WPL: Sophie Devine, Rajeshwari Gayakwad shine as Gujarat Giants crush UP Warriorz

Key Highlights

• Kiran Navgire’s poor run continued when she overbalanced and was stumped off a wide in the opening over for a golden duck. More from First Cricket 'Bangladesh cricket will suffer': Ex-India cricketers show BCB mirror over T20 World Cup controversy 'Trump card is with Pakistan': Ex-captain tells PCB to boycott T20 World Cup in support of BangladeshSkipper Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield tried to rebuild, but Lanning fell for 14 in another slice of misfortune, stumped after the ball deflected onto the stumps, leaving the hosts rattled in the powerplay. Skipper Ashleigh Gardner then broke the resistance by dismissing Litchfield for 32, while Harleen Deol’s struggles continued with a scratchy 12-ball 3. Rajeshwari then turned the game decisively with her best figures, removing Deepti Sharma early in her spell and striking thrice in quick succession as the Warriorz slumped to 93 for 7. Quick ReadsView All'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new reportPCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversyDevine, capping off an all-round effort, accounted for her New Zealand teammate Sophie Ecclestone to virtually seal the contest as UP slid to 94 for 8 inside 16 overs. WPL 2026 points tableEarlier, Devine had steadied Gujarat’s innings with a measured knock under pressure, guiding them to what proved to be a more-than-adequate total. Coming into the game after three successive single-digit scores, including a duck in the previous match, the New Zealand veteran made the most of her chances, remaining not out on 50 off 42 balls with three sixes and two fours to hold the innings together. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADDevine, who was nearly run out early and later dropped on 35 off a no-ball, capitalised smashing two sixes off Shikha Pandey in the final over to lift the Giants past the 150-mark, although they still fell about 20 runs short of what their brisk start had promised. Gujarat raced at over nine an over in the powerplay but the well-rounded Warriorz attack pulled things back smartly through the middle overs. Pacer Kranti Goud was superb with the new ball, returning 2/18 with tight lines and lengths, including the wicket of Danni Wyatt-Hodge (14). Sophie Ecclestone also applied the brakes early,.