Gujarat Giants Women started the WPL 2026 with a strong victory by 10 runs against UP Warriorz Women in the second game of the tournament on Saturday afternoon (January 10).

After UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning chose to field first, Gujarat Giants set their record total of 207/4 in 20 overs. In reply, UP Warriorz scored 197/8 in 20 overs, as they lost their tournament opener by 10 runs. 

Skipper Ashleigh Gardner scored crucial half-century before late cameos

Captain Ashleigh Gardner scored 65 off 41 balls with six fours and three sixes, while she had a 103-run partnership with Anushka Sharma for the third wicket. Anushka scored 44 off 30 balls with seven fours. Also, Georgia Wareham (27 not out off 10 balls with one four and three sixes) and Bharti Fulmali (14 not out off seven balls with two sixes) scored some useful cameos, as the Giants added 34 runs in the final two overs.

Among the UP Warriorz bowlers, Sophie Ecclestone was the standout bowler with the bowling figures of 4-0-32-2.

See Also: Gujarat Giants set their record total in their first WPL 2026 match against UP Warriorz Women

UP Warriorz couldn't move on after Phoebe Litchfield's dismissal

In reply, UP Warriorz had a sudden mini-collapse after a 70-run partnership for the second wicket between captain Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield. While Lanning was out for 30 runs from 27 balls with five fours, UP Warriorz were quickly down from 73/1 to 74/4 in just five balls. During this period, they lost Lanning (30), Harleen Deol (0), and Deepti Sharma (2). 

Phoebe Litchfield and Shweta Sehrawat had a useful partnership to handle that shocking collapse, as they built a 69-run partnership for the fifth wicket. While Shweta scored 25 off 17 balls with one four and three sixes, Phoebe continued her important innings.

Phoebe completed 50 runs in 24 balls, as she continued her brilliant knock by scoring 78 off 40 balls with eight fours and five sixes. Since her dismissal in the 16th over, UP Warriorz slipped from the game. Although Asha Sobhana tried hard with her cameo knock of 27 not out in 10 balls with three fours and two sixes, including hitting one six and two fours in the last three balls of the innings, her performance were too late for the team.

Among Gujarat Giants bowlers, Renuka Singh (2/25), Georgia Wareham (2/30), and Sophie Devine (2/55) picked up two wickets each.