The excitement of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is at its peak as the tournament approaches its finale. In a thrilling encounter at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Monday, the Mumbai Indians, led by Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, edged out Gujarat Giants by 7 runs to secure their place in the playoffs.
With this win, Mumbai Indians (MI) have qualified for the playoffs, set to begin on Thursday in a rematch against Gujarat Giants. Delhi Capitals, led by Meg Lanning, have already secured their spot in the final, which will be played on Saturday. MI will face Royal Challengers Bangalore in their last league match on Tuesday, and with their current second-place standing, they remain strong contenders for the WPL final, scheduled at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.
Gujarat Giants (GG) captain Ashleigh Gardner won the toss and opted to bowl first. MI had a shaky start as opener Amelia Kerr was dismissed for just 5 runs. However, West Indian all-rounder Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt steadied the innings, contributing 27 and 38 runs, respectively, in a 29-run partnership for the second wicket. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then took charge, smashing the GG bowlers all around the park. Her brilliant knock of 54 runs off 33 balls, including 9 boundaries, helped MI post a competitive total of 179/6 in their 20 overs. Middle-order contributions from Amanjot Kaur (27), Sajeevan Sajna (11), and Yastika Bhatia (13) added to MI’s formidable score.
In reply, Gujarat Giants struggled to build momentum. Australian opener Beth Mooney was dismissed for just 7 runs, while Kashvee Gautam managed only 10. Last match’s hero Harleen Deol could contribute only 24, and captain Ashleigh Gardner fell for a duck. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals, but Bharti Fulmali kept GG’s hopes alive with a blistering 61 off 25 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes. Despite her valiant effort, GG fell short in the end.
For MI, Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr both took 3 wickets each, while South African pacer Shabnim Ismail grabbed 2, sealing a hard-fought victory for Mumbai. Harmanpreet Kaur was named Player of the Match for her outstanding 54-run innings.
With their playoff spot secured, MI aim to carry their winning momentum into the finals, keeping their eyes on the championship.
