Gujarat Giants (GGT) have set a 170-run target against UP Warriorz (UPW) in their first match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday. Harleen Deol top-scored for the team with 46 runs off 32 balls.
After opting to bat first, Gujarat openers Sabbhineni Meghana and Sophia Dunkley gave a flying start to their team, accumulating 34 runs off just 22 balls. However, Deepti Sharma - UP warriorz's costliest buy put break by getting rid of Dunkley (13). Sophie Ecclestone then struck in the fifth over to get rid of Meghana (24 off 15). The number one ranked T20I bowler in the world then struck in the eighth over to get rid of Annabel Sutherland (8). The fourth wicket came in the form of Sushma Verma (9) who was dismissed by Australia star Tahila McGrath.
Reeling on 76/4 in 10.3 overs, Gujarat Giants were in dire need of a partnership and Deol just did that alongside Ashleigh Gardner - the Player of the Series in the recently-concluded Women's T20 World Cup 2023. The duo added 44 runs off just 29 balls. Gardner scored 25 off 19 before being stumped by her compatriot Alyssa Healy in a dramatic fashion. A Deepti Sharma delivery ricocheted off Healy's pad to hit the stumps as Gardner was found outside the crease.
Once the Australia all-rounder departed, Deol got in the groove and started playing her shot before left-arm pacer Anjali Sarvani got her wicket in the 18th over. Later, Dayalan Hemalatha played a 13-ball 21-run cameo to power Gujarat to 169/6 in 20 overs. She was supported by her captain Sneh Rana who scored unbeaten nine runs off seven balls, and some sloppy fielding by the UP fielders.
Up Warriorz would be counting on the likes of Healy, McGrath, Deepti and Shweta Sehrawat to chase down the competitive total. No team has won while batting second in the tournament so far.