Grace Harris produced a sensational knock to help UP Warriorz win the match against Gujarat Giants in a thrilling encounter played at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on 5 March 2023 in the WPL 2023.
Gujarat Giants stand-in captain Sneh Rana won the toss and decided to bat first. Sophia Dunkley and Meghana provided a flying start putting pressure on UP Warriorz bowlers. Giants batters kept losing wickets at regular intervals before Harleen Deol and Ash Gardner added 44 runs for the 5th wicket.
Dayalan Hemlatha provided a quickfire knock to help Gujarat Giants post 169 for 6 in 20 overs. Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone picked 2 wickets each while Anjali Sarvani and McGrath grabbed 1 wicket each for UP Warriorz.
UP Warriorz win from an impossible situation
It was a sensational knock by Grace Harris taking the game on with the required run rate going up. UP Warriorz lost 3 early wickets of Alyssa Healy, Shweta Seharwat, and Tahila McGrath in quick succession. Kiran Navgire showed her intent to keep the pressure on the Gujarat Giants bowlers. Kiran completed her fifty off 40 balls. Garth got wickets of Deepti Sharma and Navgire to leave UP Warriorz in trouble. Deepti and Navgire added 66 runs for the 4th wicket.
Grace Harris came at the crease with the scoreboard reading 86 for 4. The wickets kept falling from the other end as the situation looked very tough for UP Warriorz. Harris showed her domination hitting some big shots to keep pressure on the Gujarat Giants bowlers. Garth was taken for 20 runs in the 18th over shifting the momentum in favour of UP Warriorz.
Annabel Sutherland struggled with her rhythm in the final over. With 19 runs required from 6 deliveries, Grace Harris showed power-hitting putting on an excellent display completing fifty off 25 balls. She completed the job with a six helping UP Warriorz win the match by 3 wickets. Harris and Ecclestone added unbeaten 70 runs for the 8th wicket. For Gujarat Giants, Kim Garth made her debut grabbing 5 for 36. Harris remained not out on 59 off 26 balls helping UP Warriorz win the match by 3 wickets.
Here is how Twitterati reacted:
Grace Harris seals a dramatic win with a six.#WPL https://t.co/vFvkXvxnJI
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) March 5, 2023
Grace Harris tweeted #maybeplayifimlucky after the WPL teams were announced.
And she has just lit the tournament up with a sensational innings in her first match for UPW.https://t.co/4xxgLZ5EtF pic.twitter.com/Z6uufg1VJj
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) March 5, 2023
Sneh Rana, a Railways captain, was outstanding at the presser last might after #GujaratGiants' heavy defeat against #MumbaiIndians in the #WPLopener. Conducted herself, and spoke, like a shock-absorber.
In Beth Mooney's absence, she's marshalled #GG today with enviable control.
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) March 5, 2023
Five-for for Kim Garth, and she has an over left!
Not part of Gujarat Giants' initial squad, only came in after Dottin's (controversial) exclusion & she's made her mark instantly.
GG needed something like this after yesterday's crushing. #WPL
— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) March 5, 2023
They needed 65 off 26 when Sophie Ecclestone walked in. @UPWarriorz won it with 1 ball to spare.
Unreal hitting. First team to pull off a chase in this season!#WPL2023 pic.twitter.com/OgmhmeVqAA
— Kalyani Mangale at #WPL (@MangaleKalyani) March 5, 2023
WHAT MADNESS IS GOING ON!!! 🔥🤯#TATAWPL
— Jemimah Rodrigues (@JemiRodrigues) March 5, 2023
The opening WPL weekend at DY Patil: Happy Harry and happy Harris. pic.twitter.com/YAGWXh3If7
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) March 5, 2023
The BCCI could hardly have hoped for 3 better games to kick off #WPL – two huge scores, then one of the most amazing finishes ever to a women's T20.
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) March 5, 2023
All Grace in Harris' batting🔥🔥 Congratulations to UP Warriorz #WPL23 #YehTohBasShuruatHai 👏👏👍
— Manoj Louis (@manoj_louis) March 5, 2023
Grace Harris wowwwww what a batting…… #WPL #UPWarriorz #IPL pic.twitter.com/KogFhNLnC2
— Hrishikesh Shukla Ashish🇮🇳🏏🏏 (@hrishikeshshukl) March 5, 2023
Grace Harris 🔥🔥🔥#WPL #UPWarriorz
— ArBaz Khan (@ArBazKhan652) March 5, 2023
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