A strong partnership of 103 runs between captain Ashleigh Gardner and debutant Anushka Sharma propelled Gujarat Giants to a formidable total of 207/4 in 20 overs against UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 match at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The Giants, batting first after losing the toss, faced initial challenges with openers Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney struggling in the early overs against the Warriorz bowlers.
The first breakthrough for UP Warriorz came in the fifth over when Mooney was dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone, followed by Devine’s wicket in the Power-play. Anushka Sharma, batting at number three in her debut match, played aggressively, hitting boundaries and rotating the strike effectively to support captain Gardner. Anushka’s innings ended on 44 runs off 30 balls when she was caught in the outfield.
Captain Gardner, after a steady start, accelerated her innings in the 13th over, scoring a fifty in 31 deliveries with a flurry of boundaries and sixes. She was eventually dismissed for 65 runs off 41 balls. Georgia Wareham and Bharti Fulmali contributed crucial runs towards the end, helping Gujarat Giants reach a competitive total. The Warriors’ bowling attack was led by Sophie Ecclestone, who claimed two wickets.
