Warriorz seek revenge against Giants at home

Lucknow: Seeking revenge, UP Warriorz will take on Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League match at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium—their first game at their home venue. The Warriorz are currently in third place in the standings with four points, while Gujarat Giants, who defeated them in their previous encounter, sit at the bottom of the table with the same number of points. UP Warriorz captain Deepti Sharma, top-order batter Kiran Navgire, and all-rounder Shweta Sehrawat have been consistent performers throughout the tournament. However, left-arm orthodox spinner Sophie Ecclestone has also showcased her all-round abilities, contributing a crucial 33-run knock in their victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Warriorz had a rough start to the tournament with two consecutive losses but bounced back with wins against Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women. However, in their last match, they suffered an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians. Gujarat Giants will once again rely on Ashleigh Gardner, who smashed a brilliant half-century against UP Warriorz in their previous clash. Gujarat Giants' head coach Michael Klinger said that the wicket looked good with ample grass cover. "I think dew will play a role in the match, but we are used to tackling it. The conditions and facilities are perfect here for cricket," he said. Meanwhile, UP Warriorz head coach Jon Lewis said that the wicket had even bounce and pace, but emphasised the importance of the toss. "The key to playing good cricket is adapting to the conditions quickly and selecting the best XI accordingly," he added. "Since the start of the tournament, when it was announced that we would be playing here, the girls have been super excited. They've been talking about playing in front of a home crowd. We really hope the people of Lucknow come and support us. It would mean a lot to the players, and they would love the energy of a home crowd," he said.
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