Gardner–Anushka Stand Powers Gujarat Giants to 207 Against UP Warriorz

Navi Mumbai, Jan 2026 : Gujarat Giants produced a dominant batting performance as a commanding 103-run partnership between captain Ashleigh Gardner and debutant Anushka Sharma propelled them to an imposing total of 207 for 4 against UP Warriorz in the second match of the Women’s Premier League 2026 at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday.

Put in to bat after losing the toss, Gujarat Giants made a cautious start as openers Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney found run-scoring difficult in the opening over. Kranti Gaud maintained a disciplined line and length, restricting the flow of runs early on. Devine, however, broke free in the second over, smashing 14 runs off Shikha Pandey to inject momentum into the innings. She followed it up with aggressive strokeplay over the next few overs as the Warriorz rotated their bowlers in search of a breakthrough.

The first wicket fell in the fifth over when Mooney, who had struggled to find timing, was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone for 13 after missing a straight delivery that rattled the stumps. Devine continued her attack but fell in the final over of the powerplay, caught at midwicket by Phoebe Litchfield off a clever cross-seam delivery from Shikha Pandey. Devine’s brisk 38 laid a solid foundation for the middle order.

Making her WPL debut at number three, Anushka Sharma ensured Gujarat did not lose momentum. The young batter announced her arrival with a confident boundary to square leg and followed it up with a flurry of crisp strokes. She struck three more fours and reached 30 in just 20 deliveries, displaying composure and excellent shot selection. Anushka rotated the strike efficiently while building a steady partnership with Gardner, keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Anushka’s promising innings came to an end on the first ball of the 16th over when she attempted to loft Deandra Dottin but failed to generate enough power, finding Harleen Deol at long-on. She narrowly missed a half-century, scoring an impressive 44 off 30 balls in a debut performance that underlined her potential.

Captain Ashleigh Gardner initially played the anchor role, focusing on partnership-building before shifting gears decisively. She accelerated in the 13th over, hammering three boundaries off Kranti Gaud. Gardner then launched a fierce assault, smashing four sixes and a boundary in the space of eight balls to bring up her half-century in just 31 deliveries. Her innings of 65 off 41 balls, laced with powerful strokes, completely took the game away from the Warriorz.

Gardner was eventually dismissed in the 18th over, bowled by a drifting delivery from Sophie Ecclestone that clipped the leg stump. Despite her dismissal, Gujarat continued to pile on the runs in the death overs.

Georgia Wareham and Bharti Fulmali provided the perfect finishing touch, adding 34 runs in the final two overs. Wareham was particularly destructive, remaining unbeaten on 27 off just 10 balls, striking at a remarkable rate. Fulmali chipped in with a quick 14 off seven deliveries as Gujarat crossed the 200-run mark with ease.

For UP Warriorz, Sophie Ecclestone was the standout bowler, picking up two wickets, while Shikha Pandey and Deandra Dottin claimed one each. Despite their efforts, Gujarat’s powerful batting display set a daunting target and firmly established early dominance in the contest.

Brief scores: Gujarat Giants 207/4 in 20 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 65, Anushka Sharma 44, Sophie Devine 38, Georgia Wareham 27 not out; Sophie Ecclestone 2-32) against UP Warriorz