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WPL 2023: Grace Harris slams 59 off 26 as UP Warriorz stun Gujarat Giants in last-over thriller

WPL 2023, GGT vs UPW: Grace Harris' unbeaten 59 off 26 helped UP warriorz beat Gujarat Giants by three wickets in the last-over thriller at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

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UP Warriorz needed 53 runs off the last three overs when Grace Harris took things in her control and slammed unbeaten 59 off 26 to stun Gujarat Giants (GGT) by three wickets and one ball remaining at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Notably, UP is the first team to win the match after batting second in the WPL.

Grace Harris lights up WPL 2023

19 runs were required off the last over from star Australian pacer Annabel Sutherland when Harris pulled one over deep midwicket for a six to reduce the equation to 13 off 5. A wide ball was followed by a double after an under-pressure Sutherland failed to collect a throw from midwicket and Sophie Ecclestone managed to cross the crease at the non-striker's end even without a bat in her hand. The third delivery was hit straight back towards the bowler for a boundary by Harris. Another wide ball, another boundary and then a six off the penultimate ball from the right-hander ensured that the Alyssa Healy-led side kicked off their inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) campaign with a thrilling last-over victory.

Chasing a 170-run target, UP openers Alyssa Healy and Shweta Sehrawat got out cheaply for 7 and 5 runs respectively. The third wicket also fell at the stroke of the third over when Kim Garth picked her third wicket in the form of Tahila McGrath who departed for a golden duck.

A 66-run partnership brewed between Kiran Navgire and Deepti Sharma (11 off 16) as the former went berserk with a 38-ball 48-run contribution. Deepti was castled by pacer Mansi Joshi on the final delivery of the 13th over, while Navgire (53 off 43) also departed within the next over after completing her fifty. The same over saw Ireland pacer Garth pick a five-wicket haul by cleaning the stumps of Simran Shaikh. Devika Vaidya also departed after a short 17-run (17 balls) partnership with Australia star Grace Harris as UP were left reeling at 105/7 in 15.4 overs.

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Gujarat Giants post 169/6 after early stutters

Earlier, 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.

WPL 2023: Harleen, Gardner, Hemalatha deliver under pressure

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.

Story first published: Sunday, March 5, 2023, 23:30 [IST]
Other articles published on Mar 5, 2023