Having began the 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL) with two losses, the UP Warriorz are lastly discovering their ft with their massive names clicking because the match heads into the halfway stage.
UP Warriorz’ Grace Harris performs a shot throughout a WPL 2024 match vs Gujarat Giants(PTI)
Sophie Ecclestone spun an internet with the ball and Grace Harris went hammer and tongs with the bat because the Alyssa Healy-led outfit clinched their second successive win as they beat Gujarat Giants by six wickets on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.
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Chasing 143, the Warriorz reached the goal with 4.2 overs to spare because the Giants, who completed fifth and final in 2023, failed but once more to get off the mark on this version. The Warriorz additionally ensured they remained unbeaten towards the Giants in WPL.
Put in by Warriorz, Laura Wolvaardt (28 off 26) and skipper Beth Mooney (16 off 16), additionally the world No.1 T20I batter, gave the Giants a gradual however regular begin as spinner Chamari Athapaththu (4-0-19-0) stored them from scoring shortly with the primary six overs yielding solely 41 runs.
Warriorz bowlers put up an excellent show, not permitting Giants to speed up with left-arm orthodox bowler Ecclestone (3/20) popping out because the star performer. She spinner additional put the brakes on Giants with two essential wickets, eradicating each openers. Two new batters on the crease resulted in no boundaries from the eighth to tenth overs.
Harleen Deol (18 off 24) took time to cool down however the 27 minutes spent on the crease by no means translated into a giant rating as she perished getting caught because the strain mounted.
Phoebe Litchfield (35 off 26) and Ashleigh Gardner (30 off 17) offered the impetus in direction of the tip. The duo was capable of sew a fourth-wicket partnership of 52 (off 31) earlier than Ecclestone as soon as once more displayed why she is the world No.1 bowler in each ODIs and T20Is as she eliminated Gardner. Litchfield too departed quickly due to an excellent direct hit from Saima Thakor.
Ecclestone would have bagged her fourth had Deepti Sharma not dropped Gardner at third man however that partnership was adequate to take Giants to 142/5 — their highest whole in WPL 2024.
In response, skipper Alyssa Healy (33 off 21) offered the Warriorz a speedy begin. Though they misplaced Kiran Navgire (12 off 8), Healy, Athapaththu (17 off 11) and Shweta Sehrawat (2 off 7), Australian Grace Harris (60 not out off 33) gave Warriorz the solidity they wanted within the center order with a superb knock.
Despite the wickets, first Healy after which Harris ensured the required fee all the time remained beneath six. Harris struck an necessary and unbeaten 53-run fifth-wicket partnership with Deepti Sharma (17 off 14) which took them over the road.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
