Gujarat Giants Women kept their winning streak alive in the Women’s Premier League 2026, outplaying UP Warriorz Women by 10 runs at DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on January 10. Ashleigh Gardner set the tone early, smashing 65 from just 41 balls, while Georgia Wareham’s all-round performance grabbed her the Player of the Match. Gujarat racked up 207 for 4, then held their ground as Warriorz chased hard but finished at 197 for 8.
Phoebe Litchfield gave Warriorz hope with a blazing 78 off 40, and Asha Sobhana’s late burst, 27 from only 10 balls, almost tilted the game. But Gujarat’s bowlers dug deep in the final overs and wrapped up the win.
Match Summary: GG vs UP
Here is the complete match summary of this high-scoring contest:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Gujarat Giants Women Score | 207/4 (20 overs) |
| UP Warriorz Women Score | 197/8 (20 overs) |
| Match Result | Gujarat Giants won by 10 runs |
| Best Batting (GG) | Ashleigh Gardner – 65 off 41 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) |
| Best Batting (UP) | Phoebe Litchfield – 78 off 40 balls (8 fours, 5 sixes) |
| Best Bowling (GG) | Renuka Singh – 2/25 in 4 overs (Econ: 6.25) |
| Best Bowling (UP) | Sophie Ecclestone – 2/32 in 4 overs (Econ: 8.00) |
| Player of the Match | Georgia Wareham (GG) |
Gujarat Giants won the toss and chose to bat first. Turns out, that was a great call. Their top order jumped on the chance to score big in perfect batting conditions. Ashleigh Gardner, the captain, really pushed things forward in the middle overs. Then Georgia Wareham came in and smashed a quick finish, piling on even more runs. Gujarat ended up with a huge total.
Gujarat Giants Innings: 207/4 in 20 Overs
Gujarat Giants got off to a good start, but Beth Mooney didn’t stick around for long. She put up 13 runs from 12 balls before Sophie Ecclestone sent her back. Sophie Devine stepped in next and started swinging right away, scoring 38 runs off just 20 balls, including five boundaries and two big sixes. But her luck ran out when Phoebe Litchfield grabbed a sharp catch off Shikha Pandey’s bowling.
In the middle overs, Anushka Sharma kept things moving. She made a solid 44 from 30 balls, hammering seven boundaries, until Deandra Dottin finally got her out. Still, it was Captain Ashleigh Gardner who really turned things around. She came in with the score at 55/2 and just took control.
Gardner smashed 65 runs off 41 balls: 6 fours, 3 sixes, and a strike rate just shy of 160. Her partnership with Anushka Sharma was huge; together, they put on 103 runs for the third wicket. Sophie Ecclestone did manage to get Gardner in the 18th over, but by then, Gujarat had already set themselves up for a big finish.
Georgia Wareham and Bharti Fulmali brought the fireworks at the end. Wareham tore into the bowling, blasting 27 off just 10 balls (three fours, three sixes) at a staggering strike rate of 270. Fulmali chipped in with 14 from 9 balls. Those two piled on 34 runs in the last couple of overs, and suddenly, Gujarat’s total was soaring past 200.
UP Warriorz Chase: 197/8 in 20 Overs
UP Warriorz couldn’t have started their chase any worse. Renuka Singh struck right away, sending Kiran Navgire back for just 1 run on the fifth ball. The asking rate shot up immediately.
Meg Lanning, the captain, teamed up with Phoebe Litchfield to steady things a bit. Together, they put on 70 runs for the second wicket. Lanning looked solid, hitting 30 off 27 balls with five boundaries, but Georgia Wareham trapped her lbw and broke the stand. Things unraveled fast after that. Two balls later, Wareham grabbed a sharp caught and bowled to dismiss Harleen Deol for a duck.
Deepti Sharma didn’t stick around either; Renuka got her for 1, and suddenly, Warriorz crashed from 73 for 1 to 74 for 4 in a flash. The match started slipping away.
But Phoebe Litchfield wasn’t done yet. She played a blinder, 78 off 40 balls, smashing 8 fours and 5 sixes, going at a strike rate of 195. Shweta Sehrawat gave her some company, chipping in 25 off 17. Their 69-run partnership for the fifth wicket pulled Warriorz back into the game.
Then Sophie Devine swung things back Gujarat’s way. She got Litchfield in the 16th over: Bharti Fulmali took a smart catch. Ashleigh Gardner got rid of Deandra Dottin for 12, and Devine struck again to dismiss Sophie Ecclestone for 11.
There was late drama too. Asha Sobhana came out swinging when Warriorz needed 26 from the final over. She hammered 27 off just 10 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes, suddenly making it look possible. With five balls left, they needed only 11 more. Sophie Devine, though, kept her cool despite having gone for 55 runs in her four overs. Warriorz finished on 197 for 8, just 10 runs short. So close, but not enough.
Key Highlight: Player of the Match: Georgia Wareham Shines
The Australian all-rounder delivered a match-winning performance:
- With the ball: 2/30 in 4 overs (Econ: 7.50)
- With the bat: 27* off 10 balls (3 fours, 3 sixes)
Wareham snatched the key wickets of Meg Lanning and Harleen Deol, one after the other. Suddenly, Warriorz lost their grip just when they seemed ready to take control. Later, she showed up with the bat right at the end and didn’t hold back. Smashing 27 runs off just 10 balls, she pushed Gujarat past 200. That burst, that’s what sealed the win.
Conclusion: What This Result Means
The Gujarat Giants kicked off their WPL 2026 run with a big win. They looked in control, both with the bat and the ball, and it’s clear they’ve got match winners all over the place. Ashleigh Gardner led from the front; her captaincy and batting set everything up. When it came down to crunch time, the bowlers stepped up too.
UP Warriorz didn’t leave empty-handed, though. Phoebe Litchfield’s 78 off just 40 balls was a reminder of how dangerous she can be once she finds her rhythm. Asha Sobhana chipped in with some late fireworks, giving the Warriorz something to work with. Still, losing four wickets for just a single run in the middle overs hurt them too much to recover.
This match had plenty of fireworks, with both teams scoring over 9.5 an over. If this is any sign, fans can expect more high-scoring games as the tournament rolls on.
