🏏WPL 2023 - UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants, Match 3 - 7:30PM IST 🏏

🏏UP Warriorz Women vs Gujarat Giants Women on 05/03/2023 - Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai 🏏

WPL 2023: Match 3

Bruised Gujarat Giants seek immediate turnaround against UP Warriorz

Coming off a big defeat and potentially missing key players, Giants are already facing an uphill task against Alyssa Healy's side.

143 runs separated the two teams on the opening night of the Women's Premier League, three more than the difference between RCB and KKR on the inauguration day of the IPL. Even before Gujarat Giants, who were at the receiving end of this one-sided affair, can regroup and recollect, they will be up against the UP Warriorz on Sunday - beaten, exposed in all departments, and in all likelihood, now without their captain.

The problems for Giants, on Saturday, began even before the start of the contest, with Kim Garth - a fifth Australian in the team - replacing veteran all-rounder Deandra Dottin. While the franchise did not give a reason for Dottin's exit, the West Indian ruled out being injured or unwilling to participate in the tournament.

On the field, it was one of those days, where there were close to no positives to take away. The fielding under lights was sloppy; the bowlers struggled on the flat pitch and against some exquisite strokeplay; and the batting came undone against a disciplined bowling attack. Moreover, captain Beth Mooney suffered a knee injury and had to be taken off the field. She didn't return to bat again in the innings, and the status of her availability remains unknown for the second encounter.

Sneh Rana, who could lead the team on Sunday, has emphasized on the need to keep the chin up and about the early struggle. Easier said than done?

For as compact as Gujarat Giants still look on paper, they would be carrying a few scars as early as the second day of the tournament. The venue doesn't change. And the opposition camp of UP Warriorz, also led by a familiar Australian, would know very well how to pounce on Giants' misery. Alyssa Healy has made no bones about the fact that she wants her team to play a 'ruthless' brand of cricket. The opportunity would come no better than to begin against a side down and wounded.

Warriorz boast of fine balance and quality and have possibly the best spin attack in the competition. However, that combined with some fine overseas pick would have left them in a conundrum, of having to leave one of three big signings - Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris and Sophie Ecclestone - out.

Wow 2 matches today

im getting IPL feels

UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants Pitch Report

The pitch at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy is a belter. Batters can start hitting through the line right from the start of their innings, as the ball comes nicely onto the bat. Bowlers will have to hit the right areas consistently.

UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants Weather Forecast

The temperature is expected to hover between 26-38 degrees Celsius.

UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants

UP Warriorz

Probable XI

Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Shweta Sehrawat, Tahlia McGrath, Devika Vaidya, Kiran Navgire/Grace Harris, Deepti Sharma, Parshavi Chopra, Sophie Ecclestone, Shabnim Ismail, Rajesh Gayakwad, Anjali Sarvani

Gujarat Giants

Captain Beth Mooney got injured in the opening game and could be replaced by Sophia Dunkley.

Probable XI

Sophia Dunkley, Sabbhineni Meghana, Harleen Deol, Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Dayalan Hemalatha, Sushma Verma (wk), Georgia Wareham, Sneh Rana (c), Tanuja Kanwar, Mansi Joshi

UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants Match Prediction

It's a quick turnaround for the Giants who lost their opening fixture the other night. They will have to be on their toes against the Warriorz who will look to commence their campaign on a winning note. UP Warriorz look a settled unit, so expect them to come out on top.

What to expect: There was some movement on offer for the pacers in the first game, but it will largely be an easy batting track, with even bounce and a fast outfield. There wasn't any significant mention of dew troubling the bowlers on Saturday, but that may not be the best indicator.

What they said:

"It's just the start, some of the players soak it up early, some will take time (on players getting ready at this level). A learning curve for us and we'll come back strongly... This was just the first match, we need to keep our heads high, we have players who have done well at the domestic level and we'll certainly look to comeback stronger tomorrow." - Sneh Rana

"We have a good mix of experience and youth along with ability and look forward to putting on a show for our fans. We are here to win and be ruthless in our brand of cricket." - Alyssa Healy

Thanks for the tag and the thread Raji. 🤗

Let the best team win this match.

Gujarat Giants have already played their first match of WPL 2023. In that match, they suffered a humiliating 143 runs defeat vs Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

Gujarat Giants endured a tough day as they lost to Mumbai Indians by 143 runs in the opening match of the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday, March 4.

After Mumbai rode on captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s 30-ball 65 and Amelia Kerr’s unbeaten 45 off 24 balls to post a mammoth score of 207/5 in their 20 overs, the Giants’ batters had an off day as they could only manage 64/9 in 15.1 overs.

Pitch Report

The pitch at DY Patil will aid run scoring. It is a batting surface and bowlers will have to bend their backs to get rewards here. 160 will be the par score.