गुजरात जायंट्स vs यूपी वॉरियर्स, मैच 14 Commentary, Live Updates

The Gujarat Giants started the night at the bottom of the ladder, but this win lifts them out of the logjam of teams stuck on four points. Their next fixture sees them take on the Delhi Capitals on 27th January. Meanwhile, it's a longer break for the UP Warriorz, whose next game comes a week later on 29th January, when they face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. We will have a day's break before the action in the 2026 Women's Premier League resumes on Saturday, 24th January. It will be the Delhi Capitals taking on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru here in Vadodara. RCB have been in imperious form, winning all five of their matches so far, while DC are coming off a much-needed win and will be keen to build on that momentum. The match will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), with our build-up starting well before that. See you then. Cheers!

Rajeshwari Gayakwad is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her brilliance with the ball. Gayakwad says that she got an opportunity to play after a long time. Adds that she didn't try to do anything different and kept it simple. Mentions that the rhythm and control were much better in this game and the wicket also helped. Says that whenever she plays against Lanning, she tries to take her wicket. She didn't get in this game but was happy to get Deepti out as people get scared to bring on left-arm spinners against left-handed batters but she likes to bowl to them.

Ashleigh Gardner, captain of the Gujarat Giants, says her side scrapped really well with the bat and carried the momentum from the batting innings into the field. She felt 150 was a defendable total and adds that on wickets like these, being able to take wickets early is all a captain can ask for. Gardner admits she never expected the difference between red-soil and black-soil surfaces to have such a pronounced impact on pace and bounce. She believes hitting straight down the ground is the best option for batters, while for bowlers, the key is to keep hitting the stumps as often as possible. She says they spoke as a team before the game about fighting hard, especially heading into the final few matches. Gardner stresses the importance of doing the right things for longer periods and feels that when teams commit in the field and take their chances, they put themselves in a strong position. Shares that she is delighted for Rajeshwari Gayakwad, saying it was pleasing to see her grab the opportunity with both hands.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Sophie Devine hands the Orange Cap over to Phoebe Litchfield, and Litchfield, in turn, presents the Purple Cap to Devine. Devine is in for a chat. She says that it was an interesting game of cricket. Adds that once they got over 150, they were always going to be competitive, and when they got a couple of big wickets, they didn't let the pressure off of them. Mentions that it is not an issue for her to bat in the middle as she has played for a long time and knows the dynamics. Says that Rajeshwari Gayakwad played her role very well and stepped up at the right time. Tells that the girls are fully committed and put their everything on the field. Ends by saying that Mooney was excellent behind the stumps, and to have the presence of mind to get her leg out to stop the ball and then rolling off her pads to the stumps was brilliant.

The captain of the UP Warriorz, Meg Lanning, says that both innings took a long time and things were happening. Adds that they got themselves into a good position with the ball but couldn't score the runs and full credit to Gujarat for the way they stuck in, and that's what you need on a surface like this one. Mentions that they had plans for all of their batters, Sophie coming in the middle was also taken care of but she got the runs in the end. Ends by saying that they have some days to rest, but they know that they have to win both games now.

After opting to bowl first, Kranti Gaud set the tone up front for the UP Warriorz. Beth Mooney got herself in but couldn't convert it into a substantial score, and through the middle phase, the Warriorz were able to chip away regularly at the wickets. It eventually required a 'Devine' intervention from Sophie, whose exploits helped the Gujarat Giants reach 153. The Kiwi all-rounder enjoyed a fair share of luck on the night as she was dropped once and later dismissed off a no-ball. Apart from Gaud, Sophie Ecclestone was also miserly in her four overs and picked up a couple of wickets as well.

In pursuit of 154, the Powerplay was decent for UP. At that stage, they were up with the required run rate through Phoebe Litchfield, who looked in good touch, but it all went south once she was dismissed. The spell from Rajeshwari Gayakwad put the game well beyond UPW’s reach. It vindicated the decision to bring her back into the side, as she quickly understood the correct pace to bowl on this pitch and used her flight expertly to close out the game for her side. All five bowling options used by GG picked up at least one wicket, but Gayakwad was the standout performer, finishing with 3 for 16 from her four overs.

A comprehensive win for the Gujarat Giants, one that snaps their three-game losing streak coming into this fixture. It is also the lowest total successfully defended this season. They really do seem to enjoy playing against the UP Warriorz, as this is their fifth straight win over the Warriorz. A strange chase, whether it was the unusual dismissals of the two openers or how dramatically the UP Warriorz fell off the cliff.

OUT! CASTLED! Fittingly, it is Sophie Devine who has the last say in this game. She lands this on a good length and on middle. Kranti Gaud uses her feet and opens her bat face to guide it away but misses it completely and the ball goes through to rattle the stumps. GUJARAT GIANTS WIN BY 45 RUNS!

Pitched up and on middle, Chloe Tryon drills it down to long on and calls for two, but Kranti Gaud is very slow, and they have to settle for one. Not good runnning from Kranti here.

Full again and around off, Kranti Gaud uses her feet and tries to loft it but just slices it in the air and just over extra cover for a run.

WIDE! Fuller but down the leg side, Kranti Gaud misses her flick. Beth Mooney collects it well to her left and breaks the stumps, but Gaud is inside the crease.

Flatter, short and on off, Chloe Tryon stabs it out to the left of the bowler and does not get the run to keep strike. 49 needed in 18 now.

FOUR! Gets it away! Quicker, short and on middle, Chloe Tryon picks up the length early and pulls it away to the vacant deep square leg fence for a much-needed boundary.

Tossed up, full and on off, Chloe Tryon uses her feet but does not get to the pitch of it. She still lofts it and just gets enough elevation to get it over mid off for a couple of more runs. Another check for a short run, but Kranti is fine again. 100 UP FOR UPW!

In the air....SAFE! Slows it up, short and on middle, turns away. Chloe Tryon looks to flick it away but gets a leading edge. It goes high in the air but lands safely wide of deep square leg. Two taken. There is a check for a short run, but Kranti had plonked her bat in before returning for the second.

Short and around off, Chloe Tryon punches it towards mid off.

Kranti Gaud is the last batter.

OUT! SHIKHA PANDEY IS RUN OUT! You just cannot keep Sophie Devine out of this game. Rajeshwari Gayakwad bowls this short and around middle, Chloe Tryon backs away and swats it wide of long on and turns around for the second. However, Shikha Pandey is a bit slow to get back for the second run. Devine quickly runs to her left, picks it up and fires an accurate throw at the bowler's end. Gayakwad collects it on the bounce and breaks the stumps. The replay shows that Pandey is well short of her crease. Gujarat Giants are just one wicket away from the win now.

Gone? Shikha Pandey is going nowhere but the Giants are celebrating. And yes, Shikha is found short of her crease despite the dive.

Full again and on middle, Shikha Pandey whips it to deep mid-wicket, but Chloe Tryon denies the single to keep strike.

Pitched up and on middle, angling in, Chloe Tryon swipes it off the inner half of the bat towards deep square leg for a run.

On a length and on off, Shikha Pandey pushes it towards cover for a single.

MISSED CHANCE! Good length and on middle, nips back in, Shikha Pandey looks to play at it but gets an inside edge onto her pads as the ball rolls to the leg side. Pandey has no idea where the ball is and sets off for the run. Beth Mooney, the keeper, moves forward to her left to get to the ball, tries to flick it onto the stumps but misses. Pandey was a goner if that hit.

Shikha Pandey is the new batter.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Sophie gets Sophie. This is a low full toss from Devine, on middle. Ecclestone looks to drive it away but ends up chipping it back to the bowler. Devine on the follow-through, extends both her arms to the right, and the ball gets stuck in. UP Warriorz are 94/8 now, staring down the barrel.

Fuller and around off, Sophie Ecclestone drives it away to extra cover.

Drifting in, full and on off, Ecclestone has a waft at it and gets an inside edge that goes behind square leg for a single.

On a nagging length, on off, Sophie blocks it out.

The move to bring Rajeshwari Gayakwad for this game is working wonders for Gujarat Giants. Her figures read 2.4-0-6-3. Just incredible. Also, Sophie Ecclestone walks out to bat now.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Rajeshwari Gayakwad is having a dream evening. Third wicket in as many overs for her. Nicely tossed up, on off and middle. Asha skips down the track and looks to go back over the bowler's head with a straight bat. She fails to get to the pitch of the ball and skies it off the toe end of the blade. Ashleigh Gardner takes a few steps forward at mid off and settles under it. UP Warriorz are now 93/7, needing 61 runs off 32 balls.

Drops it short, on off, Tryon jabs it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Skidding through, short and quick, Tryon flashes but fails to connect.

Gayakwad tosses it up, a bit short, on middle. Asha backs away for the cut. Anushka Sharma dives to her right at point and cuts it off. They cross.

STRATEGIC TIME-OUT! Gujarat Giants will feel they are ahead in this game, but as long as Chloe Tryon is still out there, they can't take things lightly here. If they manage to get her out, then UP Warriorz will need more than a miracle to get back in this game. Let's see how things pan out from here.

Ash fires it in, full and on middle. Chloe sweeps it off the pads but picks out the fielder at short fine leg.

SIX! Good use of the feet! Gardner floats it up, on off, Chloe uses her feet to get to the pitch of the ball and hangs low to club it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Pushed through, full and on middle, Asha closes the bat face early and gets a leading edge that goes wide of mid-wicket. They cross.

Slows it down and the length stays short, on middle, Sobhana charges down the track and has a swing across the line. She misses and wears it on the thigh.

Doing too much! Fired in, on a length, on middle and leg. Asha has a big swing across the line but is beaten and gets hit on the pads.

FOUR! Nice shot! Tossed up, full and outside off, Sobhana throws her hands at it and plays an uppish drive, wide of cover. Danni Wyatt-Hodge gives it a chase and dives but the ball wins the race.

Flatter and shorter, on off, Sobhana pushes it wide of cover for a single.

Shorter and following the batter, Asha stabs it down the deck.

Full and around off, whipped to Happy Kumari at a catching mid-wicket.

Keeps it at the stumps, full in length. Asha blocks it off.

Full and on off, kept out on the off side.

Asha Sobhana is the next batter in.

OUT! STUMPED! Rajeshwari Gayakwad has another. 2nd wicket in 7 balls for Gayakwad. Flighted delivery, full and keeps it away from the batter's arc. Sehrawat charges down the track but she is nowhere near the pitch of it. She is at a point of no return and reaches out to make some contact. The ball lands and spins away slightly to go past the outside edge. The keeper, Beth Mooney does the rest.

A mix-up but no harm done! Around off, on a back of a length. Tryon angles it towards point, where Kanika Ahuja dives to her left to make the stop. Chloe is off for a single but Sehrawat is caught ball-watching and sends Tryon back.

Fuller in length, outside off, firmly driven to sweeper cover. They cross.

Nice and tight, on a short of a length, on middle. Tryon pushes it to long on for a run.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Gautam drags the length back but errs in line. This is at the hips, Tryon helps it down to deep fine leg for four more.

FOUR! Good hit! Pitched up by Tryon, on off, Chloe presses forward and plays the lofted drive between cover and mid off for a four.

Starts with a length ball, outside off, Shweta cracks the drive to deep point for a single.

Kashvee Gautam (2-0-20-1) is back on.

Tossed up, on off, Shweta pats it wide of cover and takes a single to get off the mark.

Keeps it nice and full, on middle. Sehrawat knocks it back to the bowler.

Rapped on the pads again but this is going down leg! Full and speared in from around the wicket, Shweta attempts the sweep but misses and wears it on the front pad.

UP Warriorz lose half their side now. Shweta Sehrawat comes out to the middle now.

OUT! LBW! A prolonged appeal and the finger is raised. Fuller and angled into the left-hander, on middle and leg. Deepti walks inside the line and drops on a knee to get it away behind square on the leg side. She is beaten on the inside edge and the ball hits her on the knee roll of the front pad. No bat involved but the Ball Tracking comes as umpire's call with the ball just clipping the leg stump. One call earlier went the way of the Warriorz, this time, it has gone the way of the Giants. UPW are now 5 down for 67.

Sliding on with the arm, short on middle. Tryon chips it back over the bowler's head for a single.

Fractionally short, on off, Deepti pulls it square on the leg side for a single.

Spin from both ends as Rajeshwari Gayakwad comes on.

Shorter in length and around off, Deepti Sharma steers it away towards point for one.

Floated, full and on leg, Deepti Sharma goes down for the paddle but misses and the ball deflects off her pads towards short fine.

Drops it short and around off, gets it to turn away sharply. Deepti Sharma backs away but gets surprised by the big spin. She tries to reach out for it and pats it to extra cover.

WIDE! Quicker, full and angling down the leg again, Deepti Sharma goes down for the sweep again but misses. Another wide given.

Slows it up, short and on off, Deepti Sharma tries to punch it away but ends up stabbing it onto the pitch.

WIDE! Fires this one full but down the leg side, Deepti Sharma misses her swipe. Called a wide.

Flatter, full and on middle, angling in, Chloe Tryon looks to flick it away but misses as the ball goes off her pads towards short fine. A leg bye taken.

Floated, full and on off, turns in, Chloe Tryon tries to push it away but gets an inside edge onto her pads as the ball goes nowhere.

Tossed up, full and around off, Deepti Sharma drives it wide of sweeper cover for a brace.

Deepti Sharma is in next.

OUT! TAKEN! Renuka Singh Thakur gets her wicket eventually. She goes back to her full length, on middle. Harleen Deol once again clears her front leg to go big down the ground but fails get any power on the shot. It flies towards long on, where Ashleigh Gardner anticipates it well and runs forward as soon as Deol hits it. She takes a fine catch above her waist while running in. A disappointing knock of 3 off 12 from Harleen comes to an end now. UP Warriorz are four down now.

Hits the length hard and around off, Harleen Deol opens the face of her bat and steers it straight to short third.

Big shout for LBW, but turned down! However, the keeper, Beth Mooney, likes it and asks her skipper, Ashleigh Gardner, to take the review. This is full and on middle, angling in a bit, Harleen Deol clears the front leg to slog it across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads. UltraEdge confirms no bat involved and Ball Tracking shows that it is clipping the leg stump on umpire's call. Deol survives, but GG retains the review.

Touch fuller and on off, Chloe Tryon drives it on the up through covers for a single.

Beaten! Good length and around off, shapes away a bit, Chloe Tryon looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Quicker, short and on leg, Chloe Tryon glances it towards short fine for one.

Meg Lanning is having a chat with the fourth umpire on the sidelines. It appears she wants it to be checked whether it was a bump ball. Phoebe Litchfield has already left the park. Lanning has since been given the explanation she was seeking, and the matter has been resolved. Chloe Tryon now joins Harleen Deol out in the middle.

OUT! TAKEN! Ashleigh Gardner has the last laugh here. She bowls this a bit quicker, full and just outside off. Phoebe Litchfield changes her stance to go for the reverse sweep again, but fails to get underneath it due to the pace. She ends up hitting it flat and aerially towards short third, where Renuka Singh Thakur leans forward to take a sharp low catch. Phoebe walks back for a well-made 32 off 27, and UP Warriorz are 57/3, still needing 97 runs in 73 balls.

Dragged back and outside off, Phoebe Litchfield cuts it away wide of deep point for a brace.

Flighted, full and on off, Harleen Deol goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for a run.

A bit short and on middle, Phoebe Litchfield nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Greets Ashleigh Gardner with a boundary! Floated, full and around off, turns away a bit. Phoebe Litchfield quickly changes her stance and executes the reverse sweep to perfection over backward point for four runs. Also, 50 up for UP.

Short of a length and around off, Phoebe Litchfield heaves it away wide of deep mid-wicket. Bharti Fulmali quickly runs to her right to keep it to just one. Just 3 runs off the over!

Much fuller and on middle, shaping in, Harleen Deol backs away to push it but gets an inside edge towards backward square leg for a single.

WIDE! Pitched up but angling down the leg side, Harleen Deol misses her flick. Wided.

Make that four dots! Good length and on middle and off, Harleen Deol only manages to get behind the line to block it out. With every dot, the pressure is building on Deol here.

Three dots in a row now! Short of a length and just outside off, skids through, Harleen Deol tries to cut it away but misses.

Full again and outside off, takes pace off, Harleen Deol reaches out and stabs it out towards short cover.

Fuller and around off, Harleen Deol cannot quite get underneath it and bunts it out towards mid off.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Not a lot separating the two sides at this stage of the game. At the end of six overs, the Gujarat Giants were 52/2, while the UP Warriorz are six runs behind. Phoebe Litchfield has gotten off to a start and will look to build a partnership with Harleen Deol to take the chase forward. The Giants, meanwhile, will need to keep chipping away at the wickets to stay in the contest. We are yet to see spin being introduced in this innings, and it remains to be seen how much purchase the spinners get in these dewy conditions and how effective they prove to be.

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Fuller and outside off, angling away, Phoebe Litchfield looks to drag it from there. She goes down and has a heave across the line but gets a thick outside edge that flies over backward point for a boundary. UP Warriorz are 46/2 at the end of the Powerplay.

Short of a length and outside off, Harleen Deol cuts it to deep point for a run.

Good length and on off, Harleen Deol stays back and blocks it out.

WIDE! Errs in line and serves this full but way down the leg side, Harleen Deol fails to glance it away. Good take from Beth Mooney to her left as she is standing up to the stumps. Wided.

Pitched up and on off, keeps a bit low, Phoebe Litchfield goes down on one knee, adjusts well and uses her wrists to swipe it to deep square leg for a single.

Full again and on middle, Phoebe Litchfield uses her feet but yorks herself and jams it out to extra cover.

Fuller and on middle, attacking the stumps, Phoebe Litchfield blocks it out down the pitch.

Angled in, on a back of a length, on middle. Deol defends it off the back foot.

Both the openers are gone in an unusual fashion. Harleen Deol comes out to the middle now.

OUT! BOWLED! An unfortunate way to get out. Meg Lanning is gutted. Angled into the right-hander, on a back of a length, Lanning swivels for the pull but the ball skids through to go under the bat. It hits her thigh pad and then the pad before dropping towards the ground but on the way down, it clips the back of the shin and trickles onto the stumps. The Giants are jubilant. The Warriorz are now 2 down for 39, chasing 154.

FOUR! All class from Lanning! A bit too full from Gautam, on off, Meg leans on and creams the drive. Anushka Sharma sprints to her right from deep backward point but stands no chance.

Wide! Sprayed down leg, Meg fails to tickle it away.

Fuller and on off, Litchfield strokes it through covers for a run.

FOUR! Clever, very clever! On a back of a length, on middle. Litchfield walks across the stumps and scoops it fine of short fine leg for a four.

In the channel, on a length, Meg cuts it late to deep backward point for a single.

Into the surface, on middle, Lanning jabs it through mid-wicket and keeps the strike with a single.

Miscued but safe! Devine pushes the length up, on off and middle. Litchfield puts her head down and has a swing across the line. Gets a top edge that goes in the air towards deep cover. Anushka Sharma runs in off the ropes and realises that she is not going to get there. She hangs back and collects it on the bounce. They cross.

Around middle and leg, on a good length, Phoebe takes a couple of steps down the track but is beaten on the flick and she wears it on the thigh pad.

This is on a hard length, outside off, Meg shapes up for the cut. Ends up chopping it through point for a single.

Full and attacking the front pad, Lanning brings her bat out in front to keep it out.

On a short of a length, on off, Litchfield punches it wide of cover and picks up a single.

Swinging away, on a good length, Phoebe slaps it to deep point for one.

Excellent stop! Full and outside off, Lanning carves it behind square. Anushka Sharma sprints and dives to her left in the deep to prevent the boundary. Just a single.

Fuller and on off, Phoebe pats it wide of cover for a single.

Hurls it on a back of a length, on middle, Litchfield hangs back to defend.

FOUR! Thumped down the ground! Renuka pitches it up in search of swing, on off, Litchfield leans on and swings through the line. She pumps it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

On a short of a length, on off, Phoebe stabs it down on the off side.

Leg bye! On the pads again, on a length, Phoebe fails to glance it away. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes behind off the pads.

Three wides! Gautam attempts the outswinger again but it starts well outside the leg stump and it does not move at all. Phoebe has a swing at it but misses. Beth Mooney standing up to the stumps, gets a glove on it but it goes wide of short fine leg for a couple of more runs.

Drags the length back, shaping away at 105.1 kph, Litchfield pokes at it and is beaten on the outside edge.

Pitched up, on off, firmly driven to deep point for a single.

FOUR! Nicely done! Fractionally wide, on a back of a length, Lanning cuts it late and beats the deep backward point fielder in the deep to her left for a four.

On off, on a short of a length, Phoebe dabs it through point and turns the strike over.

Beats the bat straight away! Moving away in the air, on a length, Litchfield takes a couple of steps down the track and presents a straight bat for the block but is well beaten.

Kashvee Gautam to bowl from the other end.

On a short of a length, on off, Litchfield taps it wide of cover for a single.

Nearly dragged it on! Shaping away, on a good length, Phoebe drives away from her body. Gets an inside edge that sneaks past the leg stump and rolls away.

FOUR! Gets off the mark in style! Good length and around leg, Phoebe Litchfield picks it off her hips and flicks it away to the deep square leg fence for a boundary.

Back of a length and around off, Phoebe Litchfield stabs it out to extra cover.

Phoebe Litchfield walks out to bat at number 3.

OUT! STUMPED! That is one of the unluckiest ways to get out. Nothing seems to be going right for Kiran Navgire this season, and she has to go back without troubling the scorers. Renuka Singh Thakur bowls this full but angling down the leg side. Navgire looks clip it away but misses and her head falls over. She loses her balance and steps out of the crease. The ball hits the keeper, Beth Mooney's left pad, deflects onto her right boot and rolls onto the stumps. The replay shows that Navgire is out of her crease when the stumps are broken. She cannot believe her luck but has to make the walk to the hut. UP Warriorz are 2/1, chasing 154 runs.

Is that out? Beth Mooney looks very confident here that Kiran Navgire is out of her crease. Oh, the replay shows that she has stepped out just at the wrong time. Very unlucky dismissal for her.

Good length and on middle, shaping in a bit. Kiran Navgire stays back to play at it but gets an inside edge towards short fine leg.

UP Warriorz are underway in the chase! Renuka Singh Thakur starts with a back-of-a-length delivery, outside off. Meg Lanning cuts it towards deep point for a single and gets off the mark.