In the ongoing Women’s Premier League 2024, the thrilling encounter between UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants, the former sealed a thrashing victory over the Giants by 6 wickets in hand and 26 balls left with the help of Grace Harris, making it 3-0 in their head-to-head encounters.
UP Warriorz, led by skipper Alyssa Healy, after winning the toss chose to field. Both teams made strategic changes to their playing elevens, with Laura Wolvaardt and Mannat Kashyap stepping in for Gujarat Giants, and Chamari Athapaththu and Saima Thakor for the Warriorz.
The Giants started strongly, establishing a 40-run opening partnership, but Sophie Ecclestone’s exceptional bowling for UP Warriorz led to crucial breakthroughs, dismissing key players like Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney. Despite partnerships from Harleen Deol (18), Phoebe Litchfield (35), and Ashleigh Gardner (30), Gujarat Giants posted a total of 142 for 5 at the end of 1st innings. Ecclestone claimed three crucial wickets for her side.
Sophie Ecclestone’s impactful bowling, claiming three crucial wickets against 20 runs with an economy of 5.00, played a significant role in UP Warriorz’s victory, cementing her status as the highest wicket-taker across both WPL seasons. Among the best bowling performances for UP Warriorz, Sophie stands out strongly, holding the three top spots.
Best bowling figures for UP Warriorz
Sophie Ecclestone – 4/13 (3.3) v Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2023
Sophie Ecclestone – 3/15 (4.0) v Mumbai Indians, 2023
Sophie Ecclestone – 3/20 (4.0), Gujarat Giants, 2024
In response, UP Warriorz openers started aggressively, but Tanuja Kanwer’s breakthrough dismissed Kiran Navgire. Despite the early loss of Alyssa Healy by Kathryn Bryce, UP Warriorz registered the second-highest powerplay score in WPL, 59/2. Later Chamari Athapaththu and Grace Harris stabilized the innings with a vital 36-run partnership. However, Tanuja Kanwer struck again, removing Chamari Athapaththu, and further breakthroughs followed, including Shweta Sehrawat’s dismissal.
Yet, Grace Harris, alongside Deepti Sharma, guided UP Warriorz to victory with a 53-run partnership, securing a six-wicket win with 26 balls to spare. Grace Harris’s remarkable innings, scoring 60 off 33 balls, earned her yet another Player of the Match award against the Giants.
Grace Haris smashed an unbeaten 60 runs on the scoreboard including nine boundaries and two maximums with a strike rate of 181.81. Grace registers this knock as one of the highest individual contributions for UP Warriorz.
Highest individual score for UP Warriorz
Alyssa Healy – 96*(47) v Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2023
Tahlia McGrath – 90*(50) v Delhi Capitals, 2023
๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐จ – ๐ณ๐ฎ(๐ฐ๐ญ) ๐ซ ๐๐ช๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ
๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐จ – ๐ฒ๐ฌ*(๐ฏ๐ฏ) ๐๐ช๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฐ
๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐๐จ – ๐ฑ๐ต*(๐ฎ๐ฒ) ๐ซ ๐๐ช๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ
Grace Harris against Gujarat Giants has performed magnificently, registering scores of 72, 59*, and 60* runs. She has consecutively won the Player of the Match award three times for her outstanding gameplay. Her accumulated record against Gujarat Giants includes an impressive average, strike rate, and total runs, all standing at 191.