Gujarat Giants crushed UP Warriorz by 81 runs at the Ekana Stadium, climbing from fifth to second in the WPL standings. Beth Mooney’s masterclass powered Giants to 186 for 5, the third-highest total this season. In response, Warriorz collapsed to 105 all out, slipping to the bottom of the table.
Mooney, the No. 1 T20I batter, anchored the innings with a stunning 96* off 59 balls. She formed a crucial 101-run partnership with Harleen Deol, who contributed 45 off 32 balls. Mooney hit 17 fours, accumulating 49 runs in the long-on to long-off arc. Although she seemed set for the tournament’s first century, she faced only five balls in the final overs. Giants smashed 104 runs between overs 7-16, ensuring a strong total.
Warriorz had opted to bowl first on a mixed-soil pitch. Chinelle Henry dismissed Dayalan Hemalatha in the first over, but Deol counter-attacked with fluent strokes. Deandra Dottin later added quick runs, smashing 17 off 8 balls. Sophie Ecclestone, who finished with 2-34, prevented further damage in the death overs.
Chasing 187, Warriorz crumbled immediately. Dottin removed both openers in the first over, with Kiran Navgire falling for a golden duck. Debutant Georgia Voll followed soon after, and Warriorz lost four wickets inside the powerplay. Kashvee Gautam (3-11) and Tanuja Kanwar (3-17) dismantled the middle order, reducing them to 48 for 6. Henry’s quickfire 28 helped them cross 100, but it was merely delaying the inevitable.
With this emphatic victory, Giants’ net run rate soared from -0.450 to 0.357, putting them level on points with Mumbai Indians.
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