spell posed a challenge to Laura Wolvaardt, but despite her efforts, Warriorz couldn’t recover.
