On the back of an unbeaten half-century by Sophie Devine (50 n.o., 42b, 2×4, 3×6) and a precise display by its bowling unit, Gujarat Giants successfully defended a total of 153 for eight against UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League on Thursday.

On a sluggish strip at the Kotambi Stadium, Giants’ 45-run win was utterly convincing. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad, with figures of 4-0-16-3, enjoyed maximum success with the ball for the host.

Without Devine’s knock, of course, Giants wouldn’t have been in the contest in the second half of the game. The 36-year-old New Zealander, who also took two wickets, made the most of a couple of reprieves after walking in at No. 5. She stayed through to the end, and capitalised by clearing the boundary twice in Shikha Pandey’s 16-run final over.

AS IT HAPPENED | GG vs UPW Highlights

Warriorz needed one of its top-six batters to show similar application. That wasn’t to be as the visitor collapsed to 79 for six in 12.1 overs. Kiran Navgire and Meg Lanning fell inside the PowerPlay. In the eighth over, Phoebe Litchfield was also dismissed, her signature reverse-sweep — so often a productive option — off Ashleigh Gardner carrying to Renuka Singh at short third. With Harleen Deol hitting Renuka to Gardner at long-on just six balls later, the writing was on the wall. Rajeshwari ran through Warriorz’s lower middle-order. 

Giants, too, had their struggles with the bat. In the PowerPlay, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Anushka Sharma were undone by Kranti Gaud.

With boundaries hard to come by in the middle phase, Gardner tried to go after Deepti Sharma in the 10th over. Her attempt was in vain, playing all around a tossed-up delivery by the offie to fall for five off 12 deliveries.

For Giants to still mount a competitive total, the responsibility hinged on Devine. After three dot balls, the veteran all-rounder slog-swept Deepti for a six over midwicket to get off the mark.

It was a clear indication of the type of track on offer that Devine, too, slowed down after that maximum. But it is a testament to her experience that she didn’t succumb to the pressure.

Published on Jan 22, 2026