The third match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 saw a low scoring contest between the UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants, with the latter winning by 6 wickets. Gujarat, opting to bowl first restricted UP Warriorz to a modest 143/9, with captain Deepti Sharma top-scoring with 39 runs, followed by Uma Chetry’s 24. Gujarat’s bowling attack was led by youngster Priya Mishra, who claimed three wickets, while Deandra Dottin and Ashleigh Gardner took two each.
Gujarat’s chase faltered in the beginning losing two wickets for just two runs, but skipper Gardner led from the front with a brilliant 52, while Harleen Deol (34*) and Deandra Dottin (33*) completed the chase. For the Warriorz, Sophie Ecclestone took two wickets, while Grace Harris and Tahlia McGrath chipped in with a wicket each.
Highlights from the match:
Ashleigh Gardner – 52(32) & 2/39(4)
Ashleigh Gardner played a crucial knock for Gujarat, scoring a blistering 52 off 32 balls with five fours and three sixes after coming in at a precarious 2/2. She provided much-needed momentum, particularly in the fifth over when she took on Saima Thakor, smashing two sixes in the over. Gardner reached her second consecutive WPL 2025 fifty with a massive six off Alana King before falling to McGrath, mistiming an off cutter to short fine leg. Her explosive innings set a strong foundation for her team, leaving them at 86/4 with 58 runs needed off 49 balls.
With the ball, Gardner made an impact early, dismissing Vrinda Dinesh for a slog sweep gone wrong, bowling her with a full delivery that spun in sharply. She struck again in the 16th over, outfoxing Shweta Sehrawat with a slower, tossed-up delivery that skidded on, taking the inside edge onto the stumps. Her all-round brilliance put Gujarat in a strong position and won her the Player of the Match award.
Priya Mishra – 3/25 (4)
Youngster Priya Mishra delivered a match-winning spell for Gujarat, finishing with impressive figures of 3/25 in her four overs. She struck first by trapping Tahlia McGrath lbw with a skidding delivery, a decision confirmed after a close review. In the same over, she dismissed Grace Harris, enticing her into a slog with a flighted delivery that crashed into the stumps.
Her final breakthrough came in the 15th over when Deepti Sharma mistimed a googly, with Ashleigh Gardner pulling off a stunning diving catch at mid-off. Mishra’s crucial strikes derailed Warriorz’ batting line-up restricting them to a low total.
Deandra Dottin – 33*(18) & 2/34 (4)
Deandra Dottin played an important role in Gujarat’s victory, finishing unbeaten on 33 off 18 balls with three fours and two sixes. Walking in at 86/4, she provided the finishing touches to the chase, surviving a crucial drop on 26 when Deepti Sharma spilled a high catch off Kranti Goud’s bowling. Capitalizing on the reprieve, she ensured Gujarat crossed the line comfortably.
With the ball, Dottin made an early impact by dismissing Kiran Navgire lbw in the second over. She then claimed her second wicket in the 10th over, dismissing Uma Chetry with a short ball that was mistimed straight to Priya Mishra.
Harleen Deol – 34*(30)
Harleen Deol played a steady anchoring role in Gujarat’s chase, remaining unbeaten on 34 off 30 balls with four fours. Walking in at 57/3, she built a crucial 58-run partnership off 37 balls with Deandra Dottin to steer the team towards victory. Deol calmly sealed the win, hitting the final run in a comfortable six-wicket triumph for Gujarat.
Deepti Sharma – 39(27)
Skipper Deepti Sharma was the lone performer with the bat for UP Warriorz, scoring a fluent 39 off 27 balls with six fours. Coming in at 22/2, she stabilized the innings with a crucial 51-run partnership off 44 balls alongside Uma Chetry. She played some elegant strokes, including back-to-back boundaries before falling in the 15th over, attempting an inside-out shot off Priya Mishra but finding Ashleigh Gardner, who took a stunning diving catch.
Sophie Ecclestone – 2/16(4)
Sophie Ecclestone delivered a brilliant spell for UP Warriorz, finishing with 2/16 in her four overs. She struck early in the second over, cleaning up Dayalan Hemalatha with a full delivery that inside-edged onto the stumps. She then removed the dangerous Laura Wolvaardt in the ninth over, beating her with pace and spin to rattle the middle stump. Despite her disciplined spell and crucial breakthroughs, UP Warriorz fell short in the end.
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