• Gujarat Giants finally snapped their losing streak in clinical fashion, crushing UP Warriorz by 45 runs at the Kotambi Stadium in WPL 2026.

  • The victory not only keeps the Giants' campaign alive but also significantly boosts their net run rate as the league moves into its final stretch.

WPL 2026: Gujarat Giants demolishes UP Warriorz to register a dominant win in Vadodara
Gujarat Giants (Image Source: X)

Gujarat Giants finally snapped their losing streak in clinical fashion, crushing UP Warriorz by 45 runs at the Kotambi Stadium on Thursday in . After being asked to bat first, the Giants posted a competitive 153/8, headlined by a long-awaited half-century from veteran Sophie Devine (50) and a steady knock from captain Beth Mooney (38). The Warriorz’s chase never truly took flight as they were stifled by a disciplined Gujarat bowling unit that exploited the evening moisture and turn. From the very first ball, when Kiran Navgire was dismissed for a duck, the Warriorz remained under the pump, eventually being bundled out for a mere 108 in 17.3 overs. The victory not only keeps the Giants’ campaign alive but also significantly boosts their net run rate as the league moves into its final stretch.

Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney anchor Gujarat Giants to a respectable 153/8

The foundation of Gujarat’s dominant victory was laid in the first innings, where they overcame early jitters caused by . After Gaud removed Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Anushka Sharma cheaply, Devine took control, breaking her run of poor form with a gritty 50 off 42 balls. Devine’s innings was a masterclass in pacing, as she hammered three sixes and two fours to ensure the Giants maintained a healthy scoring rate even as wickets fell at the other end. She was expertly supported by Mooney, whose 38 provided the necessary stability during the middle overs before she was dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone.

The Giants’ tail struggled to cope with Ecclestone’s variations late in the innings, as the world’s top-ranked bowler finished with 2/24, including the wickets of Mooney and Kashvee Gautam. Despite the lower-order collapse, the Giants managed to scrape their way past the 150-mark, thanks to a final-over surge from Devine. This total proved to be more than enough on a Vadodara pitch that offered plenty of assistance to the bowlers under lights. The Giants’ ability to fight back from 43/2 to reach 153 displayed a level of resilience that had been missing in their previous three outings, setting the stage for their bowlers to finish the job.

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Gujarat bowlers stifle UP Warriorz as Rajeshwari Gayakwad as seal the rout

The defense of 153 began in sensational style when Renuka Singh Thakur drifted a ball down leg, which ricocheted off Mooney’s pads and onto the stumps to dismiss Navgire for a golden duck. From that moment, the Warriorz were in a state of freefall. Rajeshwari Gayakwad was the pick of the bowlers, returning incredible figures of 3/7 in her three overs to dismantle the middle order. She was perfectly complemented by Devine, who followed up her half-century with by claiming a caught-and-bowled to dismiss Sophie Ecclestone. The Warriorz’s top order, including captain Meg Lanning (14) and Phoebe Litchfield (24), failed to capitalize on starts as the required rate spiraled out of control.

By the time Chloe Tryon (29) offered some late resistance, the game was already well beyond the Warriorz’s reach. The Giants’ fielding, which had been a concern in earlier matches, was sharp and committed, with Gautam and Tanuja Kanwer maintaining relentless pressure. The final wicket fell in the 18th over when Devine castled Kranti Gaud, sealing a massive 45-run win that reshapes the middle of the WPL 2026 points table. For the Warriorz, it was a night of missed opportunities and tactical lapses, as they failed to adapt to the slowing conditions.

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This article was first published at , a Cricket Times company.

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