Lucknow witnessed a thrilling encounter on March 3, 2025, as Gujarat Giants faced UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The Giants emerged victorious, securing their position with Issuing 186 runs for five wickets, thanks to remarkable performances from Beth Mooney and Harleen Deol.
Gujarat Giants, needing to capitalize on this opportunity due to their standing at the bottom of the table, began their innings with opener Mooney leading the charge. Despite losing Dayalan Hemalatha for just two runs to Chinelle Henry early on, Mooney combined forces with Deol, forming a formidable partnership. The duo aided each other beautifully, playing strategically to stabilize the innings.
Throughout their time at the crease, Deol scored 45 runs off 32 balls, impressively hitting six boundaries. Mooney, on the other hand, shone brightly as she rattled up 96 runs off 59 balls, showcasing elegance combined with calculated aggression. This pair stitched a notable 101-run partnership, the highest for any wicket of the match, pushing the Giants toward securing a competitive total.
Mooney's innings was marked by sharp shot selection, with her graceful strokes blurring lines between aggression and finesse. Launching her innings gradually, she accelerated as the overs progressed, managing to find gaps expertly. Meanwhile, Deol kept the momentum flowing, improvising shots, thereby putting pressure on Warriorz's bowlers.
Just as the Giants looked set for launch, the Warriorz struck back with Sophie Ecclestone's brilliance. The left-arm spinner made her mark by breaking the flourishing 101-run partnership; she clean bowled Deol with precise execution of her plans. Ecclestone delivered a fuller ball right on the stumps, prompting Deol to misjudge the delivery as she tried to create room for a cut shot. The quick ball slipped past her bat and shattered the stumps along with her composure as Deol was forced to pick up her bat and begin the long walk to the dressing room.
After Deol’s wicket, the momentum reverberated, swinging momentarily back to the Warriorz, who were now lifting their spirits to contain the Giants. Mooney continued on her resilient innings, undeterred by the loss of her partner. She eventually led her team to reach 186 runs, with others like Ashleigh Gardner and Deandra Dottin contributing to the aggressive drive.
Mooney was left stranded at 96 runs, having crafted the second-highest unbeaten run total recorded throughout the tournament's history. Her contributions not only brought the team back on track but played pivotal roles throughout the innings, allowing the Giants to dictate terms against the Warriorz.
Despite Deol's dismissal, Gujarat had already built up considerable momentum, and Mooney's continued presence at the crease served as reassurance. The remaining batswomen provided quick runs with Dottin playing aggressively before getting trapped lbw by Ecclestone.
With regards to bowling, the Giants were faced with the fact they had sent out players who were struggling; both Kranti Goud and Grace Harris found it tricky to contain the rampant scoring of Mooney and Deol. Mooney's extraordinary performance reigned supreme as she danced her way through the chase and ballet of deliveries released by the UP Warriorz bowlers.
Even with the Warriors fighting back, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the match, as they concluded the innings on 186/5. The Gujarat Giants attained this milestone primarily due to Mooney's innings.
Reflecting on the match results, the Gujarat Giants established stability heading forward, securing their third win and moving up from the bottom of the table. This game set the tone for not only their confidence moving later on in the tournament but for the UP Warriorz’s dynamic adjustments necessary to counteract future confrontations.