Gardner’s Fiery Fifty Powers Gujarat Giants to First WPL 2025 Victory

Vadodara, Feb 17, 2025:  Ashleigh Gardner powered Gujarat Giants to their maiden victory of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 with a commanding performance, smashing a brisk half-century to anchor a smooth chase against UP Warriorz at Kotambi Stadium.

Winning a crucial toss, Gujarat chose to bowl first, a decision that paid off handsomely as their bowlers delivered a clinical effort to restrict UP to 143/9 — the lowest total of the tournament so far.

Despite a promising start from Kiran Navgire, who struck a few fluent boundaries, UP lost momentum after she was trapped leg-before-wicket by Deandra Dottin. A vital 50-run partnership between Deepti Sharma (39) and Uma Chetry (24) offered some resistance, but the innings lost steam following their dismissals.

The game’s turning point came when Priya Mishra produced a double-wicket over, removing the dangerous Tahlia McGrath (0) and Grace Harris (4), leaving the Warriorz reeling at 78/5. The lower order, led by Alana King (19 not out) and Saima Thakor (15), pushed the total to 143, but it remained below par, especially with the dew expected to play a role in the second innings.

Chasing 144, Gujarat Giants had a shaky start as skipper Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha departed without scoring. However, a stabilizing stand between Laura Wolvaardt (22) and Gardner (52) brought the hosts back on track. The pair added 55 runs, easing the pressure on Gujarat.

Gardner was at her aggressive best, dismantling the UP bowling attack with a well-paced knock. Though Wolvaardt and Gardner fell against the run of play, Dottin (33*) and Harleen Deol (34*) ensured there were no further setbacks. The duo batted with composure, making the most of fielding lapses by the visitors, who dropped crucial catches at key moments.

The dew factor, combined with sloppy fielding, added to UP’s woes, making it increasingly difficult to defend their modest total. Gujarat Giants eventually sealed a comfortable win with two overs to spare, marking a confident and promising start to their WPL 2025 campaign.

With this victory, Gujarat Giants not only gained two valuable points but also sent a strong message to their competitors, highlighting their depth in both batting and bowling departments.