Lucknow, March 3 (IANS) - UP Warriorz won the toss and elected to field first against Gujarat Giants in match 15 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. This contest marked the first game of the third leg of the WPL, which has recently traveled through Vadodara and Bengaluru.
Australia batter Georgia Voll was handed her WPL debut cap as she replaced Chamari Athapaththu and took the field for UP Warriorz, after being brought on as an injury replacement. Along with Voll, Gouher Sultana filled the spot for Tahil McGrath, changing two key players for the match. Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants decided to stick with their original lineup, which has earned them two wins from five matches so far.
Both teams currently shared comparable standings, with the Warriorz and Giants each holding four points, indicating the competitive nature of the league. A loss for either side could push them precariously close to the lower end of the standings.
UP Warriorz captain Deepti Sharma expressed confidence after winning the toss, stating, “We are going to bowl. Feel like there will be help for bowlers early on. Feels good and we got a good welcome. It’s different kind of motivation to play at home. We had a couple of net sessions and our preparation has been good. Two changes – Mcgrath and Saima out. Voll and Gouher are playing.”
On the other hand, the Giants captain, Ashleigh Gardner, anticipated challenges but remained optimistic about her batting squad. “Looks like a nice batting track tonight. Expecting a high-scoring game. You’ve got to be able to adapt quickly to conditions. Hopefully, we can do it as a batting unit and put up a good score. Anything 170-plus is what we’re going to be striving for.”
Playing XIs were set for both teams as follows: UP Warriorz - Kiran Navgire, Georgia Voll, Vrinda Dinesh, Deepti Sharma (c), Shweta Sehrawat, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry, Uma Chetry (w), Sophie Ecclestone, Kranti Goud, Gouher Sultana. For Gujarat Giants - Beth Mooney (w), Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Phoebe Litchfield, Deandra Dottin, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Meghna Singh, Tanuja Kanwar, Priya Mishra.
The match briefly swung the spotlight to Deandra Dottin, whose extraordinary bowling would seal Voll's debut as one to forget. The West Indian all-rounder bowled impressively, compiling wickets as well as defending the formidable target set by her team earlier. The Giants managed to post 186 runs, with key contributions from Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 96 off 59 balls and Harleen Deol's 45 off 32.
Dottin quickly established herself as the key player of the match during the opening overs. Her first over delivered immense pressure on the Warriorz, dismissing opener Kiran Navgire with her very first ball, before bringing Georgia Voll to the crease. Dottin’s inswinger struck Voll as she attempted to drive, resulting in her stumps being shattered after just three balls faced. Voll was visibly disappointed as she walked back without scoring, leaving the field with her confidence shaken.
Dottin’s brilliance was complemented by the fervor of fans who took to social media, hoisting her delivery as possibly the wicket of the tournament. Some tweets read, "What a Delivery!!! Perfect! Dream delivery by Deandra Dottin," applauding the tour-de-force momentum shift from the West Indies bowler.
Despite the unexpected drop by UP Warriorz, their undeterred spirit reflected the need to combat during the chase. With just two runs on the board and the pressure increasing, they found themselves at 2 for 2 shortly after the first over. The match saw the early downfall of their batting lineup as top-order wickets dwindled, leaving the Warriorz reeling at 29 for 4.
Looking across the innings, the Warriorz were subjected to significant constraint by the Giants' bowlers. Zipping through the UP batting order, Ashleigh Gardner's team firmly took control of the match, drawing cheers and excitement from supporters. With this dominance, the Giants established their approach, showing their experience and tactical execution throughout the match.
With UP Warriorz striving for individual performances to turn the tide, they found themselves needing 158 runs within the last six overs at the required run rate of 11.28. The disarray created by Dottin drove them to seek miracles against the formidable score set by Gujarat.
Fans and spectators remained hopeful, rooting for the Warriorz to regroup, aware it would take remarkable artistry both with the bat and ball to turn the game around. Nevertheless, Dottin's exceptional prowess sets the stage for this memorable contest and ignited conversations about the exciting prospects of WPL 2025.
So as the match unfolded amid cheers and discomfort, the teams at the Ekana Stadium witnessed competitive spirit and electrifying performances embodying both the thrill of cricket and the stakes involved, as Georgia Voll’s debut aligns with the storied history of the Women's Premier League, promising future endeavors for all players involved.