Gujarat Giants Edge UP Warriorz in Thrilling WPL Clash

In a thrilling Women's Premier League match, Gujarat Giants edged out UP Warriorz by just 10 runs. Phoebe Litchfield's impressive 78 runs were not enough to secure victory for UP, as they fell short in their chase of 208 runs. Ashleigh Gardner's strong performance led Gujarat to a formidable total, showcasing the intense competition in the WPL 2025. Read on for a detailed breakdown of the match highlights and key performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 10, 2026, 19:55 IST

UP Warriorz's Narrow Defeat

In a gripping match at DY Patil Stadium on Saturday, UP Warriorz fell short by 10 runs against Gujarat Giants, despite a remarkable 78 from Phoebe Litchfield. Chasing a daunting target of 208, UP Warriorz faced an early blow when Kiran Navgire was dismissed for just one run in the first over by Renuka Singh, setting a challenging tone for the innings.

Warriorz's Resilient Response

After the initial setback, Australian captain Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield steadied the innings with a vital 70-run partnership. Lanning contributed 30 runs off 27 balls, hitting five boundaries before her dismissal.

However, the middle overs proved disastrous for UP Warriorz as they lost Harleen Deol for a duck and Deepti Sharma for just one run, leaving them at a precarious 74/4 in 9.1 overs.

Litchfield's Stellar Performance

Youngster Shweta Sehrawat joined Litchfield, and together they forged a crucial 69-run partnership. Sehrawat scored 25 before being bowled by Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Litchfield, the standout performer, was eventually dismissed for an impressive 78 runs off 40 balls, featuring eight fours and five sixes.

Deandra Dottin added 12 runs but was dismissed by Gujarat's captain Ashleigh Gardner.

In the final overs, Asha Sobhana attempted a late rally, finishing unbeaten on 27 off 10 balls, but UP Warriorz concluded their innings at 197/8, just 10 runs shy of victory.

Gujarat Giants' Strong Batting Display

Earlier in the match, Gujarat Giants, led by Ashleigh Gardner, set a formidable target of 207 runs. After opting to bat first, the Giants started strong, with Sophie Devine scoring 14 runs in the second over against UPW's Shikha Pandey.

Despite losing Beth Mooney to Sophie Ecclestone for 13 runs, the Giants maintained momentum, reaching 56/2 after six overs.

Gardner and Anushka Sharma then stabilized the innings, with Gardner reaching her sixth WPL fifty and surpassing previous records for the most fifty-plus scores for Gujarat Giants.

Anushka Sharma made a notable 44 runs, the highest by a Gujarat batter on WPL debut, before being dismissed by Deandra Dottin.

Gardner's innings of 65 runs off 41 balls included six fours and three sixes, while Bharti Fulmali and Georgia Wareham contributed to the total, leading Gujarat to a final score of 207/4.

Match Summary

Brief scores: Gujarat Giants: 207/4 in 20 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 65, Anushka Sharma 44; Sophie Ecclestone 2/32) vs UP Warriorz 197/8 in 20 overs (Phoebe Litchfield 78, Meg Lanning 30; Renuka Singh 2/25).