The UP Warriorz have secured a spot in the playoffs of the inaugural season after defeating the Gujarat Giants for the second consecutive time by three wickets with just one delivery to spare.
Grace Harris, one of the key players for the UP Warriorz, once again set the stage on fire with her heavy-duty hitting.
Grace smashed the Giants attack to smithereens and hit seven fours and four maximums in the chase of the Giants’ 178/6.
Grace was involved in two productive partnerships, with countrymate Tahlia McGrath and Sophie Ecclestone.
Her partnership with Tahlia was worth 78 runs, and even after her country-mate departed at 117/4, Grace continued to play with such ferocity, making the Giants bowlers look mere pedestrians.
She was able to carry her team to victory, even after a bad start with a pitch that offered good bounce and carry.
The UP Warriorz were down in the dumps at 3/39, but Grace and Tahlia’s partnership turned the tables on the Giants.
However, the team suffered a few nervous moments when Simran Shaikh departed, leaving the Warriorz at 177/7.
Two runs of the last two deliveries can always be tricky, but Sophie Ecclestone swept a Sneh Rana delivery to a boundary to signal the win with just one ball to spare.
Earlier in the game, a brilliant 93-run partnership between Dayalan Hemalatha and the second costliest player Ashleigh Gardner helped the Gujarat Giants post 178/6 in their do-or-die clash.
The authority and attacking ways with which the duo played indicated they were on a mission, given the do-or-die nature of the contest as the tournament entered its business end.
By the time the partnership ended, with Hemalatha dismissed by Parshavi Chopra in the 17th over with the team total on 143, the stand had put the team on course for a competitive total.
South African opener Laura Wolvaardt and Sophia Dunkley went about their task of scoring runs in powerplay with a lot of urgency.
Runs flowed freely while the two batting stalwarts were at the crease, with Wolvaardt smacking a fine boundary off just the third ball of the opening over bowled by left-arm pacer Anjali Sarvani.
The 23-year-old used the width on offer to steer it past backward point, making her intentions clear.
Just two overs into the match and Gujarat Giants were in overdrive, with the team having scored 26 runs.
The powerful six by the South African off a length delivery outside off stump from left-arm India spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad in the second over had class and power written all over it.
Soon England batter Dunkley took charge, giving a further fillip to the scoring rate.
Despite the loss, the Gujarat Giants can take solace in their strong performances throughout the season, especially in the batting department.
Hemalatha and Gardner’s partnership was a testament to their skills and determination, and it will undoubtedly inspire the team to come back stronger next season.
The UP Warriorz, Delhi Capitals, and Mumbai Indians have all secured their place in the playoffs, while the Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore have been eliminated from the tournament.
As the tournament enters its business end, fans can expect even more thrilling performances from some of the best female cricketers in the world.
