The Gujarat Giants delivered a stunning performance on March 3, 2025, defeating UP Warriorz by 81 runs at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. This commanding win marked Gujarat's largest victory by runs in the history of the Women's Premier League (WPL) and their second victory of the season, propelling them to second place on the points table.
The highlight of the match was undoubtedly Beth Mooney's spectacular innings. The Giants' captain played an explosive knock of 96 not out off just 59 balls, hitting 17 boundaries to set the pace for her team’s total of 186 for 5. Despite Mooney narrowly missing out on becoming the first centurion of this WPL season, her performance laid the foundation for what turned out to be a one-sided contest against UP Warriorz.
Batting first, Gujarat faced pressure early when Dayalan Hemalatha fell cheaply, but Mooney quickly stabilised the innings, forming a significant 101-run partnership with Harleen Deol, who contributed 45 runs off 32 balls. Mooney showcased her remarkable batting skills, maneuvering the ball through the gaps and maintaining the scoring rate throughout her innings, pushing the Giants to a formidable total.
Chasing 187 proved disastrous for UP Warriorz, who suffered catastrophic early losses. The batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of Gujarat's relentless bowling, slipping to 36 for 5 by the eighth over. Deandra Dottin set the tone with her remarkable opening spell, taking two wickets for just 14 runs; her dismissal of both Kiran Navgire and Georgia Voll without them getting off the mark left UP Warriorz reeling.
Gujarat's bowling attack, led by Kashvee Gautam and Tanuja Kanwar, continued to dismantle UP's efforts. Gautam finished with impressive figures of 3 for 11, and Kanwar claimed 3 for 17, effectively choking the run flow and taking wickets at regular intervals. Meghna Singh and Ashleigh Gardner also contributed, ensuring the pressure never eased on the Warriorz batsmen.
Only Grace Harris managed to put some runs on the board, scoring 25 runs off 30 balls before falling victim to Kanwar. Chinelle Henry showed some late fight with her quick-fire 28 runs off 14 balls, but it was evident by then the match was out of reach, as UP Warriorz were bowled out for just 105 runs within 17.1 overs.
The collapse of the UP Warriorz batting order was stark, with only two other batters - Uma Chetry and the skipper Deepti Sharma - reaching double figures. A situation grew dire early, with the team unable to recover from Dottin’s double strike, leaving them to scramble for runs against Gujarat’s organized attack.
This result not only highlighted the strength of the Gujarat Giants but also showcased the vulnerabilities within the UP Warriorz lineup, who fell from third to fifth on the points table after the defeat. The Gianta’s comprehensive win underscored their turnaround this season, having recorded two consecutive victories and showing renewed title aspirations.
Gujarat’s squad will be eager to build on this momentum, having established themselves as serious contenders for the playoffs. If they can sustain this form, the Giants could make significant waves as the tournament progresses.
The match was characterized by Gujarat's cohesive strategy - combining aggressive batting and disciplined bowling - demonstrating their potential going forward. Mooney's performance, along with the team's bowling domination, set the stage for what fans hope will be more exhilarating performances from the Giants as the WPL 2025 season continues.
Overall, the encounter was not just about runs but also indicated strategic mastery from Gujarat Giants over UP Warriorz, as they aim to solidify their place among the top teams this season.