Ashleigh Gardner achieved her fourth score exceeding fifty in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and took two wickets, contributing significantly alongside her fellow bowlers to secure the Gujarat Giants their inaugural two points of WPL 2025 with a victory over the UP Warriorz. This marks the first successful run-chase for the Gujarat Giants in the tournament. Gardner commenced the season with a remarkable 79 runs off 37 balls in the loss against RCB during the opening match, and she scored 52 runs off 32 balls in her team’s pursuit of UPW’s total of 143/9. Earlier in the match, Gardner’s team demonstrated strong bowling performance, highlighted by 20-year-old leg spinner Priya Mishra, who recorded impressive figures of 3 wickets for 25 runs, including a double-wicket over.
UP Warriorz clock a low target on a batting surface
The previous season’s wooden spoon winners commenced their innings positively after Gardner won the toss and opted for the UP Warriorz to bat first. Deandra Dottin made an early impact by dismissing Kiran Navgire in the second over, following a brisk start that included three boundaries. Gardner then took to the bowling herself and immediately claimed the wicket of Vrinda Dinesh, who attempted a sweep shot but failed to connect. Uma Chetry and Deepti Sharma contributed to a rapid scoring pace for the Warriorz.
At the halfway point, Dottin returned to disrupt the partnership by taking the wicket of Chetry. The young bowler Mishra further weakened the batting lineup by claiming the wickets of Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris in quick succession. Mishra also dismissed Deepti in the 15th over, shortly after the Warriorz surpassed the 100-run threshold. Shweta Sehrawat (16 off 18), Alana King (19* off 14), and Saima Thakor (15 off 7) helped their team reach a total of 143/9, which ultimately proved insufficient.
Ashleigh Gardner plays a captain's knock
Grace Harris and Sophie Ecclestone provided the Warriorz with an optimistic start in their defense of the total, as they dismissed Beth Mooney and Dayalan Hemalatha for ducks by the second over. However, the Giants managed to stabilize their innings through the efforts of Laura Wolvaardt and Gardner. They swiftly propelled the team past the 50-run mark by the eighth over, but Ecclestone made a crucial comeback, removing Wolvaardt and leaving the chasing team at 57/3.
Alongside Harleen Deol, Gardner reached her half-century, marking her as the first player to achieve both a fifty and two wickets in a single match for the third time in the Women’s Premier League. From a position of 67/3 after 10 overs, the batting pair capitalized on Alana King’s over, scoring two fours and a six in a productive 17-run over.
Tahlia McGrath managed to dismiss Gardner in the 12th over, but Deandra Dottin entered the fray and formed an unbroken partnership worth 58 runs, guiding their team to victory. Dottin aggressively targeted King, reducing the required runs from 58 off 48 balls to 44 off 42. She then struck McGrath for two fours, further easing the chase for her team. Deol also contributed significantly as the duo completed the chase in the 18th over.
SCORECARD: UP Warriorz 143/9 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 39, Uma Chetry 24; Priya Mishra 3-25, Deandra Dottin 2-34) lost to Gujarat Giants 144/4 in 18 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 52, Harleen Deol 34*, Deandra Dottin 33*) by 6 wickets
 and took two wickets, contributing significantly alongside her fellow bowlers to secure the Gujarat Giants their inaugural two points of WPL 2025 with a victory over the UP Warriorz. This marks the first successful run-chase for the Gujarat Giants in the tournament. Gardner commenced the season with a remarkable 79 runs off 37 balls in the loss against RCB during the opening match, and she scored 52 runs off 32 balls in her team's pursuit of UPW's total of 143/9. Earlier in the match, Gardner's team demonstrated strong bowling performance, highlighted by 20-year-old leg spinner Priya Mishra, who recorded impressive figures of 3 wickets for 25 runs, including a double-wicket over.){kind=link}