Star Performer: Ash Gardner (65 runs)
By: Sportspress Senior Editor
Date: January 10, 2026
Match Result: Gujarat Giants won by 10 Runs
Total Runs Scored: 404 Runs (Aggregate)
Player of the Match: Ashleigh Gardner (65 runs & Captaincy)
Venue: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
If you blinked, you probably missed a boundary.
If you went to grab a glass of water, you probably missed a wicket.
And if you missed Match 2 of WPL 2026, you missed one of the greatest T20 games in the history of the league.
Today, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai wasn't a cricket ground; it was a batting highway. In a contest that saw a staggering 404 runs scored across 40 overs, the Gujarat Giants (GG) held their nerve to defeat the UP Warriorz (UPW) by a slim margin of 10 runs.
The narrative was supposed to be about Meg Lanning’s captaincy debut for UP. But by the time the final ball was bowled, the headlines belonged to her Australian teammate and rival captain, Ashleigh Gardner, and the young sensation Phoebe Litchfield, whose heroic 78 went in vain.
Here is the complete, blow-by-blow post-mortem of this Sunday Blockbuster.
"Before diving into the match highlights, if you haven't read our detailed Pre-Match Analysis & Prediction yet, check it out here to see how we expected the game to unfold: 👉 [Read Previous Article]"
CHAPTER 1: The "Orange Storm" – Gujarat Giants Bat First
When Ash Gardner walked out for the toss, she looked like a woman on a mission. The Giants finished bottom of the table in the first two seasons, but today, they played like champions.
Batting first on a pitch that looked flat enough to drive a Ferrari on, Gujarat decided to attack from Ball One.
The Captain Leads the Way: Ash Gardner (65 off 41)
We have seen Ash Gardner destroy bowling attacks before, but today was different. Today, she wasn't just a hitter; she was a General.
Coming in at a crucial juncture, Gardner took the game by the scruff of the neck.
- The Aggression: She targeted the short boundaries. Anything short was pulled ferociously; anything full was drilled down the ground.
- The Strategy: What stood out was how she handled Sophie Ecclestone. While other batters panicked against the World No. 1 spinner, Gardner used her feet, disrupting Ecclestone's length.
- The Stat: Her 65 runs came off just 41 balls. She provided the "kick" the innings needed in the middle overs, ensuring the run rate never dipped below 10.
The Surprise Package: Anushka Sharma (44 off 30)
In a galaxy of international stars, it is always special when an Indian domestic talent shines. Today, that star was Anushka Sharma.
She walked in with pressure on her shoulders and played with the freedom of a veteran.
- 30 Balls, 44 Runs.
- She was the perfect partner for Gardner. While the captain destroyed the spinners, Anushka manipulated the field against the pacers. Her ability to rotate the strike kept the scoreboard ticking, frustrating the UP bowlers who just couldn't build dot-ball pressure.
The Finish: 207/4
Thanks to this assault, Gujarat Giants finished on a mammoth 207/4.
Psychologically, chasing 200+ is a different beast compared to chasing 190. Those extra 15-20 runs at the death proved to be the match-winner.
CHAPTER 2: The UP Warriorz Response – Fire and Ice
Chasing 208 is not about technique; it is about belief.
UP Warriorz needed a flyer. They got a mixed bag.
The "Lone Warrior": Phoebe Litchfield (78 off 40)
If there is one player who didn't deserve to lose today, it is Phoebe Litchfield.
The young Australian left-hander played an innings that defied logic.
- The Blitz: She scored 78 runs off just 40 balls. That is a strike rate of 195.00.
- The Shots: Reverse sweeps, switch hits, scoops—she opened up 360 degrees of the ground. At one point, when Litchfield was batting, the equation came down to a manageable 11 runs per over. She was single-handedly dragging UP Warriorz towards a miracle.
The "Captain's Struggle": Meg Lanning (30 off 27)
This is the part of the report that might be controversial, but it is the truth.
Meg Lanning lost the game for UP Warriorz today.
Harsh? Maybe. But look at the numbers.
- In a chase of 208, you need to strike at 150+.
- Lanning scored 30 runs off 27 balls. That is a strike rate of 111.00.
- She consumed nearly 5 overs of the innings (25% of the available balls) but only scored 15% of the required runs. While Litchfield was hitting boundaries at one end, Lanning was struggling to find the gaps. Her inability to accelerate put immense pressure on the middle order, and eventually, the required rate climbed too high (touching 15 runs per over) for the new batters to handle.
CHAPTER 3: The Bowling Heroes in a Batter's Game
In a match where 404 runs were scored, talking about bowlers seems silly. But that is exactly why Renuka Singh Thakur and Sophie Ecclestone are the real MVPs.
Renuka Singh Thakur (GG): The Difference Maker
- Figures: 4 Overs, 25 Runs, 2 Wickets. Read that again. In a game where the economy rate was hovering around 10.5, Renuka went at 6.25. She swung the ball early, but more importantly, her death bowling was spectacular. She executed wide yorkers to perfection, denying Litchfield the room to free her arms. Those 15 runs she saved? That was the winning margin.
Sophie Ecclestone (UPW): The Lone Fighter
- Figures: 4 Overs, 32 Runs, 2 Wickets. Ecclestone proved why she is the best in the business. While her teammates were being dispatched into the stands, she kept a tight leash on the Giants. If UP had just one more bowler support her, the target might have been 180 instead of 207.
CHAPTER 4: The Turning Points
Where was the match won and lost?
- The Lanning-Litchfield Partnership: It looked good on paper, but the tempo was mismatched. Lanning's slow start meant Litchfield had to take extreme risks. Eventually, the risk led to a wicket, and once Litchfield fell, the chase was effectively over.
- Fielding Standards: Gujarat Giants were electric. They threw themselves at everything. UP Warriorz, on the other hand, were sloppy in the first 10 overs, conceding boundaries that should have been singles. In a 10-run game, fielding is the tie-breaker.
- Ash Gardner's Captaincy: Gardner rotated her bowlers brilliantly. She didn't let Litchfield settle against one type of bowling. She brought pace on when Litchfield looked to sweep, and spin when she looked to charge.
CHAPTER 5: What This Result Means
For Gujarat Giants (2 Points):
This is a statement victory. Beating a star-studded UP team by defending a total on a flat pitch shows character. They have ticked all the boxes: Top order firing, captain leading from the front, and bowlers holding their nerve. They are now serious contenders for the title.
For UP Warriorz (0 Points):
It’s back to the drawing board.
- The Positives: Litchfield is in scary form. Ecclestone is reliable.
- The Worries: The batting order needs a shuffle. Does Lanning need to open to utilize the Powerplay better? Who is the finisher if Harris/McGrath fail? They need answers, and fast.
Conclusion: Cricket Was the Winner
As the players shook hands, you could see the exhaustion on their faces. They had given everything.
Gujarat Giants take the points, but UP Warriorz played their part in an absolute classic.
WPL 2026 is officially alive and kicking. If Match 2 was this good, imagine what the rest of the season holds!
Final Scorecard Summary:
- Gujarat Giants: 207/4 (Gardner 65, Anushka 44)
- UP Warriorz: 197/8 (Litchfield 78, Lanning 30)
- Result: Gujarat Giants won by 10 Runs.
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FAQ: WPL Match 2 Result
Q1: Who won the UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants match?
Ans: Gujarat Giants won the match by 10 runs. They successfully defended a total of 207.
Q2: What does "404 Runs" mean in the title?
Ans: It refers to the Aggregate Score (Total score of both teams combined). Gujarat scored 207 and UP scored 197, making it a total of 404 runs in the match.
Q3: How did Meg Lanning perform in her debut as UP Captain?
Ans: Meg Lanning scored 30 runs off 27 balls. While she spent time at the crease, her slow strike rate was a major reason UP fell short of the target.
Q4: Who was the Player of the Match?
Ans: Ashleigh Gardner (GG) is the standout performer for her 65 runs off 41 balls and her winning captaincy.
Q5: Who was the best bowler?
Ans: Renuka Singh Thakur (GG) was exceptional. In a high-scoring game, she conceded only 25 runs in her 4 overs and took 2 wickets.
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