The UP Warriors set a target of 143 runs while batting first in the third match of the Women’s Premier League 2025. Their batting lineup, however, struggled to make an impact against the Gujarat Giants. Captain Deepti Sharma top-scored with 39 runs, but it was a challenging outing for the rest of the team. Gujarat’s Priya Mishra impressed with her leg-spin bowling, picking up three wickets.
In this match at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, the Gujarat Giants won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that proved to be the right one. Their bowlers made early inroads, dismissing both UP openers with the score at 22. A 51-run partnership between Deepti Sharma and Uma Chhetri provided some stability, with Sharma scoring 39 and Chhetri contributing 24. However, by the time the score reached 78, half the team was back in the pavilion. Later, Shweta Sehrawat, Elena King, and Sayma Thakur chipped in with some useful runs to help UP reach 143.
Gujarat’s bowling lineup proves strong
The Gujarat Giants’ bowling attack dominated the UP Warriors from the onset. Priya Mishra was the standout performer, conceding just 25 runs in four overs and claiming three crucial wickets. Ashley Gardner, the captain, and Deandra Dottin also picked up two wickets each, while Kashvi Gautam chipped in with one. This strong bowling display restricted the UP Warriors to a manageable total.
It’s worth noting that the Gujarat Giants had lost their first match of the season, while this was the UP Warriors’ opening game. The UP team was also dealing with the absence of regular captain Alyssa Healy due to injury, with Deepti Sharma taking over the captaincy. Despite a personal performance of 39 runs, Sharma also had the added responsibility of leading the team. The pressure of captaincy can be significant, and it will be interesting to see how she balances her individual game with the team’s expectations.
The stage is now set for the Gujarat Giants to chase down the target of 143 runs. With a strong bowling performance behind them, they will be looking to build on this momentum and secure their first win of the season. For the UP Warriors, it’s about learning from this outing and coming back stronger in their next match. Can Gujarat’s batting lineup rise to the challenge, or will the UP Warriors find a way to restrict them? The outcome of this match is still far from certain.