The Gujarat Giants delivered a commanding performance, clinching an 81-run victory over the UP Warriorz in Match 15 of the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday. This win marked the Giants as only the second team this season to successfully defend a total by such a margin.

Powered by Beth Mooney’s impressive unbeaten 96, the Giants posted a formidable total of 186/5. Their bowlers then took charge, ensuring that the total was more than enough to secure victory. The UP Warriorz faltered early in their run chase, losing four wickets within the power-play as Deandra Dottin, Kashvee Gautam, and Meghna Singh struck in quick succession. This left the UPW reeling at 29/4, unable to gain any real momentum.

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Grace Harris briefly held the fort, keeping the innings afloat until the 10th over, while Chinelle Henry attempted a brisk counter-attack. However, the increasing required run rate became too much to manage.

Tanuja Kanwer and Priya Mishra effectively restricted the flow of runs during the middle overs, continuing the collapse as Uma Chetry, Gouher Sultana, and Sophie Ecclestone fell cheaply. The UP Warriorz were ultimately bowled out for just 105, delivering a resounding win for the Gujarat Giants, who now sit atop the points table and have reignited their playoff aspirations.

The early breakthroughs set a strong tone for the innings, with Deandra Dottin making an impact by dismissing Kiran Navgire for a golden duck followed by Georgia Voll’s three-ball duck courtesy of a magnificent delivery that rattled the stumps.

Kashvee Gautam maintained the pressure, bowling out Vrinda Dinesh (1) with a sharp inswinger, leaving UPW staggering at 14/3. Although Grace Harris survived an initial LBW appeal, she tried to stabilize the innings with some well-timed boundaries. However, Meghna Singh struck soon after, sending captain Deepti Sharma (6) back to the pavilion with an edge caught behind by Mooney.

Attempts by Shweta Sehrawat (5) and Uma Chetry (17) to rebuild the innings were thwarted by the Giants’ spin attack, spearheaded by Priya Mishra and Ashleigh Gardner. Sehrawat’s struggle came to an end when she skied a catch to Phoebe Litchfield, and as runs dried up, Harris attempted to accelerate the scoring but was trapped LBW by Tanuja Kanwer for 25 off 30 balls, leaving UPW at 69/6.

Chinelle Henry (28 off 14 balls) provided a spark with a flurry of boundaries, yet her effort was short-lived as she was dismissed by Kanwer, with Litchfield taking her third catch of the match. The increasing pressure from the disciplined Gujarat Giants’ attack took its toll, leaving UPW in dire straits.

Sophie Ecclestone managed to hit a powerful six over deep mid-wicket, pushing UPW past 100. However, runs proved difficult to accumulate, with Priya Mishra completing her spell without a wicket. Kashvee Gautam returned to further diminish UPW’s hopes by dismissing Uma Chetry for 17, caught in the field. The collapse intensified when Gouher Sultana departed for a golden duck, edging the very next delivery behind to Mooney.

Even though Gautam narrowly missed out on a hat-trick, Tanuja Kanwer soon removed Ecclestone, who attempted another big hit but was clean bowled. As wickets continued to tumble rapidly, the Warriorz had no chance of recovery, paving the way for a dominant 81-run victory for the Gujarat Giants. Kashvee Gautam (3-11) and Tanuja Kanwar (3-17) were the standout bowlers for the Giants.

Brief scores:

Gujarat Giants: 186/5 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 96*, Harleen Deol 45; Sophie Ecclestone 2-34, Chinelle Henry 1-31) defeated UP Warriorz: 105 all out in 17.1 overs (Chinelle Henry 28, Grace Harris 25; Kashvee Gautam 3-11, Tanuja Kanwar 3-17) by 81 runs.