Tags: UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants, 3rd Match,
Womens Premier League 2023
Published on: Mar 06, 2023
UP Warriorz beat Gujarat Giants by three wickets in match number three of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, March 5. Batting first after winning the toss, Gujarat put up a competitive 169/6 on the board. They then restricted UP to 88/6 as Kim Garth claimed a five-fer. However, Grace Harris (59 not out off 26) then launched a sensational counterattack as the Warriors went on to win the game of the penultimate ball of the match.
Batting first, Gujarat Giants’ innings was guided by Harleen Deol, who struck seven fours in her 32-ball 46 before being dismissed. Ashleigh Gardner chipped in with 25, while Dayalan Hemalatha scored an unbeaten 21 as the batting side ended with a decent score.
Defending the total, Garth was all over UP Warriorz. She had opposition skipper Alyssa Healy caught and bowled for 7 and also sent back the other opener, Shweta Sehrawat for 5, before adding the scalp of Tahlia McGrath (0).
Kiran Navgire’s half-century lifted UP’s hopes, but Garth again put Gujarat on top. She sent back the set batter with a short ball and then cleaned up Simran Shaikh (0). At 88/6, the match seemed one-way traffic. However, Harris slammed seven fours and three sixes, two of the maximums coming in the last over bowled by Annabel Sutherland. Sophie Ecclestone also chipped in with 22 off 12. It was Harris who deservedly brought up the winning runs, launching Sutherland for a six, with one ball to spare.
Speaking after her spectacular innings, player of the match Harris said, “I started poorly. You need to get the conditions to know how to play. Was thankful that Sophie motored along.”
On managing to lift UP to victory, she added, “Great feeling to finish the game off. I actually knew what I wanted to do. Was getting a bit antsy when there were so many breaks with the DRS at the end. I was just really psyched to get out there and have a bat. Have trained a lot. Love batting with a bit of freedom.”
Gujarat’s loss on Sunday was their second defeat in as many games. They were hammered by Mumbai Indians by 143 runs in the tournament opener.
–By A Cricket Correspondent
