WPL 2024 Highlights: GG-W 152/8 beats UP-W 144/5 by 8 runs

Deepti Sharma’s heroics goes in vain as Gujarat Giants beats UP Warriorz by 8 runs, but what a knock this has been. A brilliant 88-run knock in just 60 balls, and she almost took her team over the line.

Three boundaries, but 26 runs have to be scored in the last over. The partnership has been brilliant, but UP needs strong arms to clear fences and clear boundaries.

Another review, this time for LBW and there was a clear spike as there was a clean inside edge, and the umpires have to be more careful as two reviews went against them. UP Warriorz needs 40 runs in 12 balls 

The 100 is up for UP with Deepti cutting Mannat Kashyap through the backward point region and then Poonam smoking the spinner over long-on for a maximum. Poor umpiring continues as UP wins a successful caught behind decision. 

Litchfield puts down a catch to allow Poonam to continue her her innings and although the fifty-run partnership is up, Deepti holds the key for UP with a six to finish the over. 

Deepti smashes her third consecutive half-century, and what a knock this has been. A lovely hit straight down the ground to get to her fifty. Smashing batting. 

Lovely from Deepti as she smokes Gardner for a six over long-on and then went straight down the ground to keep the momentum going. 

A missed stumping chance and then a top-edge falls begging. Poonam Khemnar and Deepti Sharma trying their best as UP Warriorz needs 90 runs in 42 balls

Meghna Singh delivers a fine over and doesn’t concede a boundary as UP Warriorz needs 93 runs in 48 balls. The boundaries aren’t coming!

Tanuja Kanwar rolls out a brilliant over giving just five runs and UP Warriorz needs 96 runs in 54 balls.

Deepti continues from where she left off, bringing out a sweep to the deep square leg region. But UP will require more of those.

Mannat Kashyap secures a boundary with a slice through the backward point region, and Gujarat can’t allow any freebies with the victory in sight. 

Gujarat needs to press the charge and take further wickets, and this result will alter the run-rate books. 

Shweta Sehrawat goes big, and she finds the long-off boundary. Shabnam Shakil however, cleans up Shweta to leave UP five down. 

Kathryn Bryce into the attack, and Deepti pockets a boundary—first through the fine leg and then a slash through the point. The PowerPlay, however, belongs to Gujarat.

The early fall of wickets has sucked out the momentum out of UP Warriorz’s chase, and the run-rate has climbed up.A DRS review goes begging as the ball was pitched outside the leg. 

Deepti Sharma has been in some form in the last couple of matches, and she punishes Gardner for dropping short and wide with a fine cut through the backward point region. The fourth wicket falls as Harris falls with a pull straight into the hands of Fulmali at square leg. 

Shabnam continuing with her intention to make further inroads, and the fielding has been top-most, with just a single coming from the over. 

Kathryn Bryce strikes, and what a start this has been for Gujarat, who has left UP three down, and this is a huge wicket as Kiran Navgire falls.

Alyssa Healy begins the chase with a lovely drive through the covers but Shabnam Shakil strikes, with Healy mistiming a shot and the fielder taking a good catch at mid-off. It becomes all the more wonderful for Shabnam as she picks up her second wicket in the very first over this time by removing Chamari Athapaththu. UP is in huge trouble having lost two in the first over in chase of 153.

A hat-trick of boundaries and two opportunities go begging as Mooney takes Ecclestone to the cleaners. The 150 comes up as Mooney provides the final flourish with another two boundaries. 21 runs from the final over, and this has given Gujarat momentum.

Fifty for Mooney off 45 deliveries, and she rides her luck with another drop catch. But this has been a top knock, given the fact that the wickets have been falling around her. 

Ecclestone strikes, and this is poor batting from Gujarat. A top edge that falls safely in the hands of Athapaththu at short fine-leg. Ecclestone then castles Kanwar to leave Gujarat is in a lot of trouble. 

Wonderful from Bryce as she pulls out a reverse sweep as the ball races away to the third-man boundary. However, Chamari Athapaththu pulls back things to keep UP controlling proceedings. 

Beth Mooney is stranded at one end as wickets keep falling. Kathryn Bryce gets a much-needed boundary after 15 balls, and Gujarat has lost its way.

Deepti Sharma is bowling a beautiful spell, and this time she removes Fulmani. Excellent bowling, as the spinner has picked up two wickets, giving just 11 runs in her three overs. 

Shot! Lovely use of the feet from Gardner as she hammers Gayakwad over the deep square leg for a maximum. However, Gardner falls as a pull lands in the safe hands of Deepti Sharma. 

Lovely improvisation from Ashleigh Gardner as she scoops Chamari Athapaththu to the fine-leg boundary, and there isn’t a great deal of turn on this wicket. 

Mooney strikes clean as she dispatches Ecclestone over the long-off for a maximum and then a pull over the mid-wicket to keep her team going strong in an aspiration to post a strong total. 

Phoebe Litchfield falls as Deepti Sharma strikes, with the batswoman not able to clear the long-on as Ecclestone takes a neat catch. Top notch from Deepti.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad replaces Ecclestone, and it’s spin that’s been served to the Gujarat Giants. The bowndaries have dried up, but the run-rate is good.

Beth Mooney playing a fine knock as she helps a Chamari Athapaththu delivery to the fine leg and fetches another boundary. However, Athapaththu strikes by removing Dayalan Hemalatha, who falls for a duck. UP striking twice in two overs! 

A run-out opportunity goes begging, but credit goes to Wolvaardt, who puts in a dive. Sophie Ecclestone into the attack, and she gets Wolvaardt, with Healy executing an excellent stumping. Finally, the breakthrough came with Ecclestone coming into the attack.

Deepti Sharma into the attack and just four runs from her first over. Top start from the off-spinner. 

Wolvaardt is in some form as she hits the first of the night, and the fifty-run stand is up in 38 balls. The PowerPlay belongs to Gujarat, with 53 runs coming in 36 deliveries. This is a great start. 

The boundaries are flowing freely and Gujarat is maximising the PowerPlay with Wolvaardt moving to 32 in 21 balls with eight boundaries to her name. UP needs a breakthrough.

Laura Wolvaardt is toying with the bowlers as she smacks three boundaries, and Saima Thakor has wandered with her line and length. 

Anjali Sarvani into the attack as Wolvaardt nails her through the covers, and the shots are coming thick and fast. Another boundary to the fine leg region and Gujarat is off the blocks in a flash.

Saima Thakor into the attack and Mooney nails through the covers for a boundary as Gujarat gets up and running. 

Chamari Athapaththu starts proceedings, and Laura Wolvaardt hits a wonderful boundary over mid-off to get going. 

Alyssa Healy(w/c), Kiran Navgire, Chamari Athapaththu, Grace Harris, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat, Poonam Khemnar, Sophie Ecclestone, Saima Thakor, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Anjali Sarvani

Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney(w/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner, Bharati Fulmali, Kathryn Bryce, Mannat Kashyap, Tanuja Kanwar, Meghna Singh, Shabnam Md Shakil

Gujarat Giants wins toss, opts to bat first

Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney, Dayalan Hemalatha, Phoebe Litchfield, Ash Gardner, Bharti Fulmali, Kathryn Bryce, Tanuja Kanwer, Sneh Rana, Meghana Singh, Shabnam Shakil/Mannat Kashyap

Alyssa Healy, Kiran Navgire, Deepti Sharma, Tahlia McGrath/Chamari Athapaththu/Danni Wyatt, Shweta Sehrawat, Grace Harris, Poonam Khenmar, Sophie Eccelstone, Gouhar Sultana, Saima Thakor, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney(w/c), Dayalan Hemalatha, Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, Bharati Fulmali, Kathryn Bryce, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Meghna Singh, Shabnam Md Shakil, Veda Krishnamurthy, Tarannum Pathan, Mannat Kashyap, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Trisha Poojitha, Lea Tahuhu

Alyssa Healy(w/c), Kiran Navgire, Deepti Sharma, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Shweta Sehrawat, Poonam Khemnar, Sophie Ecclestone, Saima Thakor, Gouher Sultana, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Chamari Athapaththu, Danielle Wyatt, Anjali Sarvani, Laxmi Yadav, Vrinda Dinesh, Parshavi Chopra, Soppadhandi Yashasri, Uma Chetry