Barbadian all-rounder Deandra Dottin delivered a match-winning performance on Sunday, blasting an unbeaten 33 off just 18 balls to propel Gujarat Giants Women to their first victory in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Her late fireworks sealed a six-wicket win over UP Warriorz Women, helping Gujarat rebound from their opening-round loss to RCB Women.
Chasing 144 for victory, Gujarat Giants had a shaky start, losing Beth Mooney for a duck and Dayalan Hemalatha for zero, leaving them struggling at 2-2 inside two overs. However, captain Ashleigh Gardner led the recovery with a powerful 52 off 32 balls, striking five fours and three sixes to shift the momentum in Gujarat’s favor.
Gardner’s dismissal at 86-4 in the 12th over left the game delicately balanced, but Dottin ensured there would be no collapse. The West Indies star took charge, hammering three fours and two sixes at a scorching strike rate of 183.33, steering Gujarat home with two overs to spare.
She found an able partner in Harleen Deol, who played a composed 34 off 30 balls, helping to stabilize the innings. Their unbeaten 58-run partnership extinguished UP Warriorz’s hopes as Gujarat reached 144/4 in 18 overs.
Before dominating with the bat, Dottin made an impact with the ball, taking 2 for 34 in her four-over spell. She struck early to trap Kiran Navgire lbw for 15, before dismissing Uma Chetry for 24, ensuring Gujarat kept a firm grip on the game.
Her contributions were backed by Priya Mishra’s impressive 3-25 and Gardner’s 2-39, which helped restrict UP Warriorz to 143/9 in their 20 overs. Captain Deepti Sharma led the scoring with 39, while Alana King’s unbeaten 19 provided a late push, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Gujarat’s chase.
This victory marks an important turnaround for Gujarat Giants, who struggled in their season opener against RCB Women. With Dottin proving to be a match-winner with both bat and ball, Gujarat now has a formidable all-rounder capable of changing games in an instant.
Her performance reaffirmed why she is regarded as one of the most dangerous players in women’s T20 cricket, and Gujarat will be looking for more of the same from their West Indian star as they aim for further success in the tournament. Sportsmax
