Completed

WPL 2023, UP-W vs GG-W, Match 3 - Live Blog

image-levoh30mPartnership between Harris & Ecclestone pulled off a win for UP (Twitter/wplt20)

A batting masterclass from Grace Harris has swept all the hard work done by Kim Garth, but that's T20 for you. However, this game of cricket has well and truly lit the Women's Premier League. For now, I am Arjun Bhalla signing off on behalf. See you all in the next game. Until then, it's a goodbye from our end.

Grace Harris has got the Player of the Match award, and in the post-match interview; she has hinted at having burgers or butter chicken. I think the UP team management would already have ordered all those food itineraries for their superstar. She genuinely deserved all of that tonight.



Arjun: There have been very few T20 games where a team losses after one of their bowlers scalps a fifer. Kim Garth might have the rockstar in the first half of this innings, but Grace Harris has told us that a game is not done until it is completely done.

HARRIS, YOU MASTER!!! A MAXIMUMMM TO FINISH!!!

She has pulled a rabbit off her hat and gifted a win to all the UP WARRIORZ FANS! That was special. A special win for the UP team!! WPL is certainly underway with an unbelievable heist. Take a bow for pulling the rabbit out of the hat, take a bow, madam! This loss is a hard pill to swallow for Gujarat Giants.


19.6 MAXIMUMM!!! Grace Harris has set the Women's Premier League on fire.

19.5 BOUNDARY HERE AS THE BALL RACES PAST MANSI JOSHI WHO MISFIELDS AT SWEEPER COVER!!!! FIFTY FOR GRACE HARRIS. 1 needed now.

19.4 A precious dot ball here. Sutherland does well to hold her line just inside the tramline. Grace Harris reviews this one for a wide. Replays come in and show that it is touch and go. What is the final verdict? Ultra edge comes in and shows no bat involved. Wide signaled! What a game we are having. This could change things.

19.3 Harris is putting something special here. A boundary here. Only 6 needed now in 3 balls.

19.2 10 runs more from 4 balls now. Harris has done it before. She is not under pressure. It's Annabel Sutherland, who is under pressure.

Oh pressure! Wide here. 12 off 5 now. Harris is disappointed with the hold up. She asks the umpire what's happening. Meanwhile, there is a review for wide. The umpire checks with Sneh Rana. Yes, they have reviewed it. Gujarat review this. Replay comes up and shows that it clearly flew over the tramline. Wide given.

19.1 Harris starts with a biggie. That has been cracked. Fifty partnership is up between Harris and Ecclestone. 13 needed off five now.

10:37 PM IST: Harris has started to loosen herself here. Two boundary off last three deliveries for UP, but it's coming a bit too late! Add one more to the tally. UP now need 40 runs in 14 balls. Can a miracle save them from here?

Arjun: I have a big question for the UP team management and all of their fans out there, why is Grace Harris batting at number six? I mean even after Deepti Sharma. We all know what she can do, man! So why?? And she seconds to me. Smashes a maximum off Kanwar's last ball. 

10:27 PM IST: They can't put a put wrong in this game. Annabel Sutherland snaps a wicket now. Excellent change of pace from her and the Warriorz is in all sorts of trouble at the moment. Time for the final strategic time out of the night. UP Warriorz are down and drown at the moment.

Arjun: Fortunes have completely taken a U-Turn for Gujarat Giants in the last 24 hours. Yesterday got hammered by MI, might have lost on their skipper Beth Mooney, the huge Deandra Dottin controversy bursted... but they aren't letting it go. They are still up and fighting!!!

UP are in deep waters. Kim Garth comes back into the attack and banks another prized wicket. The dangerous-looking Kiran Navgire departs. AND ANOTHER ONE for Kimmy Garth! Five-wicket haul for the youngster and that's not the first fifer that we are seeing in the day. Mind you, she wasn't picked in the WPL auction. Came as a replacement for Deandra Dottin and she has been the lionheartess of the GG's bowling tonight!!!



Joshi cleans her up! Deepti without much of a footwork tries to go across the line with a wild hoick. Misses it and sees her stumps get rattled. You miss, I hit kind of stuff! A big wicket for Joshi as she is pumped after breaking this stand.

Mansi Joshi gets the cherry now. She already has snapped a fantastic catch. For the Warriorz, Kiran Navgire needs to keep on firing big shots and continue from 40* for UP to win.


Drinks have been called in!!

Navgire plants her front leg and slop sweeps the opposition skipper for a MIGHTY MAXIMUMM!! A 74 M maximum from Navgire. That should get UP's innings rolling. They are 60-3 after 9 nine overs - a similar equation like GG's after their first 9 nine overs. Can Navgire do what Harleen Deol did for GG?

9:49 PM IST: Ash Gardner has been reintroduced by Sneh Rana, and she has been swept for a four. If UP can attack the premier all-rounder here, it would be fun. At the moment, GG have their tails up as the RRR has reached the ceiling and touching close to 10 RPO.

Arjun: Ufff, Sush Verma gave all here. She tried pulling off the catch of the tournament, but missed on her stunt by an inch. It would have been class!! An edge just goes past diving Sushma Verma. A fortune boundary for Navgire. 

Relive those Kim Garth's deliveries, those superb catches!!!


Arjun: Pain is real it reckons! Right, Mufa? 👀


9:29 PM IST: Cricket is a game of fine margins. Sehrawat has been pocketed at short third man. If the strike wasn't rotated on last delivery, Sehrawat would have been there. Oh my goodness gracious. Kim Garth is in the middle of a fine, fine spell. She has now knocked Tahlia McGrath on a GOLDEN DUCK! Two wickets in two balls for the Aussie and she already has three in her bag. UP - 20/3 (3.2 overs)


Arjun: Wide plus a bye. Navgire tried getting two extra runs here but she almost got run out at the non-striker's end. She was well out of her crease and if the ball would have hit the stumps, she was a gone. 

In walks another Indian talent. Kiran Navgire is here.

Just when I am writing an essay on Sehrawat's class, UP have lost their captain. Australian gets Australian here! A big wicket for Garth. Healy closes her bat's face on the flick very early and leading edges it back at the bowler. Garth does well to grab it on the second attempt as she juggles on her followthrough. Brilliant catch in the end to dismiss the UP Warriorz skipper. 

9:34 PM IST: Maiden boundary from Sehrawat's willow in the WPL 2023. She comes inside the line and bends low to help it on its way with a pull over the short fine leg fielder for a boundary. She is a special talent. 

Arjun: Yup that happened today  🤩🤩🤩


9:16 PM IST: HEALY IS UP, HEALY IS RUNNING!! Mind you, that wasn't a wordplay. First boundary of the chase comes from captain's bat. She gets a fuller ball on the pads as she flicks it gloriously through the square leg region for a lovely boundary.

UP Warriorz have a target of 170 runs to chase. Alyssa Healy and Shweta Sehrawat are out in the middle. Kim Garth will bowl the first over of the second innings. 


9:01 PM IST: This concludes the first innings and the Gujarat Giants have posted a competitive total of 169/6 after electing to bat first. The UP Warriorz had the game in their control but a couple of slip-ups handed the momentum to the Giants after the first innings.

Sophie Ecclestone to bowl the last over for UP. 9 runs coming from the last over but Ecclestone will be a happy customer after her tonight's efforts. She gave just 25 runs in her 4 overs to snap two wickets.

Arjun: Deepti Sharma been greeted with a maximum. She has four more deliveries left in her spell. Can GG go past 170 here? I think, yess!!! Sarvani and Harris lend the ball sneak past to the fence. Second boundary off the over. GG - 160/6 after 19 overs.

8:49 PM IST: Anjali Sarvani comes into the attack to bowl the 18th over. She has been a little expensive today. And she redeems herself here with the prized wicket of Harleen Deol. The GG batter falls for 46.

Arjun: Harleen Deol welcomes Devika Vadiya with a boundary. However, GG would be needing many more such hits from her. The onus will be on the GG number three batter. Oh, she has already heard me. Back to back fours for Harleen. Make it three, guys. Three off three, Vadiya under pressure. Four boundaries off four deliveries, now. Phew. Can she make it five on five? She does try, she does down the track but miscues towards mid-on for a single. Still a big over for Gujarat. 18 runs coming from that over. Three more to go in this innings. They are currently at 141 for 5.


8:40 PM IST: Seems Gardner is gone. Seems like it. She is well outside her ground and Alyssa Healy has whipped the bails on time. Deepti has the last laugh. The Aussie all-rounder might have swept her for a boundary on the previous ball but the Indian star takes the revenge by showing her heart. Deepti Sharma flights the ball up and foxes her opposite number by inviting her out of her home. The keeper does the rest. GG - 122-5 after 15.2.

8:29 PM IST: The Player of the Tournament from the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 has arrived. Ash Gardner, you beauty!! Dances down the pitch of the ball and SMOKES a mighty hit into the stands over deep mid wicket. 100 is up for Gujarat Giants after 14 overs. Time for Drinks.

This might be a bit late, pal! They are rocking it rn!


8:24 PM IST: OHH, YESSS! That timing, that sound, that power off Gardner's willow. First boundary of the day from her blade. GG are 90/4 now.

If you want to relive Dunkley's dismissal. Here it is. Sorry Gujarat fans but you can fan my shoulder to cry on! 


Arjun: Can Ash Garnder do the Ash Gardner things here against UP Warriorz?

8:19 PM IST: Just when I was thinking to change to overhead picture to one where Sushma Verma was hitting a pull stroke, SHE DEPARTS!! McGrath gets an important breakthrough for her side.

Arjun: Here's that picture!!


8:13 PM IST: Need to write for this one. A classy cover-drive that from Harleen Doel. Overpitched delivery wide in the channel by R Gayakwad, the batter strides onto her front foot and carasses it to the ropes. GG are 67/3 at the halfway mark.

Arjun: The yellow boxes in our Live Blog hint at UP Warrioz's dominance in the game thus far. Seems GG haven't revived from yesterday's hammering done by MI.

7:59 PM IST: Here's another scalp. Annabel Sutherland hits it in the air and finds the safe hands of Anjali Sarvani at long-on. Ecclestone has two in the match. Ecclestone strikes again. GG are three down in the 8th over!!

Arjun: Harleen Deol and Annabel Sutherland will have to work it out for Gujarat Giants here. Wickets can fall in the first innings against the new ball. The trend has changed in the WPL 2023. That is surely a breaking news!!

7:47 PM IST: One brings two for UP Warriorz. The legendary SOPHIE ECCELSTONE delivers here. S Meghana has to walk back on 24. GG are 38-2 after 4.3 overs. Meghana clears her front leg and tries going for a big hoick across the line but wears that high on her bat and that miscued hit landed straight into the hands of backward point. 

7:44 PM IST: Here comes the first breakthrough. Deepti Sharma has bowled Dunkley using her brain. She saw the batter advancing but Deepti completely outwitted by the rapid pace as the ball. Dunkley departs after 13. In walks Harleen Deol at Number 3. 

S Meghana is stopping here. Fifth boundary off last seven deliveries for the Giants.

Arjun: First boundary of the game and that comes off Meghana's blade. She cuts it past point for a dazzling four. Oh, my my!! As I am writing this, here comes another one. Two fours on two deliveries against Anjali Sarvani. Dunkley joins the party. Two off two from the English cricketer's blade as well. GG - 20/2 after two overs.

7:30 PM IST: Rajeshwari Gayakwad has the new cherry in her hand. Here we go...

Arjun: Sorry but this is was funny.


7:26 PM IST: Right then. Dunkley is striding out to the middle alongside Sabbhineni Meghana. Healy is giving her team the final mantra.

Cricket is an emotion. Isn't it? ⤵️⤵️


Wondering to make your fantasy teams? We got you all covered up. Check out our Fantasy Tips!!

Playing XIs

Gujarat Giants: Sophia Dunkley, Sushma Verma (wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Sabbhineni Meghana, Dayalan Hemalatha, Sneh Rana (c), Harleen Deol, Tanuja Kanwar, Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland, Mansi Joshi

UP Warriorz: Alyssa Healy (c and wk), Shweta Sehrawat, Tahlia McGrath, Deepti Sharma (vc), Grace Harris, Simran Shaikh, Kiran Prabhu Navgire, Devika Vaidya, Sophie Ecclestone, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Kim Garth comes in for captain Beth Mooney, whose fitness is still handled by the team's physio. Sneh Rana is wearing the captain's hat tonight. Sophie Dunkley will also be playing against UP.

Toss Time: Gujarat have won the toss and they will bat first!!

Stay tuned for Toss and team updates! 

Pitch report (Mel Jones & Kate Cross): "It is the same deck as the last one. The dimensions are short behind the wicket so the batters can carry out the paddle sweep and reverse with ease. The square of the wicket is in the mid-50 range and straight down the wicket is around 66 M. It has nice green coverage of grass as well. The good thing about playing back-to-back games for the Giants is that they can learn a lot. The Giants' seamers went a little bit fuller and wide the other night and they were punished by Harmanpreet Kaur. They have a lot to learn, the Gujarat Giants, but they can come out today and get it right."   



The Warriorz will be heading as a more confident unit for this game. They have managed to accommodate the current number 1 T20I batter (Tahlia McGrath), and the number 1 ranked T20I bowler (Sophie Ecclestone) under one roof. If they play to their full potential, the Giants could face yet another massive defeat today as Healy and her troops would hope to start their campaign on a positive note. Stay tuned for Toss and team updates! 

UPDATE: Giants’ skipper Beth Mooney will miss today’s encounter as the experienced campaigner has failed to recover from an ankle injury that transpired last night. 



GG's vice-captain, Sneh Rana has said that the team will be working on all three departments tonight, but would be able to implement it? Only time will tell...

Coming to this clash, Gujarat will under pressure as there is no updates on Beth Mooney, who got hurt in the last game. And then there was an episode to Deandra Dottin. 

We are just two days in this league and we have witnessed two spellbinding contests. First, MI showcased their all-round class and then RCB were bundled out by Delhi Capitals - thanks to the efforts from Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning and Tara Morris.

The UP team, under Alyssa Healy's leadership, will play tonight play their maiden WPL game. Meanwhile, Gujarat were thumped by Harmanpreet Kaur's Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

Hello and welcome to the Live Blog for the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023 clash between Gujarat Giants (GG-W) and UP Warriorz (UP-W) that will take place at Mumbai's DY Patil Sports Academy.