India, Feb. 16 -- The Gujarat Giants commenced their Women's Premier League (WPL) journey by securing their inaugural victory of the season, triumphing over the UP Warriors by six wickets at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday.

Following a setback against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their opening match, the Giants needed a strong response, which they achieved through a comprehensive all-round performance spearheaded by captain Ash Gardner.

In pursuit of 144 runs, Gujarat encountered early difficulties as openers Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha were dismissed without scoring. Grace Harris (1/1) and Sophie Ecclestone (2/16) delivered crucial early breakthroughs, leaving the team in a precarious position at 2/2 within just 1.3 overs.

Nevertheless, Ash Gardner rose to the occasion, scoring a commendable 52 runs off 32 balls under pressure, having previously taken 2/39 after opting to bowl first. She formed a vital 55-run partnership with Laura Wolvaardt (22), which helped stabilize the innings. Ecclestone claimed her second wicket by dismissing Wolvaardt for 22.

Although Tahlia McGrath (1/21) struggled with the bat, she made a significant impact by taking Gardner's important wicket. Despite the departures of Wolvaardt and Gardner, Deandra Dottin (33) and Harleen Deol (34) ensured a smooth finish, contributing to a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket that guided Gujarat to a well-earned victory with 12 balls remaining.

Choosing to bowl first, the Gujarat Giants applied early pressure on the Warriors, ultimately restricting them to a modest total of 143, marking the lowest score of the season thus far.

The Warriors began their innings positively, bolstered by a quick 15 runs from opener Kiran Navgire. However, her innings were abruptly ended when Deandra Dottin, the West Indies all-rounder, trapped her lbw, shifting the momentum decisively in favour of Gujarat.

A brief resistance was mounted by Captain Deepti Sharma, who scored 39 runs, alongside wicket-keeper batter Uma Chetry, who contributed 24 runs, as they formed a solid partnership of 51 runs. However, the situation deteriorated once this partnership was disrupted.

The pivotal moment occurred when leg-spinner Priya Mishra, with figures of 3/25, delivered a decisive over that resulted in the dismissal of two of the Warriorz's most formidable batters, Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris, who scored 0 and 4 runs, respectively. This double setback left the Warriorz in a precarious position at 78/5, with their middle order in turmoil.

Supporting Mishra were Gardner and Dottin, each claiming two wickets, with figures of 2/39 and 2/34, respectively.

Late contributions from new recruit Alana King, who scored 19, and Saima Thakor, who added 15, enabled UP to surpass the 140-run mark, providing a flicker of hope. Ultimately, this total proved insufficient.

"I am very pleased; we were not far off in the previous match," remarked Player-of-the-Match Gardner. "Winning today’s game at home while playing this style of cricket feels particularly rewarding. Our bowlers performed exceptionally well, and Priya Mishra, who took three wickets in only her second WPL match, was outstanding."

Regarding the team's batting strategy, Gardner commented, "Each player has their own unique approach to batting. For instance, Dottin tends to clear her front leg and hit sixes, while someone like Deol adopts a more methodical style. We possess a deep batting lineup, and I am hopeful that we will showcase its full potential soon."

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