WPL 2026: Georgia Wareham outshines Phoebe Litchfield in Gujarat Giants’ narrow win over UP Warriorz; fans react

Gujarat Giants edged past UP Warriorz Women by 10 runs in the second match of the Womens Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, on Saturday.

Gujarat Giants post massive 207/4 after explosive batting display

Gujarat Giants delivered a commanding batting performance built on aggressive intent and smart partnerships. Opening the innings, Beth Mooney provided a steady start, scoring 13 off 12 balls before falling to Sophie Ecclestone. The momentum truly shifted when Sophie Devine launched a blistering counterattack, smashing 38 from just 20 deliveries at a strike rate of 190.

Devine found solid support from Anushka Sharma, who played a fluent knock of 44 off 30 balls, ensuring the scoring rate never dipped. Captain Ashleigh Gardner added valuable runs in the death overs with a quick 65, but it was the late flourish from Georgia Wareham, who remained unbeaten on 27, that pushed the total beyond the 200-run mark.

Despite disciplined spells from Sophie and Deepti Sharma, UP Warriorz struggled to contain the flow of runs, conceding boundaries regularly as Gujarat Giants maintained a run rate above 10 throughout the innings.

UP Warriorz fight hard but fall short in the run-chase

Chasing a daunting target of 208, UP Warriorz Women began on a shaky note, losing Kiran Navgire early. Skipper Meg Lanning anchored the innings with a composed 30, while Phoebe Litchfield kept the chase alive with a breathtaking 78 off 40 balls, striking at an impressive rate of 195.

Litchfield’s partnerships with Lanning and Shweta Sehrawat briefly tilted the game in UP Warriorz Women’s favor. However, regular wickets at crucial moments halted their momentum. Contributions from Shweta Sehrawat (25) and Asha Sobhana’s unbeaten 27 added late drama, but the required rate proved too steep in the final overs.

Gujarat Giants showed remarkable composure with the ball in the closing stages. Renuka Singh Thakur delivered key breakthroughs at the start, while Wareham impressed with both wickets and control in the middle-overs. Gardner also chipped in with a vital scalp, ensuring the Warriorz never fully took control of the chase.

Also READ: WPL 2026 – Full list of commentators and presenters at the Women’s Premier League

Here’s how fans reacted to the match:

The curtain falls on a superb captain’s knock from Ashleigh Gardner. 🧡

Sophie Ecclestone cleans up the Australian star, but not before the GG skipper smashes a brutal 65 off 41 balls. 👏🏼

📸 : Jio hotstar #GGvUPW #WPL2026 #AshleighGardner #SophieEcclestone pic.twitter.com/xstT9NridA

— Jitendra Kumar (@jitenda60203698) January 10, 2026

Debutant Anushka Sharma is showing her class at the big stage.#GGvUPW #WPL pic.twitter.com/D5vlizXZEY

— Dileep Balasiya (@DileepBalasiya) January 10, 2026

Phoebe Litchfield’s reverse sweep flies for a jaw-dropping six! 🤯#TATAWPL #ggvupw pic.twitter.com/MX82dcZeqX

— Kushal Sharma (@KushalSharma_89) January 10, 2026

🚨Litchfield out at 78🚨

– What an extraordinary innings from her, she deserved a century here 😕#WPL2026 #TATAWPL #GGvUPW pic.twitter.com/8aBVtEwXec

— Rocket Singh (@rocketSahab) January 10, 2026

Smash it from ball one! 😎
Players to hit a six off the first ball in WPL history:

– Issy Wong
– Sophie Devine
– S Sajana
– Shweta Sehrawat 💥#WPL2026 #GGvUPW #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/zKf737Qmly

— Arshy (@imArshit) January 10, 2026

Castled!

Sophie Ecclestone gets the big wicket of Ashleigh Gardner ⚡️

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/0Vl9vFyTyq#TATAWPL | #KhelEmotionKa | #UPWvGG pic.twitter.com/qhfTwszO7M

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) January 10, 2026

Highest individual scores in unsuccessful run chases in WPL :-

90* – Tahlia McGrath (UPW) v DC, 2023
88* – Deepti Sharma (UPW) v GG, 2024
78 – Phoebe Litchfield (UPW) v GG, today#GGvUPW #WPL2026

— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@_rhitankar_) January 10, 2026

🔥 #WPL2026 | GUJARAT GIANTS STAND TALL

Gujarat Giants clinch a commanding 10-run victory, sealing it in style! 💪
Captain leads from the front, with crucial support from and.

The chase sparks with heartbreak as plays a sensational 78, refusing to give up 💔#GGTWvUPW#GGvUPW pic.twitter.com/cvl9CBidoP

— Deepak Kumar Singh (@SINGHDEEPAK65) January 10, 2026

Player of the Match: Georgia Wareham#GGvUPW #cricket #WPL2026 pic.twitter.com/cQn7x9AFmW

— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) January 10, 2026

Also WATCH: Sophie Ecclestone strikes gold as she uproots Beth Mooney’s off-stump in WPL 2026 | GG vs UPW

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