In an exciting showdown between UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, UP Warriorz skipper Alyssa Healy chose to field after winning the toss. The Gujarat Giants made changes, bringing in Laura Wolvaardt and Mannat Kashyap, while UP Warriorz also included Chamari Athapaththu and Saima Thakor in their lineup.
The Gujarat Giants had a solid start with a 40-run opening partnership between Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney before Sophie Ecclestone’s breakthrough, dismissing skipper Beth. Phoebe Litchfield and Ashleigh Gardner contributed 35 and 30 runs respectively helping Gujrat reach 142 runs against 5 wickets. Sophie Ecclestone claimed 3 wickets for UP Warriorz.
In response, UP Warriorz started strong but lost wickets at crucial intervals, losing 2 with 50 on the scoreboard. Grace Harris’s brilliant 60 off 33 balls guided them to a comfortable victory with 6 wickets and 26 balls to spare. Tanuja Kanwer stood out for the Giants with the ball, claiming 2 wickets. Grace Harris received the Player of the Match award for her explosive innings, ensuring UP Warriorz maintained their winning streak.
Here are some highlights from the match between UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants
Grace’s consecutive half-century against Gujarat Giants
In the three face-offs, UP Warriorz led by 3-0. Grace Harris played a major role in all these triumphs, scoring 72 (41), 59* (26), and 60* (33) respectively in three matches. She was awarded the Player of the Match and temporarily received the orange cap as well. Fans applauded her for such a knock, with one humorously suggesting that the reason behind her performance was Bangalore’s dosas for breakfast.
Grace Harris completes third successive half-century against Gujarat Giants 🔥
72 (41)
60* (33)
59* (26)#CricketTwitter #WPL2024 #UPWvGG pic.twitter.com/deWJqmr74q— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) March 1, 2024
In case you're wondering what she had for breakfast yesterday. 😋🔥#UPWvGG #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/Vf3H8WFJaY
— Finally Live (@FinallyLiveNews) March 2, 2024
Grace Haris is now the Orange 🧡 cap holder…
Well played 👏👏👏#UPWvsGGW #โยเกิร์ต #AnantRadhikaWedding #Jamnagar pic.twitter.com/wI0TRWfhcd— Shahid wani (@shayu9682) March 1, 2024
Chamari(UP Warriorz) and Laura(Gujarat Giants) in playing 11
After a few matches, both Laura Wolvaardt and Chamari Athapaththu joined their respective sides. Laura Wolvaardt scored 28 runs, including 4 boundaries for Gujarat Giants, while Chamari Athapaththu bowled 4 overs with an economy of 4.75 and scored 17 runs, including 4 boundaries with the bat. Fans appeared to be delighted to see them on the field, especially Chamari making her debut in the WPL.
So good you see @LauraWolvaardt and Chamari Athapathu take the field today! Wpl feels complete now
— Aarti Sankaran (@coach_aarti) March 1, 2024
Chamari Athapaththu: "Finally I got the opportunity to come and play with UPW. Really enjoying myself with the girls and the support staff. They help me to play my best"#WPL2024
— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) March 1, 2024
Laura Wolvaardt was signed as Beth Mooney's Mooney replacement last season. Generally, it's like-for-like.
This year, they have the original player and the replacement, both in the side who find themselves playing together. Double stall!😅
— Jeet Vachharajani (Women's Cricket) (@Jeetv27WC) March 1, 2024
UP Warriorz are 53-1 after 8 overs.
A quiet start – Laura Wolvaardt is well set #WPL2024
— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) March 1, 2024
Laura Wolvaardt is on a Roll tonight going right from the start! 💪🏻
It's a Joy to watch her Bat. Pure Class!!#LauraWolvaardt #UPWvsGGW #WPL
— Jonah Abraham 😷 (@JonahAbraham26) March 1, 2024
Figures of 0-19 from four overs and 17 off 11 for Chamari Athapaththu on WPL debut, having been picked up as a replacement player after going unsold at the auction. How she isn't one of the most sought-after overseas in every league going remains one of cricket's great mysteries
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) March 1, 2024
Chamari Athapaththu becomes the first ever Sri Lankan 🇱🇰 to play in WPL.
Starts her WPL career with the bat with a four. pic.twitter.com/uYfyUi3VxF
— Harishcricket (@BabyDoll642268) March 1, 2024
Unbelievable that all five teams passed on Chamari Athapaththu for the #WPL2024. UPW got a steal picking her up as an injury replacement.
With two incredible catches and an economical spell with the ball, she has given them the upper hand in this match. Hasn’t even batted yet.
— The Magician (@the_magician321) March 1, 2024
DEBUT ALERT!! 🚨
Chamari Athapaththu makes her WPL debut (finally) #WPL2024 #UPWvGG pic.twitter.com/IdCYPAAhgm
— wajith.sm (@sm_wajith) March 1, 2024
Ecclestone struck thrice for UP Warriorz
Sophie Ecclestone claimed three crucial wickets for her side, dismissing Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney, and Ashleigh Gardner. With these wickets, she became the highest wicket-taker across both WPL seasons. Fans praised her for her stellar spell.
Sophie Ecclestone shines with the ball for UP Warriorz 🌟#RanjiTrophy #TejasswiPrakash #KiaraAdvani #Cricket #YuvrajSingh #EvilGoogle #GautamGambhir #NZvAUS #MSDhoni #Ambani #Jamnagar #Rihanna #RCBvMI #BiharwithModiJI #TATAWPL #AnantRadhikaWedding pic.twitter.com/SS0FIKfAzZ
— Yashasvi Jaiswal Army🏟️ (@Jaiswal_Army) March 2, 2024
Most wickets on WPL
22-Sophie Ecclestone
22-Amelia Kerr
17-Hayley Matthews
15- Saika Ishaque#WPL2024 #WPL— suriya (@SuriyaInsights) March 1, 2024
Few more reactions from the fans
UPW-W vs GG-W WPL 2024 Innings Update: Sophie Ecclestone Helps UP Warriorz Restrict Gujarat Giants For 142/5 Despite Ashleigh Gardner's Quickfire Knock #UPWvGG #UPWvsGGW #WPL #WPL2024 #WPLT20 #WPL24@wplt20https://t.co/hSsgEIeFxg
— LatestLY (@latestly) March 1, 2024
Action ➡ Reaction#UPWvGG #GujaratGiants #Adani #BringItOn pic.twitter.com/6LLVvqGIMh
— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) March 1, 2024
Phoebe Litchfield showing her shot collection 😉 pic.twitter.com/pSxJabzImv
— CRICGLOBE (@thecricglobe) March 1, 2024
#GraceHarris, #SophieEcclestone shine ⭐✨ as #UPWarriorz hand #GujaratGiants their 3️⃣rd straight defeat ❌#CricketWithCKK | #upwvgg | #WPL2024 | #UPWarriorz | #WomenInCricket | #WomenPremierLeague | #GujaratGiants pic.twitter.com/zmVHSKVU2Z
— Cricket Ki Kahani (@CricketKK_) March 1, 2024
UP Warriorz Won By 6 Wickets !
Grace Harris 60* Runs 🙌
Alyssa Healy 33 Runs 🙌
Sophie Ecclestone 3 Wickets 🙌#UPWarriorz || @UPWarriorz || #UPWvGG || #TATAWPL || #WPL24 pic.twitter.com/qIZUAp8dOE
— Aneesh (@Aneesh_98) March 1, 2024
Divided by Countries, United by Uttar Pradesh 🫶#TATAWPL #UPWarriorzUttarDega pic.twitter.com/gIbSSaM6Rr
— UP Warriorz (@UPWarriorz) March 2, 2024
