WPL 2025 GG vs UPW: Gujarat Giants produced a dominant performance against UP Warriorz, winning the match by 81 runs at Ekana Stadium. This commanding victory not only pushed the Giants from fifth position to second in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) points table but also left UP Warriorz dazed, who slipped to the last position after a below-par defeat.
Beth Mooney was awarded player of the match for her brilliant knock of 96 runs in 59 balls.
Mooney’s Batting Masterclass Takes Center Stage
Beth Mooney played a remarkable innings, scoring 96 not out off 59 balls, which was instrumental in Gujarat Giants compiling a strong total of 186 for 5.
The total was the third-highest of the season, and Mooney’s effort was a highlight. The 17 fours in her 96* was the second-most fours hit in a WPL innings, reflecting her aggressive strokeplay.
Mooney’s knock was a mix of methodical accumulation and attacking brilliance. Although she began a bit tentatively, getting to 23 off 21 balls in the powerplay, she let her best out once the field restrictions were removed. Mooney was in her element against both Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma, employing her feet wonderfully to get to the straight boundaries, specifically the region between long-on and long-off.
She scored 49 of her runs alone in this phase of play, keeping the scoreboard running and punishing any length balls. She came close to becoming the first player to have scored a century in the WPL, but her innings fell just two runs short at 96 not out, having faced only five deliveries in the last four overs of the innings.
Warriorz’s Miseries in the Chase
In response, UP Warriorz never stood a chance, going down to a big defeat even after a late fightback by Chinelle Henry. The pursuit began on a bad note as Warriorz lost two wickets in the first over, then two more during the powerplay. At the sixth over, the side was in shambles at 48 for 6, with just one of the top six batters reaching double figures.
It was due to a frenetic 28 off 14 balls by Chinelle Henry that Warriorz crossed the 100-run barrier. But their innings lost steam after that, and they were bowled out for just 105.
This was the second time in the season that a team defended their score, the first being Warriorz themselves. Though there were some individual fireworks, Warriorz could not bounce back from their initial meltdown, going down by a huge margin of 81 runs.
Impact on the Points Table
The 81-run victory was an important one for Gujarat Giants, who moved from fifth to second on the table. Their win improved their net run rate (NRR) considerably, moving from -0.450 to 0.357. They now have six points from five games and trail only Delhi Capitals, who top the table. The victory also tied the Giants on points with Mumbai Indians, whose NRR is 0.166.
Mooney’s Form Recovery
Going into this game, Mooney had not been in great form, scoring only 84 runs from five innings at a lowly average of 16.80. In spite of the earlier woes, the Giants still stood behind their talismanic player, and Mooney’s character and class shone through in her performance. She got her slow start behind her and reminded everyone why she is one of the most dominant batters in T20 cricket.
Her use of the fielding restrictions and her clever manipulation of the crease against both the spinners and the fast bowlers made her innings a joy to watch. Her control of the game in the middle overs, taking charge in the way that she did, proved to be the turning point in the Giants’ victory and showed her capability of delivering under pressure when her team needed her most.
Looking Ahead
With this dominant victory, Gujarat Giants will be in confident mood to face their next matches in the WPL. Beth Mooney’s performance has finally clicked, and her combination with other mainstays such as Harleen Deol and Dottin will be vital for their continued success.
For UP Warriorz, though, it is back to the drawing board as they seek to bounce back from a comprehensive defeat and regain their footing in the coming matches to not be relegated to the bottom of the table.
With the season going on, Gujarat Giants will seek to capitalize on this dominating performance, with Mooney at the forefront spearheading their quest for the top.
