Gujarat Giants delivered a stunning performance against UP Warriorz, securing victory by 81 runs in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 match held at BRSABV Ekana Stadium, Lucknow, on March 3, 2025.
Batting first, the Giants scored 186 runs, anchored by Beth Mooney's remarkable innings of 96* runs off just 59 balls, which included 17 boundaries. This powerful display of batting propelled the Giants to what proved to be an insurmountable total for the Warriorz. Although Mooney was left stranded just short of what would have been the season's first century, her contributions set the tone for the Giants' dominant performance.
Following the dismissal of opener Dayalan Hemalatha early on for just 2 runs, it was Mooney and Harleen Deol who orchestrated the recovery with a record partnership of 101 runs for the second wicket. Deol played her part admirably, contributing 45 runs from 32 balls, and together they helped the team surpass the 100-run mark just 12 overs in.
Despite being in excellent batting conditions, UP Warriorz's quest for runs quickly turned disastrous as they were bowled out for 105 runs within just 17.1 overs. The Giants' bowling attack, led by Deandra Dottin, crushed the batting order, with Dottin claiming two wickets on her first over, dismissing Kiran Navgire for a golden duck and Georgia Voll shortly after. The Warriorz found themselves struggling at 25/4 within the first five overs.
Kashvee Gautam and Tanuja Kanwar also contributed significantly to the Giants' bowling efforts, each taking three wickets for just 11 and 17 runs, respectively. The middle-order collapse for the Warriorz was palpable, as they conceded six wickets by the eighth over. Grace Harris briefly staved off the inevitable with 25 runs, but the far superior bowling of Gujarat Giants proved too overwhelming for the entire Warriorz team.
Chinelle Henry’s contribution of 28 runs came too late to make any real difference, as the rest of the lineup struggled to perform under pressure. By the end of the innings, only Henry and Uma Chetry, who added 17 runs, were left to reduce the margin of defeat, but their efforts were not enough to stop the rout.
After the match, Beth Mooney expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, "I was really happy with my batting performance today. I’m glad our team managed to pull off such a strong victory against UPW," highlighting the team spirit andIndividual contributions.
Teammate Deandra Dottin also emphasized the effectiveness of their bowling strategy, stating, "Our bowling lineup executed the plans perfectly." This victory not only added two points to the Giants' tally but also elevated them from fifth to second place on the points table, affecting the standings dramatically. Conversely, UP Warriorz plummeted from third to fifth place, illustrating the impact of the match.
Overall, the Gujarat Giants' blend of solid batting and potent bowling sets the stage for their future endeavors within the WPL. With players like Mooney and Dottin leading the charge, they are now viewed as serious contenders to watch as the league progresses.