Mooney’s 96 Leads Gujarat Giants to Dominant 81-Run Victory

Lucknow, India – In a commanding performance, the Gujarat Giants defeated the UP Warriorz by 81 runs in the Women’s Premier League on March 3, 2025, at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. Opener Beth Mooney played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 96 runs off 59 balls, guiding her team to a total of 186 for 5.

The Giants surged to second place in the league standings with this win, while the Warriorz fell to the bottom of the table, struggling to respond to the Giants’ formidable total. The match marked an eventful homecoming for the Warriorz, who had hoped to capitalize on their homeland advantage but instead faced early setbacks.

Mooney, who had been averaging only 16.80 prior to this match, showcased her elite batting skills, hitting 17 boundaries. Her innings included a critical 101-run partnership with Harleen Deol, who added 45 runs. This partnership was vital in building a respectable score, especially after the Giants lost Dayalan Hemalatha for just two runs in the first over.

UP Warriorz’s innings began disastrously as they lost two wickets in the opening over, quickly followed by two more within the powerplay. With the scoreboard reading 25 for 4, the team was left in disarray. Captain Deepti Sharma expressed her disappointment, stating, ‘Our top 4-5 needs to take initiative, and we repeated the mistakes from the last game.’

Despite some resistance from Chinelle Henry, who scored 28 runs, the Warriorz were ultimately restricted to 105 all out in 17.1 overs. The Giants’ bowlers, particularly Kashvee Gautam and Tanuja Kanwar, dominated with three wickets each. Deandra Dottin also contributed significantly, taking 2 for 14 in a stellar bowling display.

Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner praised Mooney’s performance, noting, ‘The partnership that Beth had with Harleen really set up the game.’ Mooney’s commanding form not only helped secure the win but also reinstated the Giants in playoff contention.

Despite their struggle at home, Sharma remains optimistic about the Warriorz’s chances in upcoming matches, emphasizing the need for improvement, especially in the batting unit.

As for the Gujarat Giants, this emphatic victory has injected new life into their campaign, with a focus now on maintaining this momentum as they prepare for their next match against the Delhi Capitals.