WPL 2023: Three playoff teams decided in Women's Premier League, Smriti Mandhana's RCB and Gujarat Giants out

UP Warriors defeated Gujarat Giants by three wickets in the 17th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL). With this thrilling win on Monday (March 20) at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, the UP team confirmed its place in the playoffs. It became the third team to advance to the next round. Now all three teams of the playoffs have been decided. Before UP, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals had made it to the place.

With this victory of UP, along with Gujarat Giants, the team of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), captained by star player Smriti Mandhana, is also out of the playoff race. After this win, UP has eight points from seven matches. RCB and Gujarat needed a UP defeat to keep their hopes alive, but it did not happen. Gujarat had only four points in eight matches. At the same time, RCB has four points from seven matches. Even if she wins her last match, she will be able to reach only six points. In such a situation, it will not be able to leave UP behind.

Hemlata and Gardner take Gujarat to a big score

Gujarat had a great start. Sophia Dunkley and El Wolvaardt shared a 41-run partnership for the first wicket. Wolvaardt scored 17 and Dunkley scored 23 runs. Harleen Deol could score only four runs. After this, Dayalan Hemlata and Ashley Gardner shared a 93-run partnership in 61 balls.

Hemlata was dismissed for 57 runs in 33 balls with the help of six fours and three sixes and Gardner was dismissed for 60 runs in 39 balls with the help of six fours and three sixes. Both were dismissed by Parshvi Chopra. Ashwini Kumari could score five runs. Sushma Verma remained unbeaten after scoring eight runs and Kim Garth scored one run. Parshvi and Rajeshwari Gaikwad took two wickets each. At the same time, Anjali Sarwani and Sophie Ecclestone got one wicket each.

Grace Harris and McGrath lead UP to victory

Chasing the target of 179 runs, UP Warriors did not get off to a good start. He had lost three wickets for 39 runs in 4.5 overs. Captain Alyssa Healy was dismissed for 12, Kiran Navagire for four, and Devika Vaidya for seven. After the fall of three wickets, Grace Harris and Tahlia McGrath handled the innings. Both shared a 78-run partnership for the fourth wicket. McGrath got out after scoring 57 runs in the 14th over. He hit 11 fours in his 38-ball innings.

Grace Harris took over after McGrath's dismissal. He took the team to the threshold of victory. She was dismissed on the fifth ball of the 19th over. Then UP had to score seven runs. Harris scored 72 off 41 balls. During this, he hit seven fours and three sixes. Sophie Ecclestone ended the match with an unbeaten 19 off 13 balls. Deepti Sharma was dismissed for six and Simran Sheikh scored one run. Anjali Sarwani remained unbeaten without opening an account. Kim Garth took two wickets for Gujarat. Monika Patel, Ashley Gardner, and Tanuja Kanwar got one success each.

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