UP Warriorz 181 for 7 (Harris 72, McGrath 57, Garth 2-29) beat Gujarati Giants 178 for 6 (Gardner 60, Hemalatha 57, Chopra 2-29, Gayakwad 2-39) by 3 wickets
Same as him first match Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorzthis too came down to the penultimate ball, and just like then, grace harris he played the match-clinching hand, and it was a three-wicket victory for the Warriorz, putting them into the WPL playoffs. It also meant the end of the road for Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore, at least for this season.
Last time out, on March 5, Harris hit a 26-ball 59 to lead the Warriorz to victory. She came out penultimate here after scoring 72 of 41 balls, but it was seven of seven at that stage, and she and Tahlia McGrathwho scored 57 and took a 78-run lead with Harris, had done most of the work.
The final over had it all: desperate plunges, a breakaway, and then the clever stroke for the winning runs. sneh frogthe captain of the Giants, had the ball, but in front of her was calm sophie ecclestone, whose bat had ended the Mumbai Indians’ winning streak in their previous game. Simran Shaikh was left without the fourth ball, but with two needed for two, Ecclestone crossed his stumps and rowed Rana into the vacant fine-legged box for four.
However, it could all have been different for Rana, and the Giants, had she run Harris back at the non-striker end in the ninth over. Harris was on 11 at the time, and Rana stopped in his bowling stride, but issued only a warning.
For the Giants, meanwhile, it was the end of a season that began with the Deandra Dottin controversyit included losing their captain Beth Mooney to injury and just two wins.
On Monday, the Giants were a respectable 178-for-6, building on a terrific 93-run partnership between D Hemalata (57 in 33 balls) and ashleigh gardner (60 in 39). Even before they got together, there were positive signs, as Sophia Dunkley and Laura Wolvaardt made it big at the top.
It was 41 after four overs, but Alyssa Healy was rotating her bowling and brought Anjali Sarvani back in the fifth over. The first ball, Sarvani quickly with his left arm castled Wolvaardt, and in the next, Rajeshwari Gayakwad hit twice, sending Dunkley and Harleen Deol back.
That’s when Hemalatha and Gardner teamed up and dug in. Hemalatha was the early aggressor, getting to fifty of 30 balls from her with some clean shots. Gardner also reached his own half-century on 35 balls, and the Giants were on pace for a big score at that stage.
But Parashavi Chopra, all 16 years old, made a difference. She broke the hold as she caught Hemalatha at the limit and, on her next turn, a beautifully flown leg spin tricked the advancing Garnder into stumping her.
Still, with 178 on the board, the Giants had a chance, Gujarat needed a big win to have a chance to stay in the tournament, but at 178 they had given themselves a chance. It got even better for them when the Warriorz hit 39 for 3 in the fifth over.
Given the Warriorz lineup, the game hinged on the partnership between McGrath and Harris, and the two Aussies met the challenge magnificently. They couldn’t finish the job, but they did enough.
