Right then, that is it from this game and also from Super Sunday. The action in the Women's T20 League continues on Monday, the 6th of March as Mumbai take on Bangalore at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but our build-up as usual will begin much sooner. Cheers!
Grace Harris (59* off 26 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her sublime knock. Harris says that she started poorly and took her time to assess the conditions and she was glad that Sophie Ecclestone at the other end did well to stay with her. Adds that she got a bit angsty toward the end due to the DRS breaks but other than that she just wanted to go out and bat. Mentions that she loves batting with freedom and the coach supported her to just go out and express herself. Adds that Sophie is a clean striker and that is why she wans't under much pressure. Says that there was a bit of confusion as the DRS was down but it all worked out well.
Alyssa Healy, the captain of UP says that the credit goes to Grace Harris and the lower order. Adds that Grace is great and she just showed the world what she can do. She says that it is great to see the young players come in and perform well. She mentions their bowling and says that it was great as well. Ends by saying that it is a special win and they will celebrate this.
The Presentation ceremony...
The Gujarat skipper, Sneh Rana is down for a quick chat. Rana says that it was not the result they wanted but they will come back stronger. Adds that she likes to lead the team and she gave her best, and she is really proud of her team. She says that the dew played a major role in the game and it was difficult to grip the ball. Ends by saying that they will come back stronger in the next game.
Earlier in the game, Sneh Rana the stand-in skipper for Gujarat won the toss and opted to bat first and after a good start, they lost their way a bit in the middle overs. Harleen Deol though picked up the mantle and got away crucial boundaries to get their innings running. The likes of Ashleigh Gardner and Dayalan Hemalatha hit a few lusty blows at the backend to take the final score to 169 which was defendable. For UP, the spin-twins, Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone picked up a couple of wickets each and were economical as well. Coming to the chase, for a large part of it, Gujarat looked in control but Grace Harris played a blinder to turn the game on its head.
Gujarat went through all the emotions in this game and in the end, they will be even more hurt than they were after losing their first game because they had this one in the bag and they let it slip. Kim Garth was simply sensational up front picking up 3 wickets in her opening over itself and the other bowlers then made sure that the scoring rate was kept in check. Garth then came back in the middle phase to pick up a couple more wickets and put Gujarat in command with a five-wicket haul. It all went haywire towards the end as the likes of Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland and Garth herself conceded boundaries at an alarming rate and ended up losing the game.
UP didn't have the bests of starts as there was less cohesion between their openers, Alyssa Healy and Shweta Sehrawat. Soon they found themselves three down inside the Powerplay and needed a steady stand from somewhere. Kiran Navgire and Deepti Sharma did well to get the scoreboard going with the former injecting a bit of pace into the innings. Navgire went on to score a half-century but UP once again lost wickets in a hurry. It was then an unreal 70-run stand between Grace Harris and Sophie Ecclestone off just 26 balls in which the Aussie power-hitter smashed the opposition bowlers toward the end to get UP's campaign underway in some fashion.
Are you not entertained? Grace Harris pulls UP from deep within the trenches and seals a sensational comeback victory! It is only the third game of the tournament but what a memorable one this has been. Gujarat seemed to be cruising to a win but Grace Harris and Sophie Ecclestone had other ideas. There was drama in the final over but in the end, Gujarat suffered their second defeat on the trot.
UP WARRIORZ
175/7 (19.5)
59* (26)
53 (43)
5/36 (4)
1/15 (2)
Over 20
6
wd
2
4
wd
4
6
Grace Harris*
59 (26)
Sophie Ecclestone
22 (12)
Annabel Sutherland
1/41 (3.5)
UPW
175/7
6
19.5
Annabel Sutherland to Grace Harris ,SIX! Grace Harris you beauty! A low full toss, on off, Grace Harris shuffles across and flicks it over deep backward square leg for a maximum. UP have done it. They win by 3 wickets!
4
19.4
Annabel Sutherland to Grace Harris ,MISFIELD AND FOUR! Fifty up for Grace Harris. Has this cost the game for Gujarat now? Fuller and outside off, Grace Harris slices it over covers. The fielder fumbles to stop it as the ball races away from the fence. 2 runs needed off the final delivery!
wd
19.4
Annabel Sutherland to Grace Harris ,WIDE! On a length and outside off, Grace Harris looks to slap it but misses. Grace Harris goes upstairs to check a possible wide ball now. The caught behind is checked as well but there is no spike on UltraEdge. The third umpire deems that the ball is just angling away from the tramline outside off and the on-field decision is overturned. 5 needed now off 3 balls.
4
19.3
Annabel Sutherland to Grace Harris ,FOUR! What a knock this has been from Grace Harris. Fuller and on off, Grace Harris lofts it over mid off for a boundary. She moves to 49. Just 6 runs needed from 3 deliveries now!
2
19.2
Annabel Sutherland to Grace Harris ,It is getting really nervy out there. A low full toss, on off, Grace Harris flicks it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder stops it well and throws it to the bowler's end. Sophie Ecclestone dropped her bat on the half way and it was a run-out chance but the bowler failed to grab the ball and the batters complete their two runs.
Right then, 12 needed now off 5 balls. Which way will this game go?
wd
19.2
Annabel Sutherland to Grace Harris ,Wide! Lands it wide outside off, Grace Harris looks to play at it but misses. There's a bit of halt in the play and the umpires are having a bit of discussion with the Gujarat skipper Sneh Rana. Grace Harris isn't pleased with the break in play and neither is Sophie Ecclestone. The stoppage is due to a review taken for a wide called and it is being checked for a long time. The third umpire concludes that the ball is just outside the tramline and the wide will be stay as it is.
6
19.1
Annabel Sutherland to Grace Harris ,SIX! What a start to the over! On a length and outside off, Grace Harris picks it well and pulls it over deep mid-wicket as the ball sails into the stands. Pressure on Annabel Sutherland now!
Annabel Sutherland (3-0-17-1) to bowl the final over. Can she defend 18 runs?