Sophie Devine’s all-round show powers Gujarat Giants to thumping win over UP Warriorz

Gujarat Giants beat UP Warriorz by 45 runs. [Source - @wplt20/x]

Gujarat Giants beat UP Warriorz by 45 runs in Match 14 of the ongoing WPL 2026 on Thursday, January 22, at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. A Sophie Devine special with the bat, followed by a clinical all-round bowling performance, helped the Gujarat Giants secure a convincing win.

Here, we take a look at the complete highlights of Match 14 of the WPL 2026 between Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz, as it unfolded on Thursday, January 22.

Giants fly early but lose their way midway

Asked to bat first, Gujarat Giants, eyeing to end their three-match losing streak, posted a solid 153 on a slow, dry Vadodara surface. Danni Wyatt started brightly with three quick boundaries, but Kranti Goud’s peach rattled her stumps, halting early momentum for the hosts.

Young Anushka Sharma showed aggression with brisk runs before falling to Kranti again, leaving Giants 52 for two inside the powerplay. Beth Mooney began cautiously and partnered Ashleigh Gardner, but against UP Warriorz spin, scoring stayed tight until Deepti Sharma removed Gardner to break the stand.

Sophie Devine arrived at five, did not open today, and broke shackles a couple of big shots. Mooney then tried lifting the tempo but threw her wicket away, leaving Gujarat Giants struggling for a late surge, finishing well and getting a formidable total on the board.

Sophie Devine’s lone fight lifts Gujarat Giants past 150

With four wickets down and five overs left, Gujarat Giants found runs hard to come by as UP Warriorz spinners tightened the screws. Boundaries dried up completely and Bharti Fulmali, who was expected to explode in the slog overs, suffered an unfortunate run-out, making this worse for the Giants.

Sophie Devine then carried the responsibility alone, choosing her moments smartly and attacking only the right deliveries. She saved her best for Shikha Pandey’s final over, smashing 16 runs, reaching a gritty unbeaten half-century and dragging Gujarat Giants beyond the 150-run mark.

From a bowling perspective, UP Warriorz spinners were impressive throughout, choking the middle-overs effectively. However, young Kranti Goud stood out as the pick of the bowlers, striking twice early and finishing with superb figures of 2 for 18 from her four overs quota.

Giants’ bowlers rip through Warriorz chase

Chasing 154, UP Warriorz suffered an early blow as Renuka Singh Thakur removed Kiran Navgire, continuing her habit of striking early. Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield counter-attacked briefly, but Lanning’s unfortunate bowled dismissal left Warriorz 46 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

Renuka continued after the powerplay and tightened the screws, giving no room to Litchfield and Harleen Deol, both of whom perished trying to force the pace. Rajeshwari Gayakwad soon joined the act, picking quick wickets as UP Warriorz completely lost control of the chase.

Chloe Tryon and the lower order offered minor resistance, but Gayakwad struck again to remove Asha Sobhana. Sophie Devine then finished proceedings, capping a superb all-round day with two wickets. UP Warriorz were bowled out for 108, as Gujarat Giants jumped from bottom to second on the table with this win.