Varsha
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 Eliminator match witnessed a thrilling battle between Mumbai Indians Women (MI-W) and Gujarat Giants Women (GG-W). In a high-pressure encounter, Mumbai Indians Women outclassed Gujarat Giants Women by 47 runs to book their place in the grand finale.
Match Summary
- Venue: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
- Toss: Gujarat Giants Women won the toss and opted to field first.
- Mumbai Indians Women Innings: 213/4 in 20 overs
- Gujarat Giants Women Innings: 166 all out in 19.2 overs
- Result: Mumbai Indians Women won by 47 runs.
- Player of the Match: Hayley Matthews (MI-W) – 77 runs & 3 wickets
Mumbai Indians Women’s Batting Brilliance
Batting first, Mumbai Indians Women had a steady start but lost opener Yastika Bhatia (15 runs) early. However, what followed was a masterclass in aggressive batting by Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt: 77 runs off 41 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes)
- Hayley Matthews: 77 runs off 50 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes)
- Harmanpreet Kaur: 36 runs off 12 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes)
Sciver-Brunt and Matthews stitched together a crucial 133-run partnership, laying the foundation for a massive total. The late flourish from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur ensured MI-W crossed the 200-run mark, posting an imposing total of 213/4.
Gujarat Giants Women’s Struggles in the Chase
Chasing a daunting 214, Gujarat Giants Women needed a strong start, but Mumbai’s bowlers struck early to push them on the backfoot.
- Beth Mooney: 14 runs off 12 balls
- Harleen Deol: 8 runs off 9 balls
- Ashleigh Gardner: 12 runs off 10 balls
The top order collapsed within the powerplay, leaving GG-W reeling at 52/3. Despite some resistance from Dani Gibson (34 off 24 balls) and Phoebe Litchfield (31 off 20 balls), the mounting required run rate proved too much.
Key Bowling Performances
Mumbai Indians Women’s bowling unit put up a clinical show, with Hayley Matthews leading the charge.
- Hayley Matthews: 3 wickets for 31 runs
- Amelia Kerr: 2 wickets for 28 runs
- Saika Ishaque: 2 wickets for 22 runs
- Shabnim Ismail: 1 wicket for 27 runs
Matthews’ all-round brilliance, coupled with accurate bowling from Kerr and Ishaque, ensured that Gujarat Giants Women were bowled out for 166 in 19.2 overs.
Fielding Lapses & Turning Points
Gujarat Giants Women’s fielding was far from ideal, with four crucial dropped catches allowing MI-W batters to dominate. The most costly drop came when Matthews was on 35, as she went on to score 77.
Another key moment was Harmanpreet Kaur’s late blitz, where she smashed 36 off just 12 balls, shifting all momentum towards Mumbai.
What’s Next?
With this emphatic victory, Mumbai Indians Women have stormed into the WPL 2025 Final, where they will take on Delhi Capitals Women on March 15, 2025. This marks MI-W’s second WPL final in three years, setting the stage for an epic showdown.
Will Mumbai lift the trophy, or will Delhi script history? Stay tuned for the grand finale!
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