GG vs UPW, WPL 2026 Highlights: Phoebe Litchfield’s fiery 78 goes in vain as Gujarat Giants down UP by 10 runs

Right then, that wraps up the first game of this double-header Saturday in the WPL 2026. A high-scoring affair, where over 400 runs were scored, and Gujarat Giants open their account, while UP Warriorz will have to wait a bit longer. Coming up next, two fierce rivals go head-to-head as defending champions Mumbai Indians lock horns with Delhi Capitals. The match will get underway shortly, so all you need to do is switch tabs and join us for the complete build-up and live coverage of the contest. Cheers!

Georgia Wareham is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for excellent all-round performance. She says that it is an awesome start to the tournament, and momentum is key in this league, so it is nice to get the first win right away. Adds that it was a flat wicket and the bowlers did a good job. Considers herself a bit lucky getting those couple of wickets, but it was fun. Says that she and Mooney were confident it was pad first on Lanning's dismissal, and it was a key moment in the game.

Ashleigh Gardner, the victorious skipper of Gujarat Giants, says it was a fantastic game for whoever came to watch, as it just shows how good the pitch is to bat on. Tells that there are plenty of learning opportunities with both bat and ball, and feels they have fielded brilliantly, which might have made the difference. Appreciates the knock of Anushka Sharma, adds she has seen little of her in the nets, but admits she is brilliant. Mentions that she can throw the ball to everyone and is confident that they'll do the job.

Presentation Time...

Renuka Singh Thakur of Gujarat Giants is up for a quick chat. She says that her focus is on delivering strong performances regardless of which team she is playing for. Adds that she has played a lot of cricket here and understands the conditions well. Mentions that she has been working on a few areas, like her yorkers and slower balls, and trusts herself. Says that they knew it was a good batting surface and it was always going to be which team executes their plans better, will come out on top.

Meg Lanning, the captain of UP Warriorz, says it was a great game and despite the loss, there are a lot of positives to take out off this game. Expresses that the Giants batted extremely well and feels they didn't bowl particularly well on a tough wicket, but they'll look to improve after learning from this game. Shares that most of her bowlers can bowl at any point. Feels that both sides played good cricket, it was really good to bat, but still feels they could have conceded a bit less

UP Warriorz have pocketed the two points, but there is still room for improvement with the ball as the season progresses. Renuka Singh Thakur was excellent with the new ball and struck early, though they failed to fully capitalise on that start. However, Georgia Wareham turned the game on its head by dismissing Harleen Deol and Meg Lanning in the 9th over, which was followed by Renuka removing the dangerous Deepti Sharma in the very next over. UP had a firm grip on the contest at that stage, but some ordinary bowling in the middle overs allowed the Giants back into the game. Still, Rajeshwari Gayakwad played her part by breaking a key partnership, and Sophie Devine and Ashleigh Gardner delivered when it mattered most to seal the deal.

Earlier in the game, Gujarat Giants registered their highest-ever total in the WPL, powered by a blistering half-century from skipper Ashleigh Gardner. She was involved in a magnificent 103-run stand with young Anushka Sharma, who marked her debut with an impressive 44. Sophie Devine provided the early momentum, while Georgia Wareham and Bharti Fulmali added the finishing touches with some late fireworks to round off a dominant batting effort. For UP Warriorz, Sophie Ecclestone was the standout bowler, picking up a couple of wickets, while Shikha Pandey and Deandra Dottin claimed one each. However, apart from Sophie, no other bowler managed an economy under nine, which proved costly for their cause.

Despite losing an early wicket, Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield ensured a solid start in the chase, adding 73 runs and keeping things on track before the skipper’s dismissal sparked a sudden collapse from 73/1 to 74/4 in just five balls. Phoebe, though, held her ground, brought up a superb fifty, and looked a class apart, finding good support from Shweta Sehrawat in a crucial 69-run stand that kept the game alive. However, both fell at the wrong time when the asking rate began to climb, and despite a late 27 off 10 from Asha Sobhana, the chase ended just short.

Gujarat Giants kick off their campaign with a fine victory, though it turned out to be much closer than they would have anticipated. Full credit to the UP Warriorz, who kept fighting right till the end and fell short by just 10 runs. They will be left wondering what might have been had they taken their chances in the field and executed their plans better with the ball.

Sophie Devine to Asha Sobhana, FOUR! Ends with a boundary. Touch fuller, angling on middle, Asha Sobhana looks to whip but gets an inside edge, past the diving keeper and to fine leg for four. Gujarat Giants win by 10 runs.

Sophie Devine to Asha Sobhana, FOUR! Asha Sobhana has played a good hand despite the outcome of the team. Very full and on middle, Asha Sobhana makes room and lofts it cleanly over mid off for a boundary. 

Sophie Devine to Asha Sobhana, SIX! Back of a length and sliding on middle, Asha Sobhana whacks it over square leg for a six. Good shot.

Sophie Devine to Shikha Pandey, Could have been another wicket! Pace off, fuller delivery around off, Shikha Pandey balloons it to mid off. The fielder runs behind and dives but fails to hold on. Dropped. A single is taken.

Shikha Pandey comes out to the middle now.

Sophie Devine to Sophie Ecclestone, OUT! TAKEN! That puts the game to bed! A low full toss, outside off. Sophie Ecclestone swings hard but slices it straight to Kashvee Gautam, who takes a sharp catch inside the ring at cover.

Sophie Devine to Asha Sobhana, A single and Ecclestone is on strike! Bowls it fuller and on middle, Asha Sobhana hits it down to long on for a single.

Sophie Devine to bowl the last over. She needs to defend 25 runs here.

Kashvee Gautam to Asha Sobhana, Just a single! A slower length delivery, around off, Asha Sobhana steps across and laps it to short fine leg. Doesn't time it well and settles with a run. Asha will keep the strike.

Kashvee Gautam to Sophie Ecclestone, Hard length delivery on middle and leg, Ecclestone paddles it to deep square leg for a single. Need a biggie to keep the hopes alive

Kashvee Gautam to Asha Sobhana, This is full and on middle and off, Asha Sobhana steps across and lofts it down to long on for a single.

Kashvee Gautam to Asha Sobhana, A huge mix up in the middle but no harm done! Pitched up, around off, Asha Sobhana drives it to the right of cover. Ecclestone sends Sobhana back after some hesitation.

Kashvee Gautam to Asha Sobhana, FOUR! UP Warriorz will take it anyhow it comes! Keeps it full and on middle, tailing in. Asha Sobhana swings her blade and edges it past the leg pole and it rolls to fine leg for four.

Kashvee Gautam to Asha Sobhana, DROPPED AND SIX! The crowd loved that! Touch fuller and angling in on middle, Asha Sobhana gets on her knee and slog-sweeps it towards deep square leg. Anushka Sharma settles under it and tries the reverse cup, but it bursts through her hands and goes over for a six.

Ashleigh Gardner to Sophie Ecclestone, A dot to end the over! Pushes it on a length and around off, Ecclestone drops it back to Ashleigh Gardner.

Ashleigh Gardner to Asha Sobhana, Leg bye! Sliding on the leg side, Asha Sobhana looks to flick but misses and it rolls off the pads to square leg for a leg bye.

Asha Sobhana walks out to bat now.

Ashleigh Gardner to Deandra Dottin, OUT! GONE! Another one bites the dust! Top catch by Bharti. Tossed up, full and outside off. Deandra Dottin sees the width and throws the kitchen sink at it, hits it hard but straight to Bharti Fulmali at cover, who takes a sharp catch, bending low.

Ashleigh Gardner to Deandra Dottin, SIX! That's her strength! This is in the slot, full and on middle, Deandra Dottin slog-sweeps it, flat and hard over mid-wicket for a biggie.

Ashleigh Gardner to Deandra Dottin, A full toss, just dipping around the waist. Deandra Dottin pre meditates and looks to reverse lap but misses.

Ashleigh Gardner to Deandra Dottin, Too straight and fuller, around off, Dottin plays it back to Ashleigh Gardner, who leaps and takes it with her stretched right hand.

Georgia Wareham to Deandra Dottin, Pushed through, fuller and around off, Dottin crunches it to long off for a single. Just 6 runs off the over.

Georgia Wareham to Deandra Dottin, Slides in a fuller delivery, around leg. Deandra Dottin tries to reverse paddle but misses it.

Georgia Wareham to Deandra Dottin, Too flighted and very full, outside off, Deandra Dottin fails to dig it out.

Georgia Wareham to Sophie Ecclestone, Flat and around off, punched to cover for a sharp single.

Georgia Wareham to Sophie Ecclestone, FOUR! Well played! A packed off side field! Georgia Wareham bowls a shorter delivery, outside off, Sophie Ecclestone reverse hits on the up, over backward point for a boundary.

Georgia Wareham to Sophie Ecclestone, A slower length delivery, around off, Ecclestone is beaten for the pace, she tries to punch but inside edges it on the leg side.

Sophie Devine to Sophie Ecclestone, A low full toss, around off, Ecclestone punches it to long off for a single.

Sophie Devine to Sophie Ecclestone, FOUR! Sophie Ecclestone shows her timing now! A scrambled seam, fuller delivery on middle, Sophie Ecclestone flicks it through mid-wicket, between long on and deep mid-wicket for four.

Sophie Ecclestone comes out to the middle now.

Sophie Devine to Phoebe Litchfield, OUT! TAKEN! The veteran finds the big fish. Phoebe Litchfield goes for a fantastic 78 off 40. Pitches it up, slanting away outside off, bowls in the hitting zone and Phoebe Litchfield leans to loft it away. She times well but picks Bharti Fulmali at wide long off, who was stationed for the trap. Is the chase over?

Sophie Devine to Phoebe Litchfield, Loops up a fuller delivery, outside off, Phoebe Litchfield brings out the reverse hit but misses. The keeper stops with her left leg. 

Sophie Devine to Deandra Dottin, Too full and on middle, Dottin plays it to long on for a single.

Sophie Devine to Deandra Dottin, FOUR! Oh, excellent timing on that one! Sophie Devine serves it too full and on leg. Deandra Dottin whips it through mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep dives to her left but it was timed just too well.

Sophie Devine to Phoebe Litchfield, TWO WIDES! Pushes it too full and too wide, angled away. Phoebe leaves it. The keeper fumbles to collect and it rolls to point for a single.

Deandra Dottin replaces Shweta Sehrawat.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Shweta Sehrawat, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Rajeshwari Gayakwad has the last laugh here, and the break in play brings in a wicket for the fielding side, yet again. This is another arm ball, full and on middle, goes in with the arm. Shweta Sehrawat gets down for the slog sweep but misses again, and this time the ball crashes onto the leg stump. A handy cameo of 25 off 17 from Shweta comes to an end, and the 69-run stand is broken here.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Shweta Sehrawat, SIX! Connects right from the middle of the bat! Tossed up, full and on middle. Shweta Sehrawat dances down the track and with a beautiful extension of the arms launches it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Shweta Sehrawat, FOUR BYES! That beats everyone! Arm ball from Rajeshwari Gayakwad, full and on middle and leg, angling in. Shweta Sehrawat goes down for the slog sweep but misses. Beth Mooney also fails to stop it as the ball races to the fine leg fence for a boundary.