GG-W vs UPW-W

That is all from our side as we come to the end of what was a brilliant game of cricket between the Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz. The action doesn't stop as the second WPL game of the day between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals is set kick off. You can catch all the live updates right here. This is Dwijesh, along with my colleague Pradeep, signing off. Take care, see you guys soon!

Georgia Wareham (Player of the Match): "Awesome start to the tournament and to get a win straightaway, it was really good. It was a pretty flat wicket out there, so the bowlers did a really good job. I was pretty lucky to get a couple of wickets, and it was fun. Meg Lanning was a pretty key wicket for us at that point."

Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat Giants captain): "It was a great game. At the eleven-over mark, I thought we needed 200, and it was always going to be a competitive total. A lot of learning with bat and ball, and I think we fielded really well. (On Anushka Sharma) She is such a talent, keeps things simple and opens up different areas of the ground. Knowing that we have a lot of depth with the ball was great. I have played a lot of cricket with and against Phoebe Litchfield, it was difficult to set a field but we were able to tire her and thankfully we've gotten the W on the board"

Renuka Thakur [Gujarat Giants]: "My focus is simply on delivering strong performances, regardless of which team I’m representing. I’ve played plenty of cricket here, so I understand the conditions well. I’ve been working on a few key areas, especially my yorkers and slower balls, and I trust those skills. We knew this was a good batting surface, so it was always going to come down to hard work and execution — the team that played better on the day was always going to come out on top."

Meg Lanning [UP Warriorz captain]: "(On assessing the team’s performance and opening game as captain) I thought it was a really good game overall. There are plenty of positives for us, even though we would have loved to start with a win. Unfortunately, we couldn’t put things together for long enough, but it was important to get that first game out of the way. There’s a lot we can take from this and carry into the next match. (On the bowling and fielding effort) The Giants batted extremely well and put us under pressure. We probably didn’t execute as well as we would have liked and ended up bowling a little too much on both sides of the wicket. That can happen, especially on a surface like this, which was very good for batting. There are always areas to improve after every game, and we’ve identified a few ahead of the next one, but there was still a lot to like. (On captaining Sophie Ecclestone) It’s brilliant to have someone like Sophie in the side. One of the strengths of our bowling group is that most of our bowlers can be used at any stage of the innings, depending on the situation. Sophie is incredibly experienced, understands her game inside out, and it’s nice to finally be on the same side as her after playing against her for so long. (On the surface and overall quality of the contest) It was some very good cricket from both teams. There were plenty of positives on either side. The surface was excellent for batting, so it’s about finding ways with the ball to restrict as much as possible and then going out there and enjoying yourself with the bat."

Gujarat Giants Women win by 10 runs

Ashleigh Gardner - 65(41) | Renuka Singh Thakur - 2/25
Phoebe Litchfield - 78(40) | Sophie Ecclestone - 2/32

What an absolute humdinger of a game we have witnessed in Navi Mumbai! Despite all the ebbs and flows in this one, it is the Gujarat Giants who emerge victorious. They were led terrifically by captain Ash Gardner, courtesy of her sixth WPL fifty. She was ably supported by Anushka Sharma and Georgia Wareham, who also doubled up with the ball. Wareham was, by far, the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, including that of Meg Lanning, while Renuka Thakur also held her own with two of her own.

The bowling attack impressed just enough to keep the Warriorz at bay, for whom Phoebe Litchfield led the way with a fine knock of 78. Meg Lanning also got off to a start but was unable to capitalise on it. None of the Indian batters, barring Shweta Sherawat could really make an impact, which ultimately proved to be fatal for the Warriorz chances of winning this game. Asha Shobana tried to restore some pride with a quick-fire in the end, but is already too late for the Warriors.

A lot to ponder for the Warriorz in terms of that performance with both bat and ball. A lot to build on for the Gujarat Giants, who look pretty strong in all three departments! Hang around as we bring you all the post-match updates in a jiffy!

19.6 Sophie Devine to Asha Sobhana, FOUR MORE! Gujarat Giants hold on to their nerve and start off their campaign with a clinical win! Pace off, length delivery in the channel, Asha swings and finds the inside edge, beats both the keeper and short fine-leg, races away to the ropes.

19.5 Sophie Devine to Asha Sobhana, FOUR! SHOT! Too little too late this for UPW. Low full toss outside the off-stump, spanked it over extra-cover for another boundary.

19.4 Sophie Devine to Asha Sobhana, SIX! Asha is not giving up without a fight here. Length delivery on middle and leg, Asha sits on one knee and powered it all the way over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

19.3 Sophie Devine to Shikha Pandey, DROPPED! Could've been another wicket for Devine, but Gayakwad shells a sitter. Change of pace, length delivery on the stumps, Pandey chips it straight up in the air. Gayakwad running across from extra-cover, dives and spills it.

19.2 Sophie Devine to Sophie Ecclestone, OUT! SLAPS IT STRAIGHT TO KASHVEE AND GONE! Wickets continue to tumble for UPW. Low full toss outside the off-stump, Ecclestone smacked it straight to the fielder and  perishes.