WPL: UP Warriorz eyeing revenge against Gujarat Giants

UP Warriorz will be looking to bounce back and avenge their earlier defeat when they take on a resurgent Gujarat Giants in a crucial return-leg Women's Premier League fixture in Lucknow on Monday.

A lot has changed since their first meeting on February 16 in Vadodara, where Gujarat Giants secured a six-wicket win.

However, Gujarat then suffered back-to-back defeats against Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, slipping to the bottom in the standings.

Their play-off hopes were revived with a clinical victory over defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the last match of the Bengaluru leg.

Now, UP Warriorz, RCB and Gujarat Giants are all tied on four points, and placed between third and fifth position.

With UPW and GG having played a match less than RCB, this clash becomes a must-win for both teams.

Gujarat's batting has been inconsistent, with domestic batters Dayalan Hemalatha and Harleen Deol struggling for form.

Skipper Ashleigh Gardner has shouldered the responsibility, delivering a match-winning 58 off 31 balls and 1/22 against RCB.

With three fifties this season, she remains Gujarat's key player, but they will need their Indian batters to step up.

"We have faced different conditions and now we move on to Lucknow. I guess we have to get better at the Powerplay. When we have wickets in hand, it can prove to be pivotal," said the skipper after their match against RCB.

"In the last two games, we lost four wickets in the Powerplay and that pushed us on the back foot. We will try being consistent and put more points on the board."

UP Warriorz'a batting remains a concern, often relying on lower-order fireworks to rescue them.

In their last game, their bowlers failed to defend 142 against MI, with individual brilliance from Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt taking the game away.

Chinelle Henry and Kranti Goud starred in their win over Delhi Capitals, while Sophie Ecclestone's heroics sealed a Super Over win against RCB.

Ecclestone remains a vital cog and she will be crucial once again with both bat and ball.

Chinelle Henry has been a game-changer down the order, smashing 12 sixes in just 52 balls faced this season.

Mumbai Indians managed to contain her last time, but she will look to break free against Gujarat.

"We'll come back stronger. There are some takeaways. We need to work on building partnerships in the middle-order," Deepti had said after their defeat to MI.

Teams (from):

UP Warriorz: Deepti Sharma (captain), Anjali Sarvani, Chamari Athapaththu, Uma Chetry (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Arushi Goel, Kranti Goud, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry, Poonam Khemnar, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Gouher Sultana, Saima Thakor and Vrinda Dinesh.

Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (captain), Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Phoebe Litchfield, Simran Shaikh, Danielle Gibson, Dayalan Hemalatha, Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Sayali Satghare, Tanuja Kanwar, Beth Mooney (wk), Kashvee Gautam, Mannat Kashyap, Meghna Singh, Prakashika Naik, Priya Mishra and Shabnam Shakil.

Match starts: 7.30 PM IST