The Aussie leg-spinner was the matchwinner for the Giants as the business end of the WPL season arrives
Ash Gardner has saluted teammate Georgia Wareham after her fellow Australian international allrounder delivered the brilliant display that’s helped thrust Gujarat Giants into the playoffs of India’s Women’s Premier League.
Wareham, who’s not been best pleased with her recent form, picked the right moment to come good on Friday, following her blistering 44 not out off 26 balls with two important wickets in the Giants’ 11-run win over Mumbai Indians.
In front of their own fans in Vadodara, the victory secured Gujarat a place in the play-off eliminator next Tuesday against either Mumbai or Delhi Capitals, with the winners to play the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru next Thursday.
Gardner, after another fine game herself, recognised Wareham as their star of the day.
“We know the world-class player she is. We’ve seen that in the WBBL, leading from the front for the Renegades,” said the skipper.
“It’s about giving her the best opportunity to play the role we wanted her to play. Coming in in the middle, being able to take the game away from the bowlers, and then obviously, she’s one of the best leg-spinners in the world.”
Gardner herself is a hero among the Giants’ fans with their 28-year-old skipper potentially leading them towards what would be a first WPL final in their home Kotambi Stadium.
She led from the front again, taking the almost unheard of option of batting first – no team had done that after winning the toss in 41 WPL games – and sharing an explosive 71-run fourth-wicket partnership with Wareham, while smacking seven fours and a six that helped propel the Giants to a challenging 4-167.
Wareham was equally effective, carrying on after the skipper had departed for a 28-ball 46 to clout two sixes and four fours in her late flourish.
Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur knew that they’d qualify for the playoffs if they prevailed, and she appeared on a one-woman mission to get them there after big guns Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt were both dismissed cheaply by Sophie Devine (2-23).
But running out of partners, with her key ally Amelia Kerr being caught behind superbly for 20 by Beth Mooney off Wareham (2-26), Harmanpreet had to pull off a near-miracle in the final over to get the 26 still required.
Gardner (1-26) stepped in to bowl the death over, and though Harmanpreet smacked two of the first three balls for six, she kept her cool, going for just two off the final three and grabbing a caught-and-bowled to dismiss Poonam Khemnar.
Harmanpreet was left unbeaten on 82, with her only consolation being the orange cap for the tournament’s leading run-scorer.
Of her all-round contribution, Wareham smiled: “With both bat and ball, I probably let myself down a little bit in both aspects of the game for the first part of the season, so really happy to contribute to a win.”
WPL 2026 standings
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Ties
T
No results
N/R
Net Run Rate
NRR
Deductions
Ded.
Total points
PTS
1
RCB
8
6
2
0
0
1.247
0
12
2
GUJ
8
5
3
0
0
-0.168
0
10
3
MI
8
3
5
0
0
0.059
0
6
4
DEL
7
3
4
0
0
-0.164
0
6
5
UPW
7
2
5
0
0
-1.146
0
4
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
T: Ties
N/R: No results
NRR: Net Run Rate
Ded.: Deductions
PTS: Total points
