WPL 2026, Match 2: Gardner, Wareham help Giants overcome Warriorz in high-scoring contest

The second match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 witnessed a clash between Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday, January 10. The Warriorz won the toss and elected to field first with the sun beating down.

The Trans-Tasman opening pair of Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine provided a good start for the Giants as the pitch showed early signs of favouring the batters. The Warriorz used four different bowlers in the first four overs to no avail as the batting team raced to 40 for no loss. But, left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone who was brought into the attack in the fifth over, struck off her second ball to peg Mooney's (13 off 12) stump back.

Right-hander Anushka Sharma joined Devine and the latter continued to play the lead role. But their partnership lasted only eight balls as the Kiwi was caught in the deep midwicket region for a quickfire 38(20). The Giants ended the powerplay at 56/2.

Out came the skipper Ashleigh Gardner and the right handers continued in the same vein, scoring at a rate of over eight runs per over for the next five overs. The pair began accelerating further as 49 runs were scored off overs 13-15 and now the momentum rested with the Giants to post a 200-plus total. 

Gardner reached her half century off 30 balls, in the meantime. The Warriorz bowlers, who were reacting to the situation more, were finding no breakthroughs until Anushka chipped a Dottin delivery to long-on. The 22-year-old was dismissed for a well-made 44(30) as the 103-run partnership off 63 balls came to an end.

All-rounder Georgia Wareham joined her captain and looked positive. The partnership, however, did not prosper as Gardner was bowled by Ecclestone for a fantastic knock of 65 runs off 41 balls. Wareham (27* off 10) and Bharti Fulmali (14* off 7) provided a late flourish, scoring 34 runs off the last 13 balls, and helping the Giants post 207/4 from their 20 overs. For the Warriorz, Ecclestone was the best bowler with figures of 2/32.

To the Giants' delight, Renuka Singh struck in the first over as the right-armer went through the dangerous Kiran Navgire's gate (1 off 4). Left-hander Phoebe Litchfield joined her skipper Meg Lanning but the pair could not take on the bowling right from the start. It was only the sixth over that relieved some pressure as the Warriorz ended the powerplay at 46/1, much behind the required run rate though.

The innings was not able to sustain any momentum and after a 19-run over by Devine the batting team suffered another setback. Leg spinner Wareham struck twice to send back Lanning (30 off 27) and Harleen Deol (0 off 2) with the scoreboard now reading 74/3 after nine overs.

Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma did not last long as well (1 off 2) as the left-hander chipped one back to Renuka. The Warriorz were looking down the barrel, but Litchfield and new batter wicketkeeper-batter Shweta Sehrawat rebuilt to take the team past the 100. The required run rate was rising as, despite the run-scoring spree from the duo, the backlog was too much to wipe off.

Just when the momentum appeared to shift, left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad knocked over Sehrawat for 25(17). Litchfield, who was going strong at the other end, fell soon after too, leaving the Warriorz in further trouble. The Australian turned out to be the highest scorer of the match, scoring 78 runs off 40 balls laced with eight fours and five sixes.

The Warriorz needed their overseas players to come next to fire, but Eccelstone and Dottin could not do much as they went back to the pavilion for 11 and 12 respectively. The match was almost out of the Warriorz's reach as Asha Sobhana (27* off 10) tried her best to knock off as many runs as possible. In the end, they fell short by 10 runs.

For the Giants, Renuka produced the best figures of 4-0-25-2. Wareham, for her 27* runs off 10 balls and 2/30, was adjudged the Player of the Match.